Latchless charging handle
OwnerJames Wesley Cupps, David Vernon Hillinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latchless charging handle that allows for the charging of a rifle without the need to first release a charge handle latch is provided herein. The latchless charging handle contains a detent ball assembly that engages a latch pocket on the rifle's upper receiver and acts as the charging handle's latch mechanism. When a rifle operator charges the rifle, the operator exerts a pulling force on the latchless charging handle that causes the detent ball to depress thereby freeing the charging handle from the rifle's upper receiver. When the bolt returns to battery, the detent ball assembly re-engages the latch pocket on the rifle's upper receiver and secures the charging handle.
Claims20
A charging handle comprising:
- a detent ball assembly that secures the charging handle to a firearm when the charging handle is not in use;
- an interface for interfacing the charging handle with the bolt of a firearm, wherein the interface contains a gas tube that allows gases generated from the firing of a cartridge to cycle the bolt of the firearm;
- and a charging bar handle located at the rearward portion of the charging handle that is connected to the interface by way of a mechanical fastener, the charging bar handle allowing a user to retract the charging handle to charge the firearm.
An apparatus comprising:
- a latchless charging handle for charging a firearm, the latchless charging handle having:
- a bolt interface that interfaces with a bolt or a bolt assembly of the firearm, the bolt interface being a generally elongated member with an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward part that interfaces with the bolt or the bolt assembly of the firearm, and a rear part that is attached to a charging bar handle, the charging bar handle having a handhold that allows users to actuate the latchless charging handle from either side of the firearm;
- a gas tube hole bored into the bolt interface that directs combusted powder gases to cause operation of the firearm's bolt or bolt assembly;
- and a detent hall assembly that holds the latchless charging handle in a fixed position relative to the firearm when the latchless charging handle is not being actuated by a user.
A charging handle for a rifle comprising:
- an elongated bolt interface with a forward part that interfaces with a bolt or a bolt assembly of the AR-15® rifle, the forward part of the bolt interface also having a gas tube hole that directs combusted powder gases to the bolt or the bolt assembly so that the bolt or the bolt assembly may cycle, the elongated bolt interface also having a rear part containing a detent ball assembly that engages with a latch pocket on the AR-15® rifle to secure the charging handle, the detent ball assembly comprising a detent ball residing within a detent ball assembly cylinder that is shaped so that the detent ball cannot exit the cylinder, the detent ball being held in place by spring pressure provided by a spring within the detent ball assembly cylinder, the detent ball compressing into the detent ball assembly cylinder when the charging handle is actuated, the rear part of the elongated bolt interface also containing a mechanical connection means for securing a charging bar handle to the charging handle, the charging bar handle comprising one or more handholds that allow users to actuate the charging handle, the charging bar handle being shaped so that it does not interfere with sights or a scope system mounted on the AR-15® rifle, and the charging handle being able to be actuated by users from either side of the AR-15® rifle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.