Gas-Blocking Ambidextrous Firearm Charging Handle and Lower Receiver

Abstract

A sealing member configured to fill the gap between a charging handle and an lower receiver. The sealing member may be disposed in 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. The sealing member may be disposed on the top surface of the lower receiver at the charging handle-lower receiver interface.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A lower receiver, comprising: a channel formed on a top surface of the lower receiver and configured to receive a sealing member therein, wherein the sealing member is configured to fill a gap between the top surface of the lower receiver and a bottom surface of a charging handle.

18. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the sealing member is configured to fill the gap when the charging handle is actuated to a locked position.

19. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the sealing member forms a pneumatic seal against the bottom surface of the charging handle.

20. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the sealing member is compliant and configured to deform and nest against the bottom surface of the charging handle.

21. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material and is selectively attached to the channel.

22. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material and is embedded into the channel.

23. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the sealing member comprises a fibrous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the bottom surface of the charging handle.

24. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the sealing member comprises a porous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the bottom surface of the charging handle.

25. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the channel has a U-shape, a base of the U-shape extending substantially across a width of an interface between the top surface of the lower receiver and the bottom surface of the charging handle.

26. The lower receiver of claim 17, wherein the channel is bar-shaped, the channel extending substantially across a width of an interface between the top surface of the lower receiver and the bottom surface of the charging handle.

27. A firearm, comprising: a charging handle; and a lower receiver, wherein: the lower receiver comprises a channel formed on a top surface of the lower receiver and configured to receive a first sealing member therein, and the charging handle comprises a channel formed on a bottom surface of the charging handle and configured to receive a second sealing member therein, wherein the first sealing member, the second sealing member, or both is configured to fill a gap between the top surface of the lower receiver and the bottom surface of the charging handle.

28. The firearm of claim 27, wherein an interface between the first sealing member and the second sealing member is a tongue-and-groove interface.

29. The firearm of claim 27, wherein an interface between the first sealing member and the second sealing member is a dovetail interface.

30. The firearm of claim 27, wherein an interface between the first sealing member and the second sealing member is a wedge interface configured to increase a force of contact between the first sealing member and the second sealing member as the charging handle is actuated to a locked position.

31. The firearm of claim 27, wherein: the first sealing member comprises an elastic material and is selectively attached to the channel of the lower receiver, and the second sealing member comprises the elastic material and is selectively attached to the channel of the charging handle.

32. The firearm of claim 27, wherein: the first sealing member comprises an elastic material and is embedded in the channel of the lower receiver, and the second sealing member comprises the elastic material and is embedded in the channel of the charging handle.

33. The firearm of claim 27, wherein: the first sealing member comprises a fibrous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the first sealing member and the bottom surface of the charging handle, and the second sealing member comprises the fibrous material and is configured to create the pneumatic turbulent barrier at the interface between the second sealing member and the bottom surface of the charging handle.

34. The firearm of claim 27, wherein: the first sealing member comprises a porous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the first sealing member and the bottom surface of the charging handle, and the second sealing member comprises the porous material and is configured to create the pneumatic turbulent barrier at the interface between the second sealing member and the bottom surface of the charging handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 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:

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a view of gas escaping from interface between the charging handle and the receiver.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates the perspective view of an embodiment of the charging handle.

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates the perspective view of an embodiment of the charging handle.

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle

[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates the perspective view of an embodiment of the charging handle.

[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates the plan view of an embodiment of the charging handle

[0027] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section view of an embodiment of the charging handle

[0028] FIG. 10A illustrates a cross-section view of a lower receiver with a sealing member.

[0029] FIG. 10B illustrates a plan view of a lower receiver with a sealing member.

[0030] FIG. 10C illustrates a perspective view of a lower receiver with a sealing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] 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.

[0032] In general, the figures disclose an invention that seal the interface between the charging handle and the receiver.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] Some embodiments comprise a single spring without a plunger to bias the handles/levers into the locked position.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] In some embodiments the charging handle main body is constructed of 7075-T6 aluminum or similar material with comparable properties such as carbon fiber composites or aircraft grade polymers.

[0043] In some embodiments the handles/levers of the charging handle are constructed of 7075-T6 aluminum or similar material with comparable properties such as carbon fiber composites or aircraft grade polymers.

[0044] In some embodiments the spring-loaded plate described herein is constructed of 7075- T6 aluminum or similar material with comparable properties such as carbon fiber composites or aircraft grade polymers.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] In some embodiments the sealing member comprises an integrated O-ring wherein an O-ring is integrated into the receiver and disposed at the interface between the bottom surface of the charging handle and the top surface of the lower receiver. In some embodiments the integrated O-ring is a rubber cylinder. In some embodiments the integrated O-ring is graphite packing. In some embodiments the integrated O-ring is other material disclosed herein. In some embodiments the integrated O-ring is received into the lower receiver in a channel or lacuna formed in the top surface of the lower receiver. In some embodiments the channel is U-shaped with the base of the U-shape extending substantially across the width of the charging handle-lower receiver interface. In some embodiments the arms of the U extend along the surface of the lower receiver, along the primary axis of the charging handle toward the muzzle. In some embodiments a sealing member is shaped as a straight bar. In some embodiments the O-ring is positioned at the stock-end of the charging handle. In some embodiments the O-ring is positioned between the stock -end of the charging handle and the stalk. In some embodiments the O-ring is positioned between the end of the charging handle and the muzzle. However, in each placement the O-ring is configured to close the gap between the charging handle and the lower receiver.

[0054] In some embodiments the O-ring comprises the sealing member. Some embodiments comprise a combination of sealing members disposed at the charging handle-lower receiver interface, with a first sealing member on the lower receiver and a second sealing member on the charging handle. In some embodiments the first member and the second sealing member are shaped to improve the seal between the two sealing members. In some embodiments the combination shape may comprise a tongue and groove. In some embodiments the combination may comprise a dove tail. In some embodiments the shape may be a wedge so the force of contact between the first sealing member and the second sealing member increases as the charging handle moves forward and places the bolt carrier group into battery.

[0055] 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.