Firearm charging handle

• US 8,820,210 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jason S. Melville
• Original Assignee: Jason S. Melville
• Inventors: Melville, Jason S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Assistant Examiner(s): COOPER, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US13/648,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20130192113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 89/14, 42/87, 42/690.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 7/00 Auxiliary mechanisms for bringing the breech-block or bolt or the barrel to the starting position before automatic firing; Drives for externally-powered guns; Remote-controlled gun chargers

Abstract

A charging handle for a firearm includes a fixture and a lever mounted for pivotal movement to the charging handle. The fixture is pivoted to the charging handle for movement between a first, locked position, and a second, unlocked position. The lever is pivoted to the fixture for movement between first and second positions. In the first position of the lever and the first position of the fixture, the lever is stored proximate to the firearm in a low-profile arrangement. In the second position of the lever and the first position of the fixture, the lever is coupled to the fixture to move the fixture into the second position. In the second position of the lever and the second position of the fixture, the lever is deployed outward from the firearm and is available to be retracted backward so as to cycle the charging handle.

Claims

1. A firearm charging handle comprising:

a rail formed integrally with a head;

a fixture pivoted to the head for movement between a first position and a second position, the fixture formed with a latch;

in the second position of the fixture, the latch is in a release condition;

a lever pivoted to the fixture for movement between a first position and a second position with respect to the fixture;

in the second position of the lever, the lever is coupled to the fixture to move the fixture from the first position to the second position thereof; and

means resisting movement of the lever out of the first position thereof, wherein the means comprises;

a detent formed on one of the fixture and the lever;

a pin carried on the other of the fixture and the lever for movement into and out of the detent; and

in the first position of the lever, the pin is biased into the detent to resist lateral movement out of the detent.

2. The firearm charging handle of claim 1, wherein in the first position of the lever, the lever is proximate to the rail.

3. The firearm charging handle of claim 1, wherein:

the head has a side; and

in the first position of the lever, the lever is inboard with respect to the side.

4. The firearm charging handle of claim 1, further comprising means biasing the lever into the first position.

5. The firearm charging handle of claim 1, wherein the lever imparts tactile feedback in response to the lever moving out of the first position.

6. The firearm charging handle of claim 1, further comprising means biasing the lever into the first position,

wherein the means resisting movement of the lever out of the first position exerts a greater force than the means biasing the lever into the first position.

7. A firearm charging handle comprising:

a rail formed integrally with a head;

a fixture pivoted to the head for movement between a first position and a second position, the fixture formed with a latch;

in the second position of the fixture, the latch is in a release condition;

a lever pivoted to the fixture for movement between a first position and a second position with respect to the fixture;

means resisting movement of the lever out of the first position thereof, wherein the means comprises;

a detent formed on one of the fixture and the lever; and

a pin carried on the other of the fixture and the lever for movement into and out of the detent;

in the first position of the lever, the lever is proximate to the rail, and the pin is biased into the detent to resist lateral movement out of the detent;

in the second position of the lever, the lever is coupled to the fixture to move the fixture from the first position to the second position thereof; and

in the second position of the lever and the second position of the fixture, the lever extends outwardly from the head.

8. The firearm charging handle of claim 7, wherein:

the lever includes a grip;

in the first position of the lever and the first position of the fixture, the grip of the lever is disposed proximate to the rail; and

in the second position of the lever and the second position of the fixture, the grip of the lever is transverse with respect to the rail.

9. The firearm charging handle of claim 7, wherein:

the head has a side; and

in the first position of the lever and the first position of the fixture, the lever is inboard with respect to the side.

10. The firearm charging handle of claim 7, further comprising means biasing the lever into the first position.

11. The firearm charging handle of claim 7, further comprising means biasing the lever into the first position,

wherein the means resisting movement of the lever out of the first position exerts a greater force than the means biasing the lever into the first position.

12. The firearm charging handle of claim 7, wherein the lever imparts tactile feedback in response to the lever moving out of the first position.

13. A firearm charging handle comprising:

a rail formed integrally with a head;

a fixture pivoted to the head for movement between a first position and a second position, the fixture formed with a latch;

in the second position of the fixture, the latch is in a release condition;

a lever pivoted to the fixture for movement between a first position and a second position with respect to the fixture;

means resisting movement of the lever out of the first position thereof comprising;

a detent formed on one of the fixture and the lever; and

a pin carried on the other of the fixture and the lever for movement into and out of the detent;

in the first position of the lever, the lever is proximate to the rail, and the pin is biased into the detent to resist lateral movement out of the detent; and

in the second position of the lever, the lever is in abutment with the fixture to move the fixture from the first position to the second position thereof.

14. The firearm charging handle of claim 13, wherein:

the lever includes a grip;

in the first position of the lever and the first position of the fixture, the grip of the lever is aligned with the rail; and

in the second position of the lever and the second position of the fixture, the grip of the lever is transverse with respect to the rail.

15. The firearm charging handle of claim 13, wherein:

the head has a side; and

in the first position of the lever and the first position of the fixture, the lever is inboard with respect to the side.

16. The firearm charging handle of claim 13, further comprising means biasing the lever into the first position,

wherein the means resisting movement of the lever out of the first position exert a greater force than the means biasing the lever into the first position.

17. The firearm charging handle of claim 13, further comprising:

an abutment formed on the fixture;

an abutment formed on the lever; and

in the second position of the lever, the abutment formed on the lever is against the abutment formed on the fixture.

18. The firearm charging handle of claim 13, wherein the lever imparts tactile feedback in response to the lever moving out of the first position.