U.S. patent application number 14/151030 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-09 for extended charging handle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shannon D. Dickinson. Invention is credited to Shannon D. Dickinson.
Application Number | 20150192376 14/151030 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53494895 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150192376 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dickinson; Shannon D. |
July 9, 2015 |
Extended Charging Handle
Abstract
A charging handle for the M16/M4/AR-15 family of rifles,
comprising a longitudinal extension bar spacing the grip from the
operating arm and from the receiver-mating recess normally found on
the grip. The extension bar spaces the grip rearwardly of the
receiver group, over the forward end of the stock, to provide
better access and clearance to the user, especially under stress,
when wearing bulky gloves, or when large optics or other
accessories are located on the rear of the receiver.
Inventors: |
Dickinson; Shannon D.;
(Alpena, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dickinson; Shannon D. |
Alpena |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53494895 |
Appl. No.: |
14/151030 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/1.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 3/72 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 7/02 20060101
F41A007/02 |
Claims
1. For an AR-15 style rifle, a charging handle comprising an
operating arm and a grip and a receiver-mating recess, the
improvement comprising: an extension bar between the operating arm
and the grip, the extension bar spacing the grip from the
receiver-mating recess and including a forward end defining the
receiver-mating recess at a location spaced forwardly from the
grip, the extension bar comprising a rigid body having a width at
least at the forward end greater than a width of the operating arm,
equal to or greater than a width of the receiver-mating recess, and
less than a width of the grip.
2. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar
comprises a single fixed body.
3. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar
comprises a removable length-adjusting segment between the grip and
the operating arm.
4. The charging handle of claim 3, wherein the removable
length-adjusting segment comprises a dovetail configuration at
forward and rear ends thereof for mating with matching dovetail
configurations on the extension bar.
5. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar
comprises a latch having an elongated latch arm extending the
length of the extension bar, and further comprises a slot means
along a side thereof for supporting the latch arm.
6. The charging handle of claim 5, wherein the slot comprises a
lower shelf supporting and overlying a lengthwise portion of a
lower side of the latch arm, and further wherein an upper side of
the latch arm is uncovered.
7. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar
comprises a rectangular bar.
8. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the width of the
extension bar is constant from a forward end adjacent the operating
arm to a rear end adjacent the grip.
9. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar has a
thickness equal to a thickness of the operating arm and of the
grip.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY BENEFIT CLAIM
[0001] Not applicable.
FIELD
[0002] The subject matter of the present application is in the
field of charging handles for the M16/M4/AR-15 family of
rifles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The M16/M4/AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle employs a manual
charging handle used to selectively operate the reciprocating bolt
in the receiver. The charging handle has a long operating arm
normally residing inside the receiver, and an external "T"-grip
accessible to the firearm operator at the rear of the receiver. The
T-grip includes a rounded relief cut or recess that provides a
rounded abutment or shoulder that mates with a rounded abutment or
stop at the rear end of the receiver, so that the middle of the
T-grip is partly recessed into the receiver. The T-grip further
includes a latch that latches the T-grip to the rear of the
receiver while the bolt reciprocates during firing. The latch is
configured to be disengaged when the T-grip is grasped and pulled
back.
[0004] The charging handle is primarily used to load a cartridge
from a fresh magazine when the magazine is inserted with the bolt
closed on an empty chamber--the handle is pulled back to manually
retract the bolt, and then released to chamber a cartridge. The
charging handle is used secondarily for manually clearing a jammed
case or unfired cartridge from the chamber when the action fails to
cycle--the handle is pulled back to retract the bolt and eject the
case/cartridge, and then released to chamber a new cartridge.
[0005] In the stress of a firefight or the hurry of a competition,
when wearing gloves, or when using bulky optics which overhang the
rear of the receiver, it might be more difficult for a shooter to
find the T-grip by feel and/or to use the T-grip to operate the
charging handle.
[0006] It is known to use "extended" charging handles, where the
T-grip is modified with lateral extensions to make it easier to
operate. These are not always convenient, however, since the
extensions might snag on clothing or interfere with access to the
bolt release and forward assist features on the sides of the
receiver. Also, prior extended charging handles do not effectively
address the issue of bulky optics overhanging the rear of the
receiver.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] I have invented an extended charging handle for the
M16/M4/AR-15 family of rifles (hereafter collectively "AR-15"), in
which an extension bar has been added between the T-grip and the
operating arm to longitudinally space the T-grip from the receiver.
The extension bar comprises a body wider than the operating arm and
narrower than the T-grip, with at least the forward end of the
extension bar having a width equal to or greater than the width of
the rounded receiver stop to support a rounded receiver-mating
relief cut or "recess" portion defining a rounded stop surface. The
extension bar also includes an elongated side slot for an elongated
latch arm when a conventional latch arm is used.
[0008] In a first form the extension bar comprises a one-piece
fixed-length body. In a second form the extension bar comprises at
least one removable intermediate segment for adjusting the length
of the extension bar. The removable segment of the extension bar
can have a dovetail cutout at one end and a dovetail tongue at the
other end to mate with matching tongue and cutout portions of the
extension bar.
[0009] In a further form, the elongated slot for the elongated
latch arm in the extension bar is only a half-slot, i.e. it
comprises only a lower shelf or shoulder to support the latch arm.
This discourages the accumulation of debris that could interfere
with operation of the latch.
[0010] These and other features and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light
of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a rear right-side perspective view of an AR-15
type rifle, showing a prior art charging handle in its normal
forward position in solid lines, and showing it retracted in
phantom lines.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear right-side perspective view of an AR-15
type rifle, showing a charging handle according to the present
invention in its normal forward position.
[0013] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows the inventive
charging handle retracted.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the prior art charging handle of
FIG. 1 next to the charging handle of FIG. 2 according to the
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a left-side rear perspective view of an AR-15 type
rifle, showing an adjustable-length version of a charging handle
according to the invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but shows the adjustable-length
charging handle in exploded assembly view.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the charging handle of FIG. 4, with
a modified support for the elongated latch arm.
[0018] FIG. 7A shows the charging handle of FIG. 7 from a left-side
rear perspective view of the rifle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring first to FIG. 1, an AR-15 type rifle is shown at
10, with a receiver 12 having an upper rear end 14 terminating in a
rounded abutment or stop 16 designed to receive a grip portion 22
of a charging handle 20. Specifically, the rounded stop 16 is
designed to mate with a rounded receiver-mating recess 22a defining
a rounded stop surface located between the ears or ends 22b of the
grip. This rounded configuration is believed to be designed to
better distribute forces and to reduce wear on the receiver and
handle when the handle slams home. It is a standard receiver
configuration on this type of rifle.
[0020] Charging handle 20 has an operating arm 24 located inside
the receiver 12 when the charging handle is in the "home" or
forward position shown in solid lines. A forward end of the
operating arm (not shown) selectively operates the rifle's bolt in
known manner.
[0021] Charging handle 20 is often milled from a wear-resistant
aluminum alloy, and except for the latch structure (including any
related pivot pin and spring structure) is believed to be milled
from a single piece or billet of metal.
[0022] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, when the charging
handle is in the home position, grip portion 22 is partly recessed
into the rear end of the upper receiver 14, with a middle portion
including recess 22a residing in a slot 16a (FIG. 3) under the
rounded stop 16. Charging handle includes a latch 26 (FIG. 4,
bottom handle) whose latch-end 26a automatically engages a notch or
similar strike 17 (FIG. 5), usually on the left side of the
receiver, to secure the handle in place when not operating the
bolt.
[0023] As seen in FIG. 1, grip 22 on charging handle 20 might be
difficult to operate in a hurry under certain circumstances.
Obstructions on the receiver such as forward assist 13 or
rear-hanging optic 15 can interfere with the operator's access to
the charging handle, and slow down its use, particularly under
stress or when wearing thick gloves. This can be disadvantageous or
even dangerous, depending on the situation.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, I have invented an
improved charging handle 30, with an intermediate extension bar 32
that spaces the grip 22 from the operating arm 24 and spaces the
receiver-mating recess 22a from the grip. Extension bar 32
comprises a strong, rigid body having a width W1 greater than the
width W2 of the operating arm 24, and equal to or greater than the
width W3 of upper rear end 14 of the receiver (in particular
rounded stop 16) in order to support mating recess 22a, to increase
the strength and rigidity of the handle when retracted, and to
provide a support for an elongated latch arm 36. The thickness (top
to bottom) of extension bar 32 is preferably equal to or greater
than that of grip 22 and operating arm 24. Operating arm 24 remains
unchanged from the prior operating arm of handle 20 in FIG. 1.
[0025] While the length of the extension bar 32 may vary, generally
being around one to three inches, it is preferred that it be long
enough to space grip portion 22 to the rear of the rearmost portion
of receiver 12, for example lower rear portion 13, which may be
wider than the forward end of the stock 11 where it joins the
receiver. The example of FIG. 2 shows grip 22 overlying a portion
of the forward end of stock 11, and illustrates the relative lack
of obstruction to an operator's fingers gripping the side ears 22b
of grip portion 22.
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 3 show that charging handle 30 with extension
bar 32 not only spaces grip 22 rearwardly from the receiver and its
obstructions, but also provides a much greater grip area to operate
the charging handle. Whereas prior handles 20 as in FIG. 1 offer
only a fingertip grip at 22, an operator can often get a full hand
grip on the grip-plus-extension bar 22, 32 of the improved handle.
This might be helpful for people with weaker grip, or for
particularly difficult jams.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a side-by-side comparison of a prior charging
handle 20 (bottom) and a new charging handle 30 (top) according to
the invention. Whereas receiver-mating recess 22a in the middle of
grip 22 of prior handle 20 is actually recessed into the grip,
lying between a midline of the grip ears 22b, receiver-mating
recess 22a on handle 30 does not extend into the grip portion
22--it lies well forward of the grip.
[0028] FIG. 4 also shows the latches 26 and 36 of their respective
handles 20 and 30. Latch 36 must extend from grip ears 22b, where
it is operated by the fingers, to the rear end of operating arm 24
so that its latch end 26a can engage the notch or strike 17 on the
rifle. Latch arm 36 accordingly has an elongated arm portion 36b
extending along extension bar 32 and supported in a mating slot 33
milled into the side of the extension bar.
[0029] Charging handle 30 shown above is milled from a single piece
of aluminum alloy, like a conventional handle 20, and unless noted
otherwise operates in the same fashion as conventional handle 20.
It will be understood that the choice of material and forming
method is not limited to the illustrated example.
[0030] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modified extension bar 32', in which a
portion of the extension bar includes at least one
removable/replaceable adjuster segment 40 between the operating arm
24 and the grip 22 to adjust the length of the extension bar. This
might be needed where the firearm has unusually large optics 15
installed, or where the firearm operator is wearing bulky gloves,
in which case the extension bar can be lengthened by adding one or
more segments 40. Or, where the firearm operator shoots with a
cheek weld on stock 11 unusually close to the receiver, it might be
desired to shorten the extension bar 32 by removing one or more
segments 40.
[0031] In the illustrated example of FIGS. 4 and 5, adjustment
segment 40 includes a rear-facing dovetail 41 and a forward-facing
dovetail cutout 43. Dovetail 41 mates with a dovetail cutout 43 on
a rear portion 32b of extension bar 32', while dovetail cutout 43
mates with a dovetail 41 on a forward portion 32c of extension bar
32'. The dovetail configuration preferably tapers from top to
bottom for a tapered locking fit when vertically mated, preferably
supplemented with an axial connector such as bolt 122 extending
through the extension bar 32' via a mating bore in extension bar
portions 32b, 32c and segment 40. Latch arm slot 33 extends through
the dovetail connections, as best shown in FIG. 5, and the latch
arm in the slot also helps reinforce the connected segments of the
charging handle.
[0032] It will be understood that while a single removable adjuster
segment 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, extension bar 32' could
include multiple removable adjuster segments.
[0033] It will also be understood that while an intermediate
removable dovetailed segment 40 is shown as the currently preferred
structure for adjusting the length of extension bar 32, other types
of connection besides dovetail are possible, and other structures
for adjusting the length of the extension bar are possible.
[0034] FIGS. 7 and 7A show a charging handle 30 according to the
invention, with a modified latch support slot 33' in which the
upper "shelf" or shoulder of extension bar material normally
overlying the latch arm has been removed. Modified slot 33' is
therefore essentially a lower support shelf or shoulder integral
with the body of extension bar 32. The open nature of support 33'
resists the accumulation of debris and dirt that could adversely
affect the operation of latch 36. Other options include making the
upper and/or lower "shelf" portions of extension bar 32
discontinuous, with openings allowing dirt and debris to fall out
or to be more easily cleaned out.
[0035] Description of Operation
[0036] In operation, the charging handle 30 with extension bar 32,
once installed on the rifle, is used in the same manner as a prior
charging handle.
[0037] It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments
represent presently preferred examples of how to make and use the
invention, but are intended to enable rather than limit the
invention. Variations and modifications of the illustrated examples
in the foregoing written specification and drawings may be possible
without departing from the scope of the invention. It should
further be understood that to the extent the term "invention" is
used in the written specification, it is not to be construed as a
limiting term as to number of claimed or disclosed inventions or
discoveries or the scope of any such invention or discovery, but as
a term which has long been conveniently and widely used to describe
new and useful improvements in science and the useful arts. The
scope of the invention should accordingly be construed by what the
above disclosure teaches and suggests to those skilled in the art,
and by any claims that the above disclosure supports in this
application or in any other application claiming priority to this
application.
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