CARBINE WITH CHARGING HANDLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Rifles having a weapon median plane, with a barrel with a barrel bore axis, a gas drive, a sliding block, a closing spring unit, and a charging handle assembly arranged in front of the sliding block, where the charging handle has two operating handles pivotally mounted about pivot pins on a slider body, said operating handles being pushed about the pivot pins into their rest position by at least one handle spring. For facilitating the use and especially the forward shift of the charging handle, the slider body is mounted on a carriage which is arranged axially in front of the sliding block and movable in the axial direction.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A rifle having a weapon median plane, the rifle comprising a barrel with a barrel bore axis, a gas drive, a bolt carrier, a recoil spring unit, and a charging handle assembly arranged in front of the bolt carrier; wherein the charging handle assembly has two handles pivotally mounted on a slider body, each handle being pivotally mounted on a pivot pin, and each handle being urged to pivot on its pivot pin into a rest position by at least one handle spring; the slider body is mounted on a carriage that is arranged axially in front of the bolt carrier, and the slider body is movable in the axial direction; and each of the two handles is mounted to its pivot pin by an elongated hole, such that when each handle is in an unfolded position the elongated hole runs parallel to the barrel bore axis, and the handles can be guided along the pivot pins.

13. The rifle according to claim 12, wherein the carriage includes a catch slider that is slidably mounted normal to the weapon median plane, the catch slide being urged by a catch slider spring into a position symmetrical to the weapon median plane in which the catch slide is disposed axially in front of a gun-mounted catch.

14. The rifle according to claim 13, wherein the catch slider includes a contour, and the rifle is configured so that upon pivoting a handle the catch slider is shifted by the catch slider contour against the urging of the catch slider spring from a rest position to a position adjacent to the gun-mounted catch.

15. The rifle according to claim 13, wherein a hook is mounted on the carriage or the catch slider, the hook being pivotable about an axis running normally to the weapon median plane, and under the effect of a hooked spring the hook is urged to mesh with the recoil spring unit or the bolt carrier.

16. The rifle according to claim 15, when the carriage is in its foremost position, the hook is pivoted out of the mesh against the force of the hooked spring by a weapon-mounted control edge.

17. The rifle according to claim 13, wherein a hook is pivotably mounted on the recoil spring unit or the bolt carrier, and under the urging of a hooked spring the hook pushed to mesh with the carriage or the catch slider.

18. The rifle according to claim 17, when the carriage is in its foremost position, the hook is pivoted out of the mesh against the force of the hooked spring by a weapon-mounted control edge.

19. The rifle according to claim 1, wherein when the handles are in their unfolded position, the handles are urged towards the rear parallel to the barrel bore axis by the at least one handle spring.

20. The rifle according to claim 1, wherein when each handle is in its unfolded position and advanced against the force of the at least one handle spring, a section of a contour of the handle bears against a mating contour of the slider body, thereby preventing the handle from folding into its rest position.

21. The rifle according to claim 1, wherein when each handle is in its unfolded position and pushed to the rear, a section of a contour of the handle that is a recoil surface bears against a mating contour of the slider body or the carriage, thereby transferring a tensioning force.

22. The rifle according to claim 1, wherein the slider body is slidably mounted normally to the weapon median plane in the carriage.

23. The rifle according to claim 22, wherein the slider body is removably fixed in the carriage by a locking mechanism, and the locking mechanism is configured to interact with a locking recess of the carriage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The charging handle assemblies of the present disclosure may be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows an overview of a weapon with a largely modular design;

[0016] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an exemplary charging handle assembly according to the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of the charging handle assembly of FIG. 2 in a partially assembled state; while FIG. 3B shows a side view of the charging handle assembly of FIG. 2 in an assembled state;

[0018] FIGS. 4A-4D depict a top view of the charging handle assembly of FIG. 2 while in different positions;

[0019] FIGS. 5A-5E show top views of a further possible embodiment of the disclosed charging handle assembly in additional different positions;

[0020] FIGS. 6A and 6B show a perspective view of details of the charging handle assembly of FIGS. 5A-5E; and

[0021] FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of a detail of the disclosed charging handle assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In the description and claims, the terms “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” etc. are used in the common form and with reference to the object in its normal operating position. This means that in the case of a firearm, the muzzle of the barrel is in the “front,” the lock or the carriage is moved toward the “rear” by the explosive gases, etc. “Transverse to a direction” refers essentially to a direction rotated by 90° thereto.

[0023] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a purely schematic depiction along the weapon median plane 32, a rifle, when viewed from a functional point of view and fully equipped, has, for example, a barrel 1, a gas drive 2, a locking sleeve 3, an upper housing, frequently called upper 4 even outside the USA, a carrier 5, which in turn has guides 6 for a lock 7 and/or a charging handle assembly 8 and/or other functional elements, a front shaft 9, a lower housing, also called lower 10, which in turn comprises a magazine holder 11, a trigger device 12, a handle 13 and a lock catch device 14, a central locking system 15, a magazine 16, and a shaft 17.

[0024] Not all of these parts have to be present at all times, or, depending on the application, their design can somewhat deviate, e.g., in case of hunting weapons; however, further parts can also be added, such as mounting elements for riflescopes, laser pointers, and the like. It is also possible that some of the components mentioned are formed inseparably from one another on a more complex component, as is the case of the depicted lower housing or lower 10, and so the drawing represents only one example of a rifle with a highly modular design.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a charging handle assembly 8 according to the present disclosure. It only shows the parts of the charging handle assembly essential for the weapon, i.e., a bolt carrier 18, a recoil spring unit 31, a charging handle assembly carriage, or carriage 19, for short. In its front area, said carriage has a charging handle assembly seat 27. The charging handle assembly is inserted in said seat, said charging handle assembly having a charging handle assembly body 20, a catch slider 22, slidably in the transverse direction 38 normally to the weapon median plane 32, two pivot pins 23a, b, also called “pins,” mounted in the body 20, whose axis runs in the vertical direction 39, two handles 21a, b which are pivotable mounted about the pivot pins 23a, b, and “small parts,” such as reset devices 24a, b, a locking mechanism 25, and a catch slider spring 16, all running in the direction of the barrel bore axis 37; their exact arrangement and function shall be explained below. Furthermore, the axis system used with the axes or directions 37, 38, and 39, is shown for illustration purposes in FIG. 2. At this point, reference shall already be made to the design, described below, of the two cheeks of the handles 21a,b in the mutually facing end region.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows in a bottom view (thus left-right “reversed”) of the installation situation of the “small parts” and clarifies their function: In the charging handle assembly body 20, three bores or recesses extending parallel to the direction 37 of the barrel bore axis are provided: One is provided in the weapon median plane 32 for receiving the locking mechanism 25, and two, symmetrically arranged thereto, are provided for receiving the reset devices 24a, b. For receiving the pivot pins 23a, b, the handles 21a, b have elongated holes 36 and are thus not only pivotable about the pivot pins, but also slidably within boundaries. FIG. 7 shows the handle 21b for the left hand—which in the drawing is the upper handle because the muzzle of the weapon must be imagined to be to the left of the drawing—in one of the two pressure positions, while the handle 21a for the right hand is shown in a fully pivoted actuating position. It is not only pivoted, but also pushed toward the front against the force of a clearly visible reset spring (not denoted with a reference sign) of the reset device 24a, as is the case with manual locking, for example, when the recoil spring is too weak, as initially described.

[0027] The charging handle assembly can also be used for the locking movement, cf. hereto the sequential images of FIGS. 4B to 4C and FIGS. 5C to 5E which show a top view, in which the temporary interaction of the advance surface 33 of the charging handle 21a with the mating surface 35 of the charging handle assembly body 20 is shown by way of example.

[0028] The handle 21b is only slightly rotated from its rest position and then pressed forward against the force of the reset device 24b until the stop engages, and it can then be moved toward the front. In cases with low power requirement, this is quite sufficient, while the position of the handle 21a is intended for difficult cases.

[0029] When the user releases the handle 21a (or also 21b), the reset device 24a, b pushes it toward the rear until the pivot pin 23a, b reaches the end of the associated elongated hole 37.

[0030] In a variation, the reset device 24a itself, due to the shape of the contours and the positioning of the active axis of the reset device and the axis of the pivot pin, can then rotate the handle 21a (FIG. 7, bottom view: clockwise) until it reaches its rest position, in which it is held by the reset device 24a in a force-locked manner to bear against the cocking slide body 20; the corresponding recess (without reference sign) is shown in the handle 21a.

[0031] In another variation, the rotational movement and the rest position of the handles 21a,b are ensured by at least one spring provided for this purpose. This can be a coil spring connected to the pivot pin, or a spiral spring common for both handles, which acts from handle to handle.

[0032] Since the stop, which specifies the working position for the situation of the handle 21b, does not act in the rest position, the handles come even closer to the contour of the weapon.

[0033] As can be seen from the combination of FIGS. 2 and 3, a recoil spring entraining device, in the following only called entraining device 30, which is rotatable about a transverse pin, is provided on the carriage 19. Alternatively, this entraining device can also be arranged on the charging handle assembly body 20 (as can be seen, e.g., in FIGS. 5 and 6), since both parts move together in the direction 37 of the barrel axis. This entraining device is necessary for manual locking, since the recoil spring unit 31 must be also being brought forward. Such a manual locking is only necessary if the bolt carrier 18, together with the recoil spring unit 31, has not or not entirely reached the front. It is therefore necessary to first move the charging handle assembly all the way back until it bears against the bolt carrier 18, wherein the spring-loaded entraining device 30 engages automatically in the recoil spring device 31; in the depicted embodiment behind a transverse bolt, which is introduced in the front area of said recoil spring device 31.

[0034] In knowledge of the present disclosure, a person skilled in the art can easily arrive at other embodiments for replacing the pin, such as an undercut or the like, which can be applied to each of the variations described below. Regardless of the attachment of the entraining device 30 on the carriage 19 or the charging handle assembly body 20, the meshing, as shown, is possible on the recoil spring unit 31 or the bolt carrier 18. Of course, a reverse arrangement (thus a total of four variations) is also possible, and even though the moving mass is increased, said increase, when compared to the prior art, is small, and should thus not be ruled out. In each of these variations, it is possible to align the pivot axis of the entraining device 30 differently than normal to the weapon median plane 32.

[0035] After engaging, the now connected entirety of charging handle assembly, recoil spring, and bolt carrier is pushed forward toward the stop (not depicted), and, due to the colliding of the front part of the hook-shaped entraining device 30 with, for example, the underside of a housing-mounted control element 29, the connection is rotated against the force of the spring about the transverse pin until the hook clears the transverse pin. This separation is necessary because during normal operation of the weapon, the charging handle assembly 8 is not supposed to move with the recoil spring unit 31 and the bolt carrier 18.

[0036] For this purpose, the housing-mounted control element 29 is provided, which interacts with a catch slider 22 which is slidably in the cocking slide body 20 normally to the weapon median plane 32. This catch slider is under the effect of a catch slider spring 26, which pushes it in a central position to the weapon median plane 32. In this position, the control element 29, in the direction 37 of the barrel axis, is located exactly “behind” a protrusion of the catch slider 22, FIG. 6A, which prevents any movement of the charging handle assembly 8 toward the rear. When turning one of the handles 21a,b, the catch slider 22 is shifted laterally against the force of the spring, and its protrusion is no longer aligned with the housing-mounted control element 29, FIG. 6B, the charging handle assembly 8 can be moved, wherein the hook of the entraining device 30 also reaches the working position again. It is possible but not preferred to provide a different release, for example, manually, as proposed in a similar manner in the prior art.

[0037] FIGS. 4A-4D and 5A-5E show two variations of handles 21 and their different positions together with the shifts around the housing -mounted protrusion 29.

[0038] In the (more frequently occurring) use of the charging handle assembly for tensioning the weapon, the handle 21 acts via a recoil surface 34 of its outer contour (FIG. 4B) directly on a mating surface of the body 20 and thus relieves the pivot pin 23. For this purpose, the elongated hole must be sufficiently dimensioned toward the front in order to release the pivot pin.

[0039] In the Figures, especially FIGS. 2 and 3 it can be seen that the slider body 20 is configured to be slidably mounted normally to the weapon median plane in the carriage 19. This can be done from either side of the firearm. In order to hold the slider body 20 in place, a locking mechanism 25, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, is foreseen on the slider body 20. The slider body 20 is thus removably fixed in the carriage 19 via this locking mechanism 25. The locking mechanism 25 is configured to interact with a locking recess 28 of the carriage 19. Though there exist many possibilities to construct such a locking mechanism 25, the presented example comprises a spring biased pin, which is suitable to the locking recess 28.

[0040] The charging handle assemblies of the present disclosure can be differently modified and designed; particularly the proportions of the individual components described can be adapted to the respective specifications of the weapon.

[0041] Terms such as “lower area” of a component or a device or, more generally, an object, refer to the lower half and particularly to the lower quarter of the total height, “bottom area” refers to the bottom quarter, and particularly an even smaller portion; while “center area” refers to the middle third of the total height (e.g., width-length). All these specifications have their general meaning applied to the intended position of the object considered. In the description and the claims, “essentially” refers to a deviation of up to 10% of the stated value, if it is physically possible, both downwards and upwards, otherwise only in the meaningful direction; for degree specifications (angle and temperature), ±10° shall apply.

[0042] For terms such as: “a spring”, the word: “a” is to be regarded as an indefinite article or as a pronoun, unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0043] Unless specified otherwise, the terms: “combination” or “combinations” refers to all types of combinations, proceeding from two of the relevant components to a multiplicity, or also all, of such components; the term: “containing” also stands for: “consisting of.” Specifications, such as: “more than three” also comprises and discloses every individual number greater than three.

[0044] The features and variations specified in the individual embodiments and examples can be freely combined with those of the other examples and embodiments and used without the obligatory inclusion of the other details of the respective embodiment or the respective example, particularly for characterizing the invention in the claims.

[0045] Finally, it can thus be noted: The present disclosure relates to a rifle with a weapon median plane 32, with a barrel 1 with a barrel bore axis 37, a gas drive 2, a bolt carrier 18, a recoil spring unit 31, and a charging handle assembly 8 arranged in front of the bolt carrier 18, wherein the charging handle assembly 8 has two handles 21a, b rotatable mounted about the pivot pins 23a, b on a slider body 20, said handles 21a, b being pushed about the pivot pins 23a, b into their rest position by at least one handle spring, characterized in that the slider body 20 is mounted on a carriage 19 which is arranged axially in front of the bolt carrier 18 and movable in the axial direction.

[0046] Further designs and embodiments relate to:

[0047] 2. Rifle according to embodiment 1, characterized in that, in the carriage 19, a catch slider 22 is slidably mounted normal to the weapon median plane 32, said catch slider 22 being pushed by a catch slider spring 26 into a position symmetrical to the weapon median plane 32, in which it is located axially in front of a gun-mounted catch 29.

[0048] 3. Rifle according to embodiment 2, characterized in that, upon pivoting a handle 21a,b, the catch slider 22 is shifted, due to its contour, against the force of the catch slider spring 26 from its rest position, placing it next to the catch 29.

[0049] 4. Rifle according to one of the embodiments 1 to 3, characterized in that, on the carriage 19 or the catch slider 22, a hook is preferably mounted which is pivotable about an axis running normally to the weapon median plane 32, and which, under the effect of a hooked spring, is pushed to mesh with the recoil spring unit 31 or the bolt carrier 18.

[0050] 5. Rifle according to one of the embodiments 1 to 3, characterized in that, on the recoil spring unit 31 or on the bolt carrier 18, a hook is pivotable mounted which, under the effect of a hooked spring, is pushed to mesh with the carriage 19 or the catch slider 22.

[0051] 6. Rifle according to one of the embodiments 4 or 5, characterized in that, in the foremost position of the carriage 19, the hook is pivoted out of the mesh by a weapon-mounted control edge 29 against the force of the hooked spring.

[0052] 7. Rifle according to one of the previous embodiments, characterized in that the pivot pins 23a, b are guided in elongated holes 36 of the handles 21a, b, which, in the unfolded position of the handles 21a,b, run parallel to the barrel bore axis 37.

[0053] 8. Rifle according to embodiment 7, characterized in that, in their unfolded position, the handles 21a,b are pushed to the rear parallel to the barrel bore axis 37 by the at least one handle spring.

[0054] 9. Rifle according to embodiment 7, characterized in that, in the unfolded position of the handle 21a, b, advanced against the force of the at least one handle spring, a section of its contour bears against a mating contour of the slider body 20, thus preventing the folding of the handle 21a,b into the rest position.

[0055] 10. Rifle according to one of the embodiments 7 to 9, characterized in that, in the unfolded position of the handle 21a,b, in which it is pushed to the rear, a section of its contour, the recoil surface 34, bears against a mating contour of the slider body 20 or the carriage 19, thus transferring the tensioning force.

[0056] 11. Rifle according to one of the previous embodiments characterized in that, the slider body (20) is slidably mounted normally to the weapon median plane in the carriage (19). 12. Carbine according to claim 11 characterized in that the slider body (20) is removably fixed in the carriage (19) via a locking mechanism (25), the locking mechanism (25) being configured to interact with a locking recess (28) of the carriage (19).

[0057] List of reference signs:

TABLE-US-00001  1 Barrel  2 Gas drive  3 Locking sleeve  4 Upper housing or upper  5 Carrier module  6 Guide element(s)  7 Locking unit  8 Charging handle assembly  9 Front shaft 10 Lower housing or lower 11 Magazine holder 12 Trigger unit 13 Handle 14 Lock catch 15 Central locking system 16 Magazine 17 Shaft 18 Bolt carrier 19 Carriage 20 Charging handle assembly body (slider body) 21 a, b (Charging) handle 22 Catch slider 23 a, b Pivot pins, pins 24 a, b Reset device 25 Locking mechanism 26 Catch slider spring 27 Charging handle assembly seat 28 Locking recess 29 Control element 30 Recoil spring entraining device 31 Recoil spring unit 32 Weapon median plane 33 Advance surface 34 Recoil surface 35 Mating surface 36 Elongated hole 37 (Direction of the) barrel bore axis 38 Transverse direction 39 Vertical direction 40 Contact area 41 Arrow