Ambidextrous charging handle for firearm

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.

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.