Handle assembly for charging a direct gas impingement firearm

A charging mechanism for a firearm, said charging mechanism comprising:

• a bolt carrier extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a gas tube extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a handle assembly having a body and an elongated member extending from said body toward said bolt carrier substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said elongated member disposed about said gas tube and movable relative to said gas tube between a forward position and a charging position, said elongated member engaging and moving said bolt carrier from a firing position to a rearward position as said handle assembly moves from said forward position to said charging position;
• wherein said elongated member defines a hole substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said gas tube disposed within said hole and said handle assembly movable along said gas tube between said forward and charging positions.

A firearm comprising:

• a receiver defining a receiver bore extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a bolt carrier disposed in said receiver bore and moveable relative to said receiver along said longitudinal axis between a firing position and a rearward position;
• a hand guard coupled to said receiver;
• a gas tube disposed at least partially within and fixed relative to said hand guard and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a handle assembly at least partially disposed in said hand guard and moveable between a forward position and a charging position with said handle assembly having a body and an elongated member extending from said body toward said bolt carrier substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said elongated member disposed about said gas tube and movable relative to said gas tube between said forward and charging positions with said elongated member engaging said bolt carrier to move said bolt carrier from said firing position to said rearward position when said handle assembly moves from said forward position to said charging position;
• wherein said bolt carrier has a key extending toward said handle assembly with said elongated member engaging said key to move said bolt carrier from said firing position to said rearward position as said handle assembly moves from said forward position to said charging position;
• and
• wherein said gas tube is at least partially disposed within said key when said bolt carrier is in said firing position and said gas tube is spaced from said key when said bolt carrier is in said rearward position with said gas tube fluidly coupled to said key in said firing position.

A firearm comprising:

• a receiver defining a receiver bore extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a bolt carrier disposed in said receiver bore and moveable relative to said receiver along said longitudinal axis between a firing position and a rearward position;
• a hand guard coupled to said receiver;
• a gas tube disposed at least partially within and fixed relative to said hand guard and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a handle assembly at least partially disposed in said hand guard and moveable between a forward position and a charging position with said handle assembly having a body and an elongated member extending from said body toward said bolt carrier substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said elongated member disposed about said gas tube and movable relative to said gas tube between said forward and charging positions with said elongated member engaging said bolt carrier to move said bolt carrier from said firing position to said rearward position when said handle assembly moves from said forward position to said charging position;
• wherein said handle assembly is slidably coupled to said hand guard to retain said handle assembly at least partially within said hand guard and to facilitate movement of said handle assembly between said forward position and said charging position;
• and
• wherein said hand guard defines a first support and a second support with said body of said handle assembly slidably coupled to said first support and said elongated member slidably coupled to said second support to rotationally retain said handle assembly relative to said longitudinal axis and to facilitate movement of said handle assembly between said forward position and said charging position.

A charging mechanism for a firearm, said charging mechanism comprising:

• a bolt carrier extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a gas tube extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a handle assembly having a body and an elongated member extending from said body toward said bolt carrier substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said elongated member disposed about said gas tube and movable relative to said gas tube between a forward position and a charging position, said elongated member engaging and moving said bolt carrier from a firing position to a rearward position as said handle assembly moves from said forward position to said charging position;
• wherein said bolt carrier has a key extending toward said handle assembly with said elongated member engaging said key to move said bolt carrier from said firing position to said rearward position as said handle assembly moves from said forward position to said charging position;
• and
• wherein said gas tube is at least partially disposed within said key when said bolt carrier is in said firing position and said gas tube is spaced from said key when said bolt carrier is in said rearward position with said gas tube fluidly coupled to said key in said firing position.