Gas-blocking ambidextrous firearm charging handle

Abstract

A charging handle that forms a seal against the receiver to prevent the escape of discharge gas from the interface between the charging handle and the receiver.

Claims

1. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising: a slide latch; a lever, wherein the slide latch and the lever are integrated into the charging handle; and a sealing component integrated into a portion of the charging handle and configured to support a formation of a pneumatic seal against an area of a lower portion of a receiver that is covered by the portion of the charging handle when the slide latch is actuated to a locked position by the lever.

2. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle.

3. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the charging handle further comprises: a second lever comprising a positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle.

4. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the charging handle is an ambidextrous charging handle comprising a second lever, wherein the lever is configured to provide a first positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle, and wherein the second lever is configured to a provide a second positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle.

5. The charging handle of claim 4, wherein the lever and the second lever are configured to independently unlatch the charging handle from the receiver.

6. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during operation of a suppressed firearm, comprising: a spring-loaded plate; and a lever, wherein the spring-loaded plate and the lever are integrated into the charging handle, and wherein the spring-loaded plate is configured to form a wedge to seal the charging handle against both a lower portion of a receiver and an upper portion of the receiver when the lever is actuated to a locked position.

7. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising: a spring-loaded plate; a first lever; and a second lever, wherein the spring-loaded plate, the first lever, and the second lever are integrated into the charging handle, and wherein the spring-loaded plate is configured to form a wedge to seal the charging handle against both a lower portion of a receiver and an upper portion of the receiver when the first lever, the second lever, or both, are actuated to a locked position.

8. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising: a slide latch; a lever, wherein the slide latch and the lever are integrated into the charging handle; and a channel integrated into a portion of the charging handle that covers an area of a lower portion of a receiver when the slide latch is actuated to a locked position by the lever, the channel being configured to receive a sealing member that is configured to form a pneumatic seal against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.

9. The charging handle of claim 8, wherein the sealing member is compliant and configured to deform and nest against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.

10. The charging handle of claim 8, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material and is selectively attached to the channel.

11. The charging handle of claim 8, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material and is embedded into the channel.

12. The charging handle of claim 8, wherein the sealing member comprises a fibrous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the area of the lower portion of the receiver.

13. The charging handle of claim 8, wherein the sealing member comprises a fibrous material and is embedded in the charging handle.

14. The charging handle of claim 8, wherein the sealing member comprises a porous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the area of the lower portion of the receiver.

15. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising: a slide latch; a first lever; a second lever, wherein the first lever, and the second lever are integrated into the charging handle, and wherein the first lever and the second lever comprise a single bias spring configured to bias both the first lever and the second lever; and a channel integrated into a portion of the charging handle that covers an area of a lower portion of a receiver when the slide latch is actuated to a locked position by the first lever, the second lever, or both, the channel being configured to receive a sealing member that is configured to form a pneumatic seal against the area of the lower portion of the receiver configured.

16. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the sealing component comprises: a spring-loaded plate configured to form a wedge to seal the charging handle against both the lower portion of the receiver and an upper portion of the receiver.

17. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the sealing component comprises: a channel configured to receive a sealing member that is configured to form the pneumatic seal against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.

18. The charging handle of claim 17, wherein the sealing member is embedded within the channel.

19. The charging handle of claim 18, wherein the sealing member is compliant and configured to deform and nest against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.

20. The charging handle of claim 18, wherein the sealing member comprises a fibrous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the area of the lower portion of the receiver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to describe the manner in which the advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a view of gas escaping from interface between the charging handle and the receiver;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the perspective view of an embodiment of the charging handle;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the perspective view of an embodiment of the charging handle;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates the perspective view of an embodiment of the charging handle;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates the plan view of an embodiment of the charging handle; and

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The present embodiments of the present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the disclosed invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the apparatus, as represented in FIGS. 1 through 9, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but are merely representative of present embodiments of the invention.

(12) In general, the figures disclose an invention that seal the interface between the charging handle and the receiver.

(13) In the following description, references will be made to receivers, discharge gasses, firearms, bullets, casings, and related technology, but these items are not shown in detail in the figures. However, it should be understood that one of ordinary skill in the art and in possession of this disclosure, would readily understand how the present disclosure and existing glove structures can be incorporated.

(14) Detailed references will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention, examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 which show various views of a charging handle 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

(15) In some embodiments an ambidextrous firearm charging handle that prevents gases from being expelled directly into the operator's face from the gap between the charging handle and the upper and lower receivers. In some embodiments an ambidextrous charging handle with the primary function to chamber a bullet in the firearm is taught. In some embodiments the unique and necessary feature of the invention is diverting gases that are expelled from the gap between the bottom of the charging handle and the main body of the firearm (specifically the upper and lower receiver) away from the operator.

(16) Some embodiments comprise a single spring without a plunger to bias the handles/levers into the locked position.

(17) In some embodiments features of the charging handle include the ability to chamber a bullet, latch to the upper receiver of the firearm and to block gases that would be expelled into the operator's face during operation of a suppressed AR-15. Optionally the charging handle comprises two levers both of which are used as handles during actuation of the charging handle and both of which can independently unlatch the charging handle from the firearm upper to allow the chambering of a bullet.

(18) In some embodiments the invention utilizes a sliding latch—located on the bottom of the charging handle main body—that was actuated with the same levers/handles that also unlatched the charging handle from the firearm's main body. In some embodiments when in the locked position the latch interfaced with the main body of the firearm to stop the gases from being expelled into the operator's face.

(19) Some embodiments use a spring-loaded plate—located on the bottom of the charging handle main body—that interfaced with the main body of the firearm to stop the gases from being expelled into the operator's face.

(20) Some embodiments utilize an compliant or elastic material—attached or embedded into the bottom of the charging handle main body—that interfaces with the firearm's main body to stop the gases from being expelled into the operator's face.

(21) Some embodiments utilize a fibrous material—attached or embedded into the bottom of the charging handle—that interfaces with the main body of the firearm to stop the gases from being expelled into the operator's face.

(22) In some embodiments the charging handle main body is constructed of 7075-T6 aluminium or similar material with comparable properties such as carbon fiber composites or aircraft grade polymers.

(23) In some embodiments the handles/levers of the charging handle are constructed of 7075-T6 aluminium or similar material with comparable properties such as carbon fiber composites or aircraft grade polymers.

(24) In some embodiments the spring-loaded plate described herein is constructed of 7075-T6 aluminium or similar material with comparable properties such as carbon fiber composites or aircraft grade polymers.

(25) In some embodiments the latch described herein is constructed of 7075-T6 aluminium or similar material with comparable properties such as carbon fiber composites or aircraft grade polymers. In some embodiments the elastic material described herein is constructed of Viton rubber or similar material with comparable properties such as silicone, natural rubber or other elastomers. —Any material that can be used for an O-ring would be an appropriate alternative.

(26) In some embodiments the fibrous material taught herein is constructed out of felt or similar material with comparable properties such as cotton or polyester. —Any material that would commonly be used to make clothes would be an appropriate alternative.

(27) In some embodiments the porous material described herein is constructed of a polyurethane foam or similar material with comparable properties such as latex foam. —Any material that could be used as a shoe insole would be an appropriate alternative.

(28) In some embodiments comprise a porous material—attached or embedded into the bottom of the charging handle—that interfaces with the main body of the firearm to stop the gases from being expelled into the operator's face.

(29) Some embodiments comprise sealing the gap between the bottom of the charging handle and the main body of the firearm (specifically the upper and lower receivers). In some embodiments the use of a single spring without a plunger to bias the handles/levers into the locked position.

(30) Alternative embodiments may comprise fabric or foam sealing members, the removal of the ambidextrous feature, a more durable material to use at the interface between the charging handle and the main body of the firearm (it currently is Viton rubber), changing materials the charging handle is constructed from to any number of polymers or composites.

(31) Though high speed video the source of the puff of discharge gas was of identified smoke clouds being expelled from the firearm allowing identification of the area causing gas in the operator's face while shooting an AR-15 with a suppressor.

(32) The longevity of the elastic material (O-ring). After 1000 cycles of the charging handle the O-ring still blocked any gases from being expelled from between the charging handle and the main body of the firearm into the operators face. The location that gases were expelled from the firearm into the operators face.

(33) In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure. Other modifications that may be employed are within the scope of the disclosure. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations of the present disclosure may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to that precisely as shown and described.