Firearm modification assembly

• US 7,231,861 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Justin A. Gauny, Michael O'Neill
• Original Assignee: Justin A. Gauny, Michael O'Neill
• Inventors: O'Neill, Michael, Gauny, Justin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US11/012,318
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 42/72, 42/16, 89/14
• US Class Current: 89/1.4
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/72 Operating handles or levers; Mounting thereof in breech-blocks or bolts F41C7/02, F41C7/06 take precedence

Abstract

An assembly for modifying an automatic firearm such as a carbine rifle to relocate operation of the firearm charge handle. The assembly includes a fore-grip bracket, a drive rod movable in the foregrip bracket and attached to the charging handle release lever, and a cocking handle attached to the drive rod, the rod being attached to the charge handle for alternately releasing and latching the charge handle for clearing the firearm. In one embodiment, the foregrip bracket is attached to a removable rail attached to the foregrip by a jaw type device. Another embodiment attaches to the foregrip by attaching the foregrip bracket by screws. Another embodiment attaches to a foregrip having no rail by means of a groove cut in the grip, having a pair of spaced apertures into which hooks of foregrip mount, the bracket being held in place by a rod receiver and rotatable latch.

Claims

1. A charging handle operation system for a firearm comprising:

a foregrip bracket having a mount for attachment to the foregrip of a firearm;

said foregrip bracket having a bracket sleeve connected to and supported by said foregrip bracket mount;

an operating rod having a front end portion and a rear end portion, and coaxially extending through and rearward of said bracket sleeve; and

a rod connector connected to said rear end portion of said operating rod for connection with a charging handle;

a cocking handle connected to said operating rod at said front end portion thereof;

said bracket sleeve of said foregrip bracket defining an elongated cocking handle operating slot along the length thereof opposite said foregrip receiving said cocking handle for movement of said operating rod between a rest position and a rearward position;

whereby, upon the user grasping said cocking handle by the user'"'"'s foregrip hand and pulling said cocking handle to said rearward position, said rod connector unlatches and moves the charging handle to a rear, open position; and

whereby, upon the user grasping and pushing said cocking handle by the user'"'"'s foregrip hand to said forward position, said rod connector moves the charging handle to the forward, latched, closed position.

2. The charging handle operating system of claim 1, further comprising a cocking handle connecting rod connecting said cocking handle and said operating rod, said connecting rod being dimensioned such as to travel within said elongated operating slot in said bracket sleeve.

3. The charging handle operating system of claim 1, said bracket sleeve defining a forward end of said slot and a rearward handle retaining notch at a rear end of said slot, said operating rod being rotatable by said cocking handle from said slot into said retaining notch for maintaining said charging handle in a rear, open position, said operating handle being connected for rotation to said rod connector.

4. The charging handle operating system of claim 3, said rod connector having an upper pin connector support plate, a rod connector pin depending from the rear portion of said pin connector support plate, and a lower rod connector plate, said upper pin connector support plate and said lower rod connector plate defining a rod connector receiving slot.

5. The charging handle operating system of claim 4, said charging handle having a charging handle release lever defining a pin receiving bore for receiving said rod connector pin of said rod connector.

6. The charging handle operating system of claim 5, said release lever being spring loaded within said charging handle, said release lever having a release lever hook engaging said firearm, said release lever being opened upon said operating rod and said rod connector being moved rearward from the forward, rest position.

7. The charging handle operating system of claim 1, said foregrip bracket being in the general shape of a rectangular flat;

said bracket defining bores therethrough receiving mounting screws for mounting to said foregrip.

8. The charging handle operating system of claim 1, said foregrip having a mounting rail extending lengthwise thereon, said foregrip bracket being mounted by said mounting screws to said mounting rail.

9. The charging handle operating system of claim 8, further comprising a rail mounted sling.

10. The charging handle operating system of claim 1, said foregrip having a mounting rail extending lengthwise thereon, said foregrip bracket being mounted on said mounting rail by a Tri-lock rail mount having a sling and a lever operated rail mount grasping portion.

11. The charging handle operating system of claim 1, the firearm having a pistol grip, and whereby said operating rod and said charging handle is moveable between the forward rest position and the rearward open position while the user'"'"'s pistol grip hand remains on the pistol grip.

12. The charging handle operating system of claim 1, the firearm, said foregrip being a pistol grip, said firearm having a floating mounting rail, said foregrip bracket being mounted on said mounting rail by a Tri-lock rail mount having a sling and a lever operated rail mount grasping portion.

13. A charging handle operation system for a firearm comprising:

a cylindrical foregrip having a lengthwise elongated groove therein, said groove defining spaced attaching hook receiving apertures,

an operating rod sleeve having spaced attaching hooks so configured as to be inserted into said spaced attaching hook receiving apertures for slideable locking of said operating rod sleeve within said groove;

a rod retainer latch rotatable attached to said cylindrical foregrip at a point immediately forward of said elongated groove and swingable between a radial open position and a closed foregrip conforming position, said rod retainer latch having a jamb portion locking said operating rod sleeve within said groove upon swinging said rod retainer latch into said foregrip conforming position;

an operating rod having a front end portion and a rear end portion, and coaxially extending through and rearward of said operating rod sleeve;

a rod connector connected to said rear end portion of said operating rod for connection with a charging handle; and

a cocking handle connected to said operating rod at said front end portion thereof;

said bracket sleeve of said foregrip bracket defining an elongated cocking handle slot operating along the length thereof opposite said foregrip receiving said cocking handle for movement of said operating rod between a rest position and a rearward position;

whereby, upon the user grasping said cocking handle by the user'"'"'s foregrip hand and pulling said cocking handle to said rearward position, said rod connector unlatches and moves the charging handle to a rear, open position; and

whereby, upon the user grasping and pushing said cocking handle by the user'"'"'s foregrip hand to said forward position, said rod connector moves the charging handle to the forward, latched, closed position.

14. The charging handle operating system of claim 13, further comprising a cocking handle connecting rod connecting said cocking handle and said operating rod, said connecting rod being dimensioned such as to travel within said elongated operating slot in said sleeve.

15. The charging handle operating system of claim 13, said sleeve defining a forward end of said slot and a rearward handle retaining notch at a rear end of said slot, said operating rod being rotatable by said cocking handle from said slot into said retaining notch for maintaining said charging handle in a rear, open position, said operating handle being connected for rotation to said rod connector.

16. The charging handle operating system of claim 15, said rod connector having an upper pin connector support plate, a rod connector pin depending from the rear portion of said pin connector support plate, and a lower rod connector plate, said upper pin connector support plate and said lower rod connector plate defining a rod connector receiving slot.

17. The charging handle operating system of claim 13, the firearm having a pistol grip, and whereby said operating rod and said charging handle is moveable between the forward rest position and the rearward open position while the user'"'"'s pistol grip hand remains continuously on the pistol grip.

18. A charging handle operation system for a firearm comprising:

a foregrip having a bracket sleeve longitudinally connected thereto;

an operating rod having a front end portion and a rear end portion, and coaxially extending through and rearward of said sleeve; and

a rod connector connected to said rear end portion of said operating rod for connection with a charging handle;

a cocking handle connected to said operating rod at said front end portion thereof;

said bracket sleeve of said foregrip bracket defining an elongated cocking handle operating slot along the length thereof opposite said foregrip receiving said cocking handle for movement of said operating rod between a rest position and a rearward position;

whereby, upon the user grasping said cocking handle by the user'"'"'s foregrip hand and pulling said cocking handle to said rearward position, said rod connector unlatches and moves the charging handle to a rear, open position; and

whereby, upon the user grasping and pushing said cocking handle by the user'"'"'s foregrip hand to said forward position, said rod connector moves the charging handle to the forward, latched, closed position.

19. The charging handle operating system of claim 18, further comprising a cocking handle connecting rod connecting said cocking handle and said operating rod, said connecting rod being dimensioned such as to travel within said elongated operating slot in said bracket sleeve.

20. The charging handle operating system of claim 19, said sleeve defining a forward end of said slot and a rearward handle retaining notch at a rear end of said slot, said operating rod being rotatable by said cocking handle from said slot into said retaining notch for maintaining said charging handle, in a rear, open position, said operating handle being connected for rotation to said rod connector, said rod connector having an upper pin connector support plate, a rod connector pin depending from the rear portion of said pin connector support plate, and a lower rod connector plate, said upper pin connector support plate and said lower rod connector plate defining a rod connector receiving slot.