Ambidextrous charging handle for firearm

• US 7,707,921 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Trail Hoel
• Original Assignee: Thomas Trail Hoel
• Inventors: Hoel, Thomas Trail
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Klein; Gabriel J
• Application Number:
  US12/287,173
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 89/14, 891/79, 891/910.1, 891/910.2, 891/92, 42/16, 42/690.1, 42/690.2
• US Class Current: 89/1.4
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/20 Straight-pull operated bolt locks, i.e. the operating hand effecting only a straight movement parallel to the barrel axis
• 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

Abstract

An ambidextrous charging handle for a Stoner-type firearm. The charging handle comprises two separate assemblies, these being an oblong handle that contains a latch assembly and a central shaft member. The parts are joined together by a compound pivoting arrangement in which a combination of the latch assembly and alignment grooves in the central shaft member interacting with slidingly engage a locating flange on the oblong handle, and a pair of pivoting connectors that secure the latch assembly to the oblong handle and the central shaft member independently from one another. The latch assembly includes cam activation via a retention relief cut acting against a fixed minor pivot connector. The second point of retention for the assembly is via a major pivoting connector the combination of which transmits the retraction force applied to the oblong handle on one end of the latch assembly and to the central shaft member through the interconnection of the minor pivot connector located at the proximal end of the latch body.

Claims

1. A charging handle assembly for a firearm having a receiver, the assembly comprising:

a central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

an oblong handle having a cross bar section, a locating flange and a longitudinal slot for sliding engagement with the central shaft;

a latch assembly with a biasing element for urging a portion of the latch assembly to pivot in a predetermined direction;

the latch assembly further having a plurality of through pivot holes for receiving pivoting connectors and having a latch hook for captively engaging the receiver when the charging handle assembly is in a forward, closed position;

wherein the latch assembly is coupled to the central shaft with a first pivot connector, and further coupled to the oblong handle with a second pivot connector such that the central shaft is slidably movable within the oblong handle and such that the latch assembly is biased to engage the receiver, forming a charging handle assembly with the central shaft being slidably movable within the oblong handle and the latch assembly being biased to engage the portion of the receiver when the charging handle is in the closed position; and

wherein the latch hook remains engaged with the receiver in the closed position until a rearward force is applied to any portion of the oblong handle causing the oblong handle to partially slide away from the central shaft and further causing the latch to pivot about the first and second pivot connectors, disengaging the latch hook from the receiver and thus enabling full rearward movement of the charging handle and the charging of the firearm.

2. The charging handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the biasing element urges the latch hook towards the receiver.

3. The charging handle assembly of claim 2 wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

4. The charging handle assembly of claim 1 wherein a latch portion of the latch assembly is pivotally connected to the oblong handle via a through pivot hole having a camming surface.

5. The charging handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the central shaft and latch assembly and the oblong handle and latch assembly are interconnected by a plurality of pivot elements through the latch assembly forming a compound pivot arrangement.

6. The charging handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the central shaft, latch element and oblong handle are configured to fit into at least a firearm of the type commercially known as AR-10, AR-15, M-16, or M4.

7. An ambidextrous charging handle assembly for a firearm having a receiver and an action spring providing forward bias on a bolt within the receiver, the charging handle assembly comprising:

a central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

an oblong handle having a cross bar section, a longitudinal slot, a locating flange for sliding engagement with the central shaft, and a cavity for accepting a portion of a latch assembly;

the latch assembly comprising a latch having proximal and distal ends and at least two through pivot holes for accepting pivoting connectors, a hook portion at the distal end for engaging a notched portion of the receiver when in a closed position, a biasing element mountable within the oblong handle for urging the hook portion toward the receiver, and at least two pivoting connectors;

wherein the oblong handle and latch are pivotally connected to one another, and further wherein the latch and the central shaft are connected to one another, independent of the oblong handle, forming a charging handle mechanism having a compound pivoting arrangement;

wherein an initial rearward force on any portion of the oblong handle by an operator causes the oblong handle to partially slide away from the central shaft and causes the latch assembly to pivot about its two pivot connectors to disengage the hook portion from the receiver and enable continued rearward force to be applied by the operator to overcome the forward bias of the action spring thus enabling full retraction of the bolt and the charging of the firearm.

8. The latch assembly of claim 7 wherein the biasing element comprises at least a spring mounted within the oblong handle.

9. The latch of claim 7, wherein the portion of the latch is configured to engage receiver retaining notches as provided on the receivers of firearms generally referred to as AR-10, AR-15, M-16, or M4 firearms and their derivatives.

10. The latch of claim 7 wherein at least one of the through pivot holes is provided with at least one camming surface for assisting in the activation of the latch assembly.

11. A charging handle assembly for a firearm having a receiver and internal action spring providing forward bias for a bolt carrier or a bolt, comprising:

(a) a central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the central shaft having a transverse horizontal slot and a vertical bore hole located at the proximal end, and a bolt hook at the distal end for engagement with the firearm'"'"'s bolt carrier or bolt;

(b) an oblong handle having a cross bar section, a distal end and a proximal end, a horizontal slot, a cylindrical recess, and a locating flange positioned at the distal end of the oblong handle;

(c) a latch assembly having a latch portion with proximal and distal ends, the latch portion having at least two through holes for engaging pivot connectors and wherein at least one through pivot hole is provided with a cam/retention cut out, a latch hook located on the distal end of the latch portion, a biasing element for urging the latch hook in a predetermined direction, a minor pivot connector, and a major pivot connector;

(d) wherein the latch assembly is positioned within the horizontal slot and cylindrical recess of the oblong handle, the latch assembly being coupled to the oblong handle by the minor pivot connector positioned through the cam/retention cut out to form an oblong handle and latch assembly;

(e) wherein the oblong handle and the central shaft are slidably engaged and coupled together by the latch assembly through the major pivot connector which is press fit into the vertical bore hole at the proximal end of the central shaft, and through one of the through holes of the latch portion for captive engagement of the oblong handle and latch assembly with the central shaft thereby forming an ambidextrous charging handle;

(f) wherein the charging handle is engaged with the receiver through the latch hook when closed; and

(g) wherein upon an initial rearward force being applied by an operator to any portion of the oblong handle, the oblong handle partially retracts from the central shaft causing the latch assembly to pivot about its two pivoting connectors and causing the latch hook to be urged outwardly and away from the receiver and wherein rearward movement of the charging handle overcomes the forward bias provided by the firearm'"'"'s action spring, thereby enabling full retraction of the charging handle and the charging of the firearm.