U.S. patent application number 12/408848 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-01 for ergonomic charging handle for a rifle.
Invention is credited to Kasimere McManus.
Application Number | 20090241396 12/408848 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41115000 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090241396 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McManus; Kasimere |
October 1, 2009 |
ERGONOMIC CHARGING HANDLE FOR A RIFLE
Abstract
A charging handle for a rifle or semi-automatic rifle with a
user portion positioned to provide maximum user comfort and minimum
interference with accessories mounted on the rifle.
Inventors: |
McManus; Kasimere;
(Quakertown, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DESIGN IP, P.C.
5100 W. TILGHMAN STREET, SUITE 205
ALLENTOWN
PA
18104
US
|
Family ID: |
41115000 |
Appl. No.: |
12/408848 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61072385 |
Mar 31, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/69.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 3/72 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/69.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 19/39 20060101
F41A019/39 |
Claims
1. An ergonomic charging handle for actuating an automatic or
semi-automatic rifle comprising: a body having a first or tab
portion to be fitted to the actuating mechanism of the rifle; a
second or user portion of said body disposed at an angle to said
tab portion so that when said body is assembled on said rifle said
handle portion extends away from accessories mounted on a barrel of
said rifle in the vicinity of said actuating mechanism of said
rifle.
2. An ergonomic charging handle according to claim 1 wherein said
angle is 0.degree. to less than -90.degree. measured from a
horizontal plane passing perpendicular through a longitudinal axis
of the barrel of said rifle.
3. An ergonomic charging handle according to claim 1 wherein said
user portion is sized to permit an operator to easily engage and
operate said charging handle with one hand, finger, gloved hand,
body parts or mechanical device.
4. A charging handle according to claim 1 wherein said user portion
is provided with an enhanced griping or contact surface.
5. A charging handle according to claim 1 fabricated from metal,
high strength steel, synthetic material, reinforced synthetic
materials, reinforced carbon fiber composites and the like.
6. A charging handle according to claim 1 can be fabricated by one
of casting, forging, machining, molding and the like.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/072,385 filed on Mar. 31, 2008, which is
incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to a charging handle for a
rifle or a semi-automatic rifle where the charging handle is
mounted on the actuation device of the rifle in close proximity to
a receiver rail on the rifle, the receiver rail being used to mount
an accessory such as an optical device or sights for the rifle.
[0003] Prior art devices relied upon a charging handle that was
angled upwardly toward the rail mounted on the receiver/barrel of
the rifle thus making it difficult for the user of the rifle to
actuate the charging handle without the user's fingers interfering
with the optics or a sight mounted on the receiver rail of the
rifle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a charging handle that is
provided with adequate clearance so that the operator's hand,
whether bare or covered with gloves, or any other part of the
user's body engaging the charging handle, does so without
interference with the optics or any sights mounted on the receiver
rail of the rifle.
[0005] According to the present invention, the charging handle is
set at an angle and is of a length that permits the user to easily
grasp the charging handle and apply force necessary to actuate the
rifle.
[0006] Therefore in one aspect, the present invention is an
ergonomic charging handle for actuating an automatic or
semi-automatic rifle comprising a body having a first or tab
portion to be fitted to the actuating mechanism of the rifle, a
second or user portion of the body disposed at an angle to the tab
portion so that when the body is assembled on the rifle the handle
portion extends away from accessories mounted on a barrel of the
rifle in the vicinity of the actuating mechanism of the rifle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the appended drawing figures wherein like numerals
denote like elements.
[0008] FIG. 1a is a front elevational view of a portion of a rifle
with a charging handle according to the prior art;
[0009] FIG. 1b is a front elevational view of a portion of a rifle
such as the rifle in FIG. 1a with a charging handle according to
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 1c is a schematic front elevational view of the rifle
of FIG. 1b with another embodiment of the charging handle of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2a is a front elevational view of a charging handle
according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2b is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 2a;
[0013] FIG. 2c is a bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 2a;
[0014] FIG. 2d is a fragmentary view of the charging handle of the
present invention illustrating curvature of a portion of the
device;
[0015] FIG. 3a is a front elevational view of a charging handle
according to the present invention illustrating certain dimensional
relationships of the device according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3b is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 3a;
[0017] FIG. 3c is a front elevational view of an alternate
embodiment of a charging handle according to the present invention;
and
[0018] FIG. 3d is a top plan view of another embodiment of a
charging handle according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The ensuing detailed description provides preferred
exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope,
applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the
ensuing detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments
will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description
for implementing the preferred exemplary embodiments of the
invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in
the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended
claims.
[0020] The present invention pertains to a charging handle that is
used for a rifle such as a SigSauer 55X series rifle manufactured
and sold by SigSauer of Exeter, N.H.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1a, a rifle 10 such as the SigSauer series
55X, in particular the SigSauer 556 combination rifle/pistol 10 is
fitted with a charging handle 12 which is in turn connected to the
actuator or bolt portion of the rifle 10.
[0022] On top of the barrel 18 of the rifle 10 is a rail 16 to
receive a sight or optical device 14. As shown in FIG. 1a, the
charging handle 12 is positioned so that when a user of the rifle
10 grasps the charging handle 12, it is possible that the user's
finger, especially when the user is wearing a glove, can come into
contact with the optical device 14 thus making it difficult to
actuate the charging handle 12.
[0023] FIG. 1b shows the rifle 10 of FIG. 1a provided with a
charging handle 20 according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 1c shows the rifle 10 of FIG. 1a provided with a
charging handle 21 according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c, the charging handle 20
according to the present invention comprises a first portion 22,
the dimensions and shape of which are dictated by the rifle to
which the charging handle 20 will be fitted.
[0026] The second portion 24 of charging handle 20 is shown
disposed in an angular relationship to portion 22 and may contain
surface patterns or textures 26 that aid in the user's grip of the
charging handle 20.
[0027] The curvature of the portion 24 of the charging handle 20 is
shown in FIG. 2d.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3a, the relationship between portions 22
and 24 of charging handle 20 are illustrated.
[0029] In the illustration of FIG. 3a, the angular relationship A
is between 0 (FIG. 1c) to less than 90 degrees (FIG. 1b). The
angular relationship A is based upon the portion 22 being placed in
the receiver of the rifle perpendicular to the receiver of the
rifle in a plane that is generally taken through the barrel of the
rifle in a horizontal direction. Thus the second portion 23 of
handle 21 can extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the
receiver/barrel as shown in FIG. 1c. As shown in FIG. 1b, the
second portion of handle 20 can extend at an angle measured as a
negative angle from the tab portion 22 of handle 20.
[0030] The dimension B, which is the length of portion 24, can be
of any length suitable to accomplish the aim of the invention which
is to provide an ergonomic handle that will provide the user with
the maximum comfort and ability to actuate the rifle.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3c, the portion 28 of a charging handle 20
can be made longer to accommodate the particular needs of a user of
the device.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3d, the portion 32 of the charging handle
30 can be made with one or more finger grips as shown.
[0033] The device of the present invention provides an operator
with the ability to move the charging handle using his or her hand,
fingers, gloved hand or any other device or body part away from the
optics or sight mounted on the rifle.
[0034] The angle and length of the portion of the charging handle
contacted by the operator can be made to accommodate the best
position for a rifle to which the device of the invention can be
applied.
[0035] As stated above, the portion of the actuator or charging
handle contacted by the operator in a normal operating position can
be provided with a surface that enhances the grip of the user. The
surface can be provided with machined grooves, knobs, indentations
or the like or can be provided with a non-skid surface.
[0036] The charging handle according to the invention is preferably
made of high strength steel. However, the device of the present
invention can be made from any ferrous, non-ferrous, composite or
synthetic material that meets the desired mechanical and physical
properties of the charging handle.
[0037] The charging handle according to the invention can be
manufactured by any of the conventional manufacturing processes
such as machining, forging, casting, molding, layering and the
like.
[0038] As used herein, the term actuating mechanism can be used to
describe a bolt, rod or piston.
* * * * *