Ambidextrous charging handle

• US 10,006,728 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2016
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bailey, Chris
• Original Assignee: Bailey, Chris
• Inventors: Bailey, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Harmon, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US15/201,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20180010868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/72 Operating handles or levers; Mounting thereof in breech-blocks or bolts F41C7/02, F41C7/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/06 Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/26 Arrangements or systems for bleeding the gas from the barrel F41A5/20 - F41A5/24 take precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to the design and construction of a novel ambidextrous charging handle designed to vent discharge gases in the operation of a gas impingement or piston driven firearm.

Claims

1. An ambidextrous charging handle for a firearm comprising:

a central stem for riding within the firearm receiver and engaging the firearm bolt carrier assembly;

said stem comprising a gas discharge port to direct firearm gases, said gas discharge port originating on the underside of said stem and exiting on the top side of said stem at a rearward port of said stem;

said stem further comprising an integral gas barrier located approximate the gas discharge port exit;

a latch at a rear portion of said stem, said latch designed to engage said firearm receiver while in a closed position and said latch including a protruding member on a rearward portion of said latch to pivot said latch to an open position when pulling on said charging handle;

a t-grip assembly for moving said charging handle along the firearm axis to engage the firearm bolt carrier assembly, said t-grip assembly comprising an upper t-grip and a lower t-grip; and

a first guide roller and a second guide roller, said guide rollers integral with the t-grip assembly and positioned on a first and second side of said stem such that said t-grip assembly is guided along the stem axis when operated.

2. An ambidextrous charging handle for a firearm comprising:

a central stem for riding within the firearm receiver and engaging the firearm bolt carrier assembly;

said stem comprising a gas discharge port to direct firearm gases, said gas discharge port originating on the underside of said stem and exiting on the top side of said stem at a rearward port of said stem;

said stem further comprising an integral gas barrier located approximate the gas discharge port exit;

a latch at a rear portion of said stem, said latch designed to engage said firearm receiver while in a closed position and said latch including a protruding member on a rearward portion of said latch to pivot said latch to an open position when pulling on said charging handle;

a t-grip assembly for moving said charging handle along the firearm axis to engage the firearm bolt carrier assembly, said t-grip assembly comprising an upper t-grip and a lower t-grip;

wherein the t-grip assembly further comprises an integral gas shroud atop the upper t-grip, said gas shroud dimensioned to surround said gas barrier; and

further comprising a first guide roller and a second guide roller, said guide rollers integral with the t-grip assembly and positioned on a first and second side of said stem such that said t-grip assembly is moved along the stem axis when operated.

3. The ambidextrous charging handle of claim 2 further comprising a first t-grip assembly pin and a second t-grip assembly pin, each pin located at a distal end of either the upper t-grip or lower t-grip;

said pins dimensioned to mate with corresponding t-grip mating holes in the upper t-grip or lower t-grip and secured by a first pin dimensioned to fit a first pin hole in one end of the t-grip assembly and by a second pin dimensioned t fit a second pin hole in a second end of the t-grip assembly.

4. The ambidextrous charging handle of claim 3 wherein said stem further comprises an integral t-grip stop to limit t-grip rearward travel and provide for operation of said charging handle upon the firearm bolt carrier assembly.

5. The ambidextrous charging handle of claim 4 wherein the gas barrier encompasses approximately 60-70% of the interior surface area of the t-grip gas shroud.