U.S. patent application number 12/691700 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-21 for rifle charging handle with ambidextrous tactical latch mechanism.
Invention is credited to Richard Brady Olsen, Devin Richard Rose, John Alan Wagster.
Application Number | 20110174139 12/691700 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44276564 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110174139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Olsen; Richard Brady ; et
al. |
July 21, 2011 |
Rifle Charging handle with Ambidextrous Tactical latch
mechanism
Abstract
Herein is described an ambidextrous tactical latch that allows a
left handed shooter the ability to charge an M-16 or AR-15 rifle or
the like in the same manner as a right handed shooter. The left
handed shooter grasps the pistol grip of the weapon with their left
hand. With their right hand in regular fashion, they grasp the
tactical actuator located on the right hand side of the charging
handle and pull it in a backward motion to effect charging the
weapon.
Inventors: |
Olsen; Richard Brady;
(Rainier, WA) ; Wagster; John Alan; (Gig Harbor,
WA) ; Rose; Devin Richard; (Spanaway, WA) |
Family ID: |
44276564 |
Appl. No.: |
12/691700 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/1.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 35/06 20130101;
F41A 3/72 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/1.4 |
International
Class: |
F41A 3/72 20060101
F41A003/72 |
Claims
1. An ambidextrous tactical latch for charging a rifle comprising:
a charging handle for installation in the upper receiver of a
rifle, said charging handle having a machined radius slot at the
back; a spring installed in the machined radius slot at the back of
the charging handle; a left tactical latch and a right tactical
actuator installed in the charging handle; where the left tactical
latch and the right tactical actuator are held in a latched and
forward position by the spring located between them applying
outward pressure; and where the right tactical actuator has a
control arm or gear located between itself and the left tactical
latch such that when the right tactical actuator is pulled toward
the back of the rifle, the control arm or gear actuates a lever or
gear located on the left tactical latch causing it to disengage
from the upper receiver thus charging the rifle.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] When left handed M-16 or AR-15 shooters cycle the charging
handle of the weapon, they have to reach over the top of the
receiver or change position of the weapon to activate the standard
tactical latch. Currently all M-16 or AR-15 charging handles have
the latch located on the left hand side of the weapon allowing a
right handed shooter to keep his right hand on the handle and
trigger while the left hand can cycle the weapon easily. A left
handed shooter while holding the handle and trigger with the left
hand has to reach over the weapon or change position of the weapon
to reach the latch located on the left hand side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 shows various views of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0003] Reference Number Description (1) charging handle (2) left
tactical latch (3) right tactical actuator (4) spring (5) roll
pins
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0004] Herein is described an ambidextrous tactical latch that
allows a left handed shooter the ability to charge an M-16 or AR-15
rifle in the same manner as a right handed shooter. The left handed
shooter grasps the pistol grip of the weapon with their left hand.
With their right hand in regular fashion, they grasp the tactical
actuator located on the right hand side of the charging handle and
pull it in a backward motion to effect charging the weapon.
[0005] The charging handle (1) is configured and designed to allow
a user to charge the action of an M-16 or AR-15 rifle or the like.
We have modified the design of the standard charging handle to
allow the installation and function of a right tactical actuator
(3) located at the right hand side of the charging handle (1). The
charging handle (1) can be made of an alloy, metallic, plastic or
composite material. The charging handle (1) is preferably shaped as
a rounded tee, but could have another shape at the handle end such
as, but not limited to, squaring or chaffering of the corners. The
charging handle (1) may be approximately 63/4 inches in length
front to back, the front shaft is approximately 0.395 of an inch in
width, and the tee handle may be approximately 2.35 inches in width
left to right. The handle at the back end of the tee has a machined
slot (as detailed in FIG. 1) from the left side completely through
to the right side to accept the left tactical latch (2) and right
tactical actuator (3). The machined slot has a machined radius
channel running from left to right that accepts any form of a
spring (4) and the channel prevents the spring from escaping from
the slot from front to back and can only be installed from the
right or left sides with left tactical latch (2) or right tactical
actuator (3) removed. The charging handle has two holes machined
from top to bottom at the back end to accommodate roll pins (5)
used to secure and allow free pivot of the left tactical latch (2)
and right tactical actuator (3). The left tactical latch (2) is
configured and designed to allow a user to easily grasp the
latching mechanism that locks the charging handle.
[0006] Left tactical latch (2) is located at the left side of the
machined slot at the back end of charging handle (1). It is
preferably held in place by a roll pin that passes through the
charging handle (1) and the left tactical latch (2). The roll pin
could be replaced with a dowel pin or any appropriate pivoting
mechanism. The right tactical actuator (3) is located at the right
side of the machined slot at the back end of the charging handle
(1). It is preferably held in place by a roll pin that passes
through the charging handle (1) and the right tactical actuator
(3). The roll pin may be replaced with a dowel pin or any
appropriate pivoting mechanism. The spring (4) is preferably
located in the radius channel that runs from right to left at the
center of the machined slot in the back of the charging handle (1).
However, it may be located elsewhere so long as it can apply
pressure to tactical latch (2) and tactical actuator (3). The
spring (4) is captured in place by the radius channel and the right
tactical actuator (3) and the left tactical latch (2). However, it
may be held in place by pins, plugs or different variations of a
machined slot.
[0007] These components work together in the following manner. The
charging handle (1) is installed in the upper receiver of an M-16
or AR-15 rifle or the like in standard fashion. The left tactical
latch (2) is installed in the charging handle (1) in standard
fashion. The right tactical actuator (3) is installed in the
charging handle (1) on the right hand side in the same fashion as
the left tactical latch (2). The spring (4) is installed in the
machined radius slot at the back of the charging handle (1) before
the left tactical latch (2) and right tactical actuator (3) are
installed. The left tactical latch (2) can be disengaged from the
upper receiver of the weapon in ordinary fashion by pulling the
handle on the latch in a backward motion. The right tactical
actuator (3) has a control arm or gear located between itself and
the left tactical latch (2). When the right tactical actuator (3)
is pulled in a backward motion, the control arm or gear actuates a
lever or gear located on the left tactical latch (2) causing it to
disengage from the upper receiver. The left tactical latch (2) and
the right tactical actuator (3) are held in a latched and forward
position by spring (4) located between them applying outward
pressure.
[0008] This device can be used by pulling either the left tactical
latch (2) or the right tactical actuator (3) to disengage the left
tactical latch (2) from the upper receiver of the M-16 or AR-15
rifle. The latch handle on both the left tactical latch (2) and the
right tactical actuator (3) can take any shape or size and can be
made of any alloy, metallic, plastic or composite material. The
position of these latches can be moved in any direction and can
pivot from any point. Gas relief ports can be added to the back end
of the charging handle (1). These parts can be painted or finished
in any variation of colors or pigments.
[0009] Levers or gears may be replaced by a linkage mechanism. The
charging handle (1) may take different shape but still offering the
same function. The spring (4) may be made of any material that
carries a spring like attribute and may take any shape. The spring
(4) may be replaced by a torsion spring located at the pivot point
of either the left tactical latch (2) or right tactical actuator
(3).
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