# US 2014/0196342 A1 · Modular firearm forend > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196342 A1 - Document ID: US20140196342A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,549 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: SureFire, LLC - Applicants: Surefire, LLC - Inventors: George Syrengelas; Ronald S. Gibson; Michael D. Picciotta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196342A1 ## CPC - F41G 1/345: {for illuminating the sights} - F41C 7/02: Pump-action guns, i.e. guns having a reciprocating handgrip beneath the barrel for loading or cocking - F41C 23/16: Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards (pump-action guns F41C7/02) - F41G 1/35: for illuminating the target - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B) - F41C: SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract In one embodiment, a forend for a firearm includes an adapter module configured to mount below a barrel and in front of a receiver of a specific model of a firearm, such as a shotgun, and a universal firearm accessory module coupled to one or more surfaces of the adapter module. The adapter module can include an upper surface that substantially conforms to a lower surface of the barrel, a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tubular magazine of the firearm concentrically therein, and lower and external side surfaces defining a plug. The accessory module can include a firearm accessory and an upper and internal side surfaces defining a socket configured to receive the plug of the adapter module in a complementary plug-in engagement. The accessory can be a source of a light useful for illuminating a target or aiming the firearm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A forend comprising: an adapter module configured to replace an existing forend of a firearm and configured to mount below and directly to a barrel and in front of a receiver of the firearm; and an accessory module configured to be coupled to at least one surface of the adapter module and comprising an external surface defining a hand grip. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein the adapter module comprises a substantially arcuate upper surface that substantially conforms to a portion of a lower surface of the barrel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein the adapter module comprises a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tubular magazine of the firearm concentrically therein. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein: the at least one surface is a lower surface of the adapter module; the adapter module further comprises external side surfaces; the lower and external side surfaces of the adapter module define a plug; and an upper and internal side surfaces of the accessory module define a socket configured to receive the plug in a complementary plug-in engagement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein the accessory module comprises a lighting device comprising a light source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The forend of claim 5, further comprising first and second user operable switches disposed on first and second lateral sides of the accessory module and disposed in substantially symmetrical alignment with each other in relation to a longitudinal axis of the accessory module, each switch being configured to adjust an operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The forend of claim 6, wherein: the operation is a first operation; the forend further comprises a third user operable switch disposed on the first lateral side of the accessory module and configured to adjust a second operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation of the third switch; and a surface of the second lateral side is disposed in substantially symmetrical alignment with the third switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The forend of claim 5, further comprising: an aperture in a lateral side of the accessory module; and a user operable switch protruding through the aperture and configured to adjust an operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation of the switch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein: the adapter module is a first adapter module; the firearm is a first firearm; and the accessory module is configured to be coupled to at least one surface of a second adapter module configured differently from the first adapter module and to mount below a barrel and in front of a receiver of a second firearm configured differently from the first firearm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The forend of claim 9, further comprising the second adapter module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein the accessory module is coupled to the adapter module by an adhesive. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein the accessory module is releasably coupled to the adapter module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The forend of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of fasteners configured to releasably couple the accessory module to the adapter module, wherein at least one of the fasteners comprises a roll pin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, wherein at least one of the adapter module and the accessory module comprises a molded plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The forend of claim 1, further comprising the firearm, wherein the firearm is a shotgun. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: replacing an existing forend of a firearm with an adapter module configured to mount below and directly to a barrel of the firearm and in front of a receiver thereof; and coupling an accessory module to at least one surface of the adapter module, wherein the accessory module comprises an external surface defining a hand grip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the adapter module comprises a substantially arcuate upper surface that substantially conforms to a portion of a lower surface of the barrel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the adapter module comprises a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tubular magazine of the firearm concentrically therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein; the at least one surface is a lower surface of the adapter module; the adapter module further comprises external side surfaces; the lower and external side surfaces of the adapter module define a plug; and an upper and internal side surfaces of the accessory module define a socket configured to receive the plug in a complementary plug-in engagement. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the accessory module comprises a lighting device comprising a light source. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the accessory module comprises first and second user operable switches disposed on first and second lateral sides of the accessory module and disposed in substantially symmetrical alignment with each other in relation to a longitudinal axis of the accessory module, each switch being configured to adjust an operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein: the operation is a first operation; the accessory module comprises a third user operable switch disposed on the first lateral side of the accessory module and configured to adjust a second operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation thereof; and a surface of the second lateral side is disposed in substantially symmetrical alignment with the third switch. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the accessory module comprises: an aperture disposed in a lateral side of the accessory module; and a user operable switch protruding through the aperture and configured to adjust an operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation thereof. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the adapter module is a first adapter module; the firearm is a first firearm; and the method further comprises: decoupling the accessory module from the first adapter module, and coupling the accessory module to at least one surface of a second adapter module configured differently from the first adapter and to mount below a barrel and in front of a receiver of a second firearm that is configured differently from the first firearm. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the coupling comprises affixing the accessory module to the adapter module by an adhesive. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the coupling comprises releasably coupling the accessory module to the adapter module. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the accessory module is coupled to the adapter module by a plurality of fasteners, at least one of the fasteners comprising a roll pin. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the adapter module and the accessory module comprises a molded plastic. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the firearm is a shotgun. ### Claim 30 A method, comprising: operating a forend for a firearm, the forend comprising: an adapter module configured to replace an existing forend of the firearm and mounted below and directly to a barrel and in front of a receiver of the firearm; and an accessory module coupled to at least one surface of the adapter module and comprising an external surface defining a hand grip. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the adapter module comprises a substantially arcuate upper surface that substantially conforms to a portion of a lower surface of the barrel. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the adapter module comprises a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tubular magazine of the firearm concentrically therein. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein: the at least one surface is a lower surface of the adapter module; the adapter module further comprises external side surfaces; the lower surface and external side surfaces of the adapter module define a plug; and an upper surface and internal side surfaces of the accessory module define a socket configured to receive the plug in a complementary plug-in engagement. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the accessory module comprises a lighting device comprising a light source, ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein: the accessory module comprises first and second user operable switches disposed on first and second lateral sides of the accessory module and in substantially symmetrical alignment with each other in relation to a longitudinal axis of the accessory module; each switch is configured to adjust an operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation thereof; and the operating comprises manipulating at least one of the switches. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second switches perform the same operation of the light source to permit ambidextrous use of the lighting device. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein: the operation is a first operation; the accessory module comprises a third user operable switch disposed on the first lateral side of the accessory module and configured to adjust a second operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation of the third switch; a surface of the second lateral side is disposed in substantially symmetrical alignment with the third switch; and the operating further comprises manipulating the third switch. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein the accessory module comprises: an aperture in a lateral side of the accessory module; a user operable switch protruding through the aperture and configured to adjust an operation of the light source in response to a user manipulation of the switch; and the operating comprises manipulating the switch, ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the adapter module and the accessory module comprises a molded plastic. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the firearm is a pump-action shotgun. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the operating comprises: gripping the hand grip; and pumping the shotgun.