1 can be facilitated by the interaction of the ramps described above.

When the ramp 31R and the first cover rail 31 clears the first connector rail 41, the first cover rail 31 can snap-fit under the first connector rail 41 against a shoulder 41S under that rail 41 and under the first connector ramp 41R. When this occurs, there can be an audible snap or other output perceivable by the user to inform the user that the cover panel 30 has been satisfactorily installed relative to the end connectors, for example, the first connector 21 shown in FIG. 11 can be.

In this configuration, shown in FIG. 11, the first connector rail 41 can be disposed in the gap G1 and the second connector rail 42 can be disposed in the second gap G2. The underside of the shoulder 41S can engage the first engagement surface 31E of the first cover rail 31. The underside of the shoulder 42S can engage the engagement surface 32E of the second cover rail 32. These components can thereby interlock, thereby securing the cover panel 30 to the end connectors 21 and 22 that are associated with the slot 105 of the handguard 101 as described further below.

Optionally, the opposing first and second connector rails 41 and 42 can be disposed across a cable slot 90 from one another. This cable slot can be configured to receive a cable C. The ends can define and can form a cable passageway in combination with the interior 30I of the cover panel 30. The cover panel thus can cover the cable slot 90 and constrain any potential cable disposed in the cable slot 90 to the cover assembly 10, thereby holding it and securing it, and in many cases, concealing it.

During the installation of the cover panel 10 relative to the end connectors shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in some cases, those connector rails 41 and 42 optionally can be spaced across the cable slot 90 a distance D2. When the cover panel 30 is tilted in direction K6 or otherwise slid, moved or installed relative to those connector rails 41 and 42, in some cases, the ramp engagement as described above can cause that distance D2 to decrease, thereby offering the first cover rail 31 some extra clearance to allow that cover rail 31 to pass by and over the ramp 41R and into the shoulder 41S or generally under the ramp 41R as shown in FIG. 11. In some cases, the distance D2 between the connector rails 41 and 42 can decrease, while the distance D1 between the cover rails can increase to allow the cover panel to be installed relative to the respective end connectors 21 and 22. Of course, where the cable slot 90 is absent from the construction, that decrease in distance D1 may or may not occur.

Optionally, the cover panel 30 can include one or more secondary ramps 51 and 52. These secondary ramps 51 and 52 can facilitate moving urging and/or biasing the end connectors into a locked position against the handguard slot ends as described in further detail below. These secondary ramps 51 and 52 can be disposed on opposite sides of the cover panel axis CPA. Although shown as two opposing ramps, these alternatively can be a unitary integral ramp feature. With the gap G3 formed therebetween, however, extra clearance can be allowed for a cable that is disposed in the cable slot 90 of the respective first and second end connectors.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ramps 51 and 52 can include respective forward secondary ramps 51F and 52F as well as rearward ramps 51R and 52R. The forward secondary ramps 51F and 52F can be configured to engage the first end connector 21 to urge the first end connector toward one end of a slot that the end connector is placed within. The rearward ramps 51R and 52R can be configured to engage the second end connector 22 to urge the second end connector toward the other end of the slot that the end connector is placed within. Generally, these ramped features, which will be described in further detail regarding their interaction with the end connectors, can ensure that the respective capture flanges 21F and 22F satisfactorily engage the slot in the handguard to secure those end connectors and thus the cover panel when it is attached to those end connectors to the handguard.

In the current embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 9, the cover panel 30 can be configured such that no portion of it extends into or through the elongated slot of the handguard. For example, the cover plate 30P of the cover panel, which can include the central portion 33C and the wings 33W, is configured so that it does not extend into and/or through the slot 105. The rails 31 and 32 also can be configured so that they do not extend into and/or through the slot 105. The ramp features 51 and 52 likewise can be configured so that they do not extend into or through the slot.

Optionally, the cover assembly 10 can be constructed so that while the first and second end connectors 21 and 22 extend into and/or through the slot, passing into the interior or otherwise engaging the interior surface on a surface of the handguard 101, the cover panel and its components optionally can remain exterior to the handguard and do not pass into or through the slot. This can facilitate installation and assembly of the cover panel 30 relative to the end connectors 21 and 22.

The end connectors 21 and 22 will now be described in further detail. These end connectors can be virtually identical to one another except reversed in orientation within the slot. For example, the first end connector 21 can include a first capture flange 21C that can be oriented so that it faces toward the forward slot end 105F. The second end connector 22 can include a second capture flange 22C that can be oriented so that it faces toward the rearward slot end 105R. The two capture flanges, however, can be virtually identical, and the end connector is just reversed depending on whether it is configured to be facing the forward slot end or the rearward slot end.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, each end connector can be independent and separate from the cover panel. Again, the first end connector can be configured to be inserted into a forward region of the handguard slot 105, while the second end connector can be configured for insertion into a rearward region of the slot 105. Each end connector can include a base 21B and 22B that are sized to fit between opposing side edges 105S of the slot and a capture flange extending from the base. For example, the base 21B, which can be identical to the base 22B of the second end connector 22, can include a base width 21BW. This base width 21BW can be less than, equal to, or slightly greater than the slot width SW such that the base can be pushed into and extend into the slot, and can interface optionally with the side edges 105S of the slot. In some cases, there can be a slight interference fit so that the base fits snugly within the slot, frictionally held therebetween the side edges 105S.

As noted above, the end connectors 21 and 22 can include respective capture flanges 21C and 22C. These capture flanges can project from the respective bases 21B and 22B of the end connectors. Each capture flange can be generally identical, so only the first capture flange 21C will be discussed here. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the capture flange 21C can project forwardly from the base 21B. The capture flange can include a foot 21CF that projects forwardly from the base 21B. The foot can terminate at a respective toe 21CT. This toe can have an engagement surface 21CE. This engagement surface can be the surface that engages the interior surface 101I, for example, as shown in FIG. 4.

Generally, the capture flanges 21C and 22C can be configured to project beyond the forward or rearward ends of the slot 105F and 105R, respectively, and to engage internal surfaces of the handguard. In some cases, the bases of the connector ends can engage the forward slot edge 105FE and the rearward slot edge 105RE, respectively. This engagement helps to retain the cover assembly in place during use. Of course, in some applications, the engagement surfaces, for example, 21CE, do not contact directly the internal surface or interior 101I of the handguard 101, but merely rest immediately adjacent to it such that if the cover assembly 10 is moved or tilted slightly within the slot, it will or does contact that interior surface and prevent the assembly 10 and/or the cover panel 30 from becoming detached or removed from the handguard 101.

Optionally, the base of the end connectors 21 and 22 can include a ramp 21BR that can be reproduced in the first end connector 21 as well as the second end connector 22. The ramp 21BR can be configured to engage the forward edge 105FE as shown in FIG. 2 of the slot 105 and assist in fitment of the base within the slot. In some cases, that ramp 21BR can ride or slide along the edge 105FE to friction-fit the base 21B within the slot and provide additional securement of the end connector 21 in the forward slot end 105F or the slot 105 in general.

As mentioned above, the first and second end connectors 21 and 22 can include connector rails 41 and 42 that engage the cover panel's opposing cover rails 31 and 32 to secure the cover panel 30 to the connectors 21 and 22. For example, the first end connector 21 can include the first connector rail 41 and an opposing second connector rail 42, and the second end connector 22 can include a third connector rail 43 and an opposing fourth connector rail 44 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The interlocking of these connector rails with the cover rails secures the end connectors to the cover panel and maintains a fixed spacing between them as described above.

Optionally, the connector rails 41 and 42, as mentioned above, can lay on opposite sides of a cable slot 90. As shown in FIG. 11, the connector rails can extend downward to respective lower shoulders 41LS and 42LS. These lower shoulders can contact or engage the exterior surface 101E of the hand guard 101 immediately adjacent the slot 105. For example, when the base 21B is installed in the slot 105 and extends downward along the side edges 105S of the slot, the depth of entry into the slot can be limited by the respective lower shoulders 41LS and 42LS engaging the exterior surface 101E of the hand guard 101. Optionally, this depth of entry into the slot can permit the capture flange 21C to be disposed lower than or more inward than the interior surface 101I of the hand guard 101. This allows, as described below, when the end connector is slid, for example forwardly toward the slot end 105F, the capture flange and respective engagement surface 21CE thereof to clear or frictionally engage the interior surface 101I of the hand guard 101, securing the end connector further to the hand guard in the slot.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first end connector 21 can include first and second wings 21W that extend to opposite sides of the base 21B. Likewise, the second end connector 22 can include third and fourth wings 22W that extend to opposite sides of the base 22B. These wings can optionally engage the opposing rails 31 and 32 of the cover panel that extend along the longitudinal axis CPA of the cover panel. These wings can include the respective connector rails 41 and 42, as well as the various shoulders, ramps, and other components described above in connection with those features. In some cases, these wings also include the lower shoulders 41LS and 42LS that engage the hand guard to set the depth of the connector when installed relative to the ramp, optionally ensuring that there is an adequate depth D4 established between the shoulders 41LS and 42LS and the exterior surface 101E of the hand guard such that the respective cover panel first and second rails 31 and 32 can fit between those elements and secure the cover panel 30 to the respective end connectors 21 and 22.

As mentioned above, the first and second end connectors can be substantially identical, so all features and components described above in connection with the first end connector apply to the second end connector as well. These will not be described again in detail here.

A method of using the cover assembly 10 will now be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 7-11. Generally, the method includes providing a hand guard 101 with an elongated slot 105 defined thereby, the slot including opposing side edges 105S, a forward slot end 105F, and a rearward slot end 105R; moving a first end connector 21 toward the forward slot end 105F so that a first capture flange 21C of the first end connector 21 is positioned adjacent to the interior surface 101I of the hand guard and extends forwardly beyond the forward slot end 105F; moving a second end connector 22 toward the rearward slot end 105R so that a second capture flange 22C is positioned adjacent to the interior surface 101I of the hand guard 101 and extends rearward beyond the rearward slot end 105R; and joining the cover panel 30 with the first and second end connectors 21 and 22 after those elements are disposed in the slot to secure the cover panel adjacent the hand guard 101.

With reference to FIG. 5, the second end connector 22 can be moved in direction K1 so that the lower shoulder 43LS engages the exterior surface 101E of the hand guard 101. The second end connector 22 can be moved in direction K2 such that the capture flange 22C moves under or inward from the interior surface 101I of the hand guard. The toe 22CT and engagement surface 22CE can be disposed beyond the rearward slot end 105R in this movement and be adjacent to or near the interior surface