Agency Arms Obtains Design Patent on their Accelerator Cut

Recently Agency Arms, a full custom pistol shop best known for their Glocks, announced via social media that they have been granted a patent on their Accelerator cut.

The post reads:

“Not a bad way to get the week started. Another patent was issued and arrived in today. Agency is proud to have our Accelerator cut protected. We have many more patents in the pipe which we will announce as they issue! #agent #agencylife #agency #agencyarms #tradecraft #welcometothebrotherhood”

Heading over to the Agency Arms webpage we learn the purported benefits of the Accelerator Cut

“We remove the finger grooves, add “Accelerator Cuts” to the front of the frame, and bevel out the inside area of the trigger guard on a mill. Accelerator Cuts, an after-market weapon customization service, offer enhanced traction on the pistol. With the Accelerator Cuts, muzzle rise is dramatically decreased and follow up shots are faster. We do a non traditional double undercut and dock the front of the trigger guard for aesthetic purposes. We finish the frame off with full stippling and offer Gen 4 back strap melding as well for no additional charge.”

[Emphasis Added]

Some may initially find this patent granting unusual, as assorted versions of “thumb rests”, “accelerators”, and “gas pedals” have been around for years–both as add on parts and also cut into frames for custom work. The CZ 75 Tactical Sport Orange comes standard with a gas pedal. GoGun USA sells their own version, as do a number of other manufacturers.

Boresight Solutions offers something similar with their custom work that they call Frame Index Points.

As does SSVi, named forward reference point texturing.

The latest version of the 80% Polymer80 compact Glock frame also comes standard with something close to the Agency Accelerator Cut (read our build thread here)

The distinction here is that the new Agency Arms patent is that it's a design patent and not a utility patent. The differences between the two are clearly spelled out by the United States Patent and Trademark Office:

In general terms, a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a “design patent” protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171). The ornamental appearance for an article includes its shape/configuration or surface ornamentation applied to the article, or both. Both design and utility patents may be obtained on an article if invention resides both in its utility and ornamental appearance.

and indeed, directly in in Agency's patent the claim is, “The ornamental design for a portion of a handgun frame, as shown and described“.

So it appears at this point, no, non-Agency Arms gas pedals/indexing points/etc et al are not going away–just so long as they don't look exactly like Agency's.

See the full patent online here
@DM