U.S. patent application number 14/075745 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-03 for rifle chamber charging assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Timothy L. Greenwood. Invention is credited to Timothy L. Greenwood.
Application Number | 20150247690 14/075745 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54006617 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150247690 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greenwood; Timothy L. |
September 3, 2015 |
Rifle Chamber Charging Assembly
Abstract
A rifle chamber charging assembly incorporating a pawl having a
longitudinal length, a front end, a rear end, and a lateral slide
surface extending rearwardly from the front end; a pull handle; a
pin and socket joint mount interconnecting the pull handle and the
pawl and laterally cantilevering the pull handle from the pawl; a
pivot lug fixedly attached to and extending rearwardly from the
pawl's rear end; a receiver and magazine combination whose receiver
has an ejection port having a longitudinal length, and whose
magazine has a longitudinal length; wherein the pawl has a fitted
longitudinal length which is less than the ejection port's
longitudinal length and which is greater than the magazine's
longitudinal length.
Inventors: |
Greenwood; Timothy L.;
(Hays, KS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Greenwood; Timothy L. |
Hays |
KS |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54006617 |
Appl. No.: |
14/075745 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/1.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 3/72 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 9/38 20060101
F41A009/38; F41A 9/01 20060101 F41A009/01 |
Claims
1. A rifle chamber charging assembly comprising: (a) a pawl having
a front end, a rear end, and a lateral slide surface, the lateral
slide surface extending rearwardly from the pawl's front end; (b) a
handle; (c) mounting means interconnecting the handle and the pawl,
the mounting means laterally cantilevering the handle from the
pawl; and (d) a pivot lug fixedly attached to and extending
rearwardly from the pawl's rear end; wherein the pawl has a
longitudinal length, and further comprising a receiver and magazine
combination wherein the receiver has an ejection port having a
longitudinal length, wherein the magazine has a longitudinal
length, and wherein the pawls' longitudinal length is respectively
less than and greater than those of the ejection port and the
magazine.
2. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 1 further
comprising a bolt mounted slidably within the receiver, the bolt
forming a cartridge rim receiving socket, said socket being fitted
for receiving the pivot lug.
3. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 2 wherein the
cartridge rim receiving socket comprises an oppositely lateral wall
and wherein the pivot lug comprises an oppositely lateral edge
adapted for, upon said socket's receipt of the pivot lug and upon a
rearward pull against the handle, oppositely laterally biasing
against the oppositely lateral wall.
4. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 3 further
comprising a barrel and chamber combination fixedly attached to the
receiver, the pawl's front end being fitted for forward extension
into the chamber.
5. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 4 wherein the
ejection port comprises a pawl tripping edge which, in combination
with the pawl, is adapted for alternatively retaining the pawl
within the receiver and releasing the pawl from the receiver, the
pawl retention occurring while the pawl's front end is positioned
forwardly from the ejection port, and the pawl release occurring
upon rearward movement of the pawl's lateral slide surface over
said edge.
6. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 5 further
comprising a chamber insertion stop connected operatively to the
pawl, the chamber insertion stop being adapted for, upon the
forward extension of the pawl's front end into the chamber,
positioning the handle rearwardly from the pawl tripping edge.
7. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 6 wherein the
barrel and chamber combination's chamber has an annular cartridge
insertion stopping land, and wherein the pawl's chamber insertion
stop comprises a shoulder fitted for contact with said land.
8. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 7 wherein the
handle mounting means comprises a pin and socket joint.
9. The rifle chamber charging assembly of claim 7 wherein the pawl
comprises aluminum and the handle comprises steel.
Description
FILED PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit
of and priority from U.S. provisional patent application No.
61/752,813 filed Jan. 15, 2013. The inventor disclosed in and
applicant of said provisional application is the same person as the
person who is disclosed as the inventor in and applicant of the
instant application. The applicant asserts that structures and
functions of structures disclosed and described in the instant
application are substantially the same as those disclosed in said
provisional application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to magazine fed automatic and
semi-automatic rifles. More particularly, this invention relates to
such rifles which have a laterally opening ejection port and have a
charging handle positioned at the upper rear of the rifle's
receiver.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Semi-automatic and automatic/semi-automatic rifles, such as
AR-15 and M16 rifles, commonly include a charging handle which is
centrally located at the upper rear portion of the weapon's
receiver. Upon manual rearward pulling of such charging handle, the
receiver's bolt carrier and bolt assembly are slidably drawn
rearwardly against the weapon's action spring until the forward end
of the bolt is positioned rearwardly from the rear wall of the well
of the weapon's magazine. Such rearward clearance of such wall
allows the magazine's spring to upwardly dispense a cartridge or
"round" into the receiver. Upon manual release of such charging
handle, the action spring forwardly drives the bolt carrier and
bolt against the dispensed cartridge. Such motion effectively
"charges" the weapon by forwardly driving and inserting the
dispensed cartridge into the rifle barrel's breech chamber.
[0004] While the above described steps of rearwardly pulling and
subsequently releasing an AR15 or M16 rifle's charging handle are
compatible with many aspects and modes of use of such weapons, such
charging handle operation is commonly incompatible with or
functionally interferes with continuity of target sighting. Where,
for example, an AR-15 rifle having telescopic sights is utilized by
a marksman for continuous sighting and surveyal over a field for
potential targets, the weapon is commonly shouldered and held in a
firing orientation. During such rifle sighting use, the weapon's
bolt and bolt receiver are, for safety concerns, commonly
maintained at their forward positions covering an empty breech
chamber. In the event that a target is observed during such rifle
sighting use, the above described charging handle operating steps
must occur prior to firing upon the target. However, the typically
close positioning of an AR-15 rifle's charging handle in line with
and immediately below the scope or rear sight undesirably
interferes with operation of the charging handle during rifle
sighting. Maintenance of a target within a weapon's sight picture
is desirable. However, upon target acquisition during the above
described rifle sighting use of an AR-15 weapon, the marksman
typically must forfeit target acquisition in order to charge the
weapon. Instead of maintaining targeting, the marksman must grasp
the weapon's foregrip with one hand while using the other hand to
swing the breech of the weapon away from the marksman's face while
rearwardly pulling the weapon's charging handle. Such manipulations
typically grossly rotate the rifle's barrel away from its prior
target acquiring orientation.
[0005] Thereafter, in order for such marksman to fire the charged
weapon at the target, the marksman must attempt to reacquire the
target within the weapon's sights. During the above described AR-15
rifle charging process, which occurs between an initial target
sighting or acquisition and an attempt to reacquire the target
within sights, an opportunity for firing upon and striking the
target may be lost.
[0006] The instant inventive rifle chamber charging assembly solves
or ameliorates the problems, defects, and deficiencies noted above
by mechanically associating with such weapon's receiver, magazine
and barrel components an auxiliary charging handle which operates
consistently with continuous target sighting and which functions as
a chamber safety plug during the rifle's other periods of
non-use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A first structural component of the instant inventive rifle
chamber charging assembly comprises a pawl member having a front
end, a rear end, and having a laterally positioned slide surface or
land, such surface extending rearwardly from the pawl's front
end.
[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the
pawl component is composed of aluminum which, relative to the
typically steel rifle receiver and rifle barrel chamber environment
within which the pawl operates, is both structurally inflexible and
non-scratching.
[0009] A further structural component of the instant inventive
rifle chamber charging assembly comprises a handle having a
proximal and a distal end, the proximal end of the handle being
connected by mounting means to the pawl's rearward end. In a
preferred embodiment, the handle comprises durable steel making the
handle rigid, and preferably non-corrosive stainless steel, and the
mounting means preferably comprise a rigid pin and laterally
opening socket joint wherein the pawl component presents the
socket, and wherein the proximal end of the handle comprises the
pin component. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting means
cantilevers the distal end of the handle laterally from the pawl's
rear end.
[0010] A further structural component of the instant inventive
rifle chamber charging assembly comprises a pivot lug which is
fixedly attached to and extends rearwardly from the rearward end of
the pawl component. In the preferred embodiment, the pivot lug at
least presents an oppositely laterally positioned edge which may
engage and hook against an oppositely lateral aspect or wall of a
rifle's bolt's cartridge rim receiving socket.
[0011] In operation of the instant inventive rifle chamber charging
assembly, the entirety of the pawl component may be oppositely
laterally inserted into and through the rifle's cartridge ejection
port or chamber window. The front end of the pawl may thereafter be
forwardly moved and slidably inserted into the rearwardly opening
breech chamber of the rifle's barrel. Thereafter, the rifle's bolt
and bolt carrier may be slidably moved, typically via release of
the rifle's action spring, forwardly until the pivot lug component
is received within the bolt's cartridge rim receiving socket. Upon
such positionings of the pawl within the chamber and the pivot lug
within the rim socket, the pawl advantageously functions as a
safety plug while the handle's cantilevering lateral extension from
the ejection port advantageously serves as a visual marker of the
presence of such plug.
[0012] In the event of a need for swiftly charging the weapon, a
rearward manual pulling force may be applied to the handle, such
pull producing clockwise torque (assuming the rifle is right
handed) about the pivot lug's hooked and anchoring engagement
within the rim socket. Such clockwise torque is mechanically
translated to the pawl's lateral slide surface and to the lateral
side wall of the rifle's breech chamber. Upon such lateral contact,
the chamber's lateral side advantageously functions as a rotation
stopping surface. Thereafter, application of an increased rearward
pull against the handle maintains the laterally and oppositely
laterally opposed contacts between the chamber and rim socket while
the pawl member and the rifle's bolt are simultaneously slidably
driven rearwardly within the receiver. Such rearward bolt driving
action may continue until the forward end of the pawl reaches the
forward end or rim of the rifle's ejection port, at which point the
clockwise torque imposed by the pull upon the handle ceases to be
resisted by any rotation stopping structure. Accordingly, upon
rearwardly drawing the pawl, the ejection port's forward rim
advantageously functions as a pawl tripping member for pivoting
release of the pawl member from the receiver.
[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, a
cartridge dispensing magazine is also provided, and the length of
the pawl member is specially fitted and sized so that the above
described laterally outward release of the pawl member may occur
only after the forward face of the bolt has been driven rearwardly
within the receiver to a point which is rearward of the rearward
wall of the magazine's well. Accordingly, the length of the pawl is
preferably greater than the magazine's longitudinal length (and
greater than such magazine's cartridges) and is less than the
ejection port's longitudinal length. Upon such pawl member sizing
and upon such bolt driving, the magazine is freed to upwardly
dispense a cartridge, and the bolt is sequentially freed to
forwardly charge the cartridge into the chamber in a normal fashion
immediately following the above described pawl tripping and outward
pivoting removal of the pawl member. Such fitting and sizing of the
pawl member advantageously allows the assembly's handle and pawl
combination to function as an auxiliary charging handle.
[0014] Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the
provision of a rifle chamber charging assembly which incorporates
structures as described above, and which arranges those structures
in relation to each other in manners described above, for
achievement of the benefits and functions described above.
[0015] Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the
instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art
upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon
review of the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the instant inventive rifle chamber charging assembly.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an upper view of the structure depicted in FIG.
1.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts rifle receiver, bolt carrier, bolt, magazine,
and cartridge chamber components which are preferably incorporated
within the instant inventive assembly.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view as indicated in FIG. 3.
[0020] FIG. 5 redepicts the structure of FIG. 4, the view
alternatively showing the rifle's bolt carrier, bolt, pawl, and
handle drawn rearwardly.
[0021] FIG. 6 redepicts the structure of FIG. 5, the view showing a
chambered cartridge, and showing bolt and bolt carrier components
at forward positions.
[0022] FIG. 7 presents an alternate configuration of the assembly
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Drawing
FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive rifle
chamber charging assembly is referred to generally by Reference
Arrow 1. The assembly 1 comprises a longitudinally extending pawl
member having a rearward base end 2, a forward extension 4, and a
front end 6. The pawl member's forward extension 4 preferably forms
a lateral slide surface 12, such surface extending rearwardly from
the pawl's front end 6.
[0024] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembly 1
preferably further comprises a pull handle 16, such handle
preferably having a forwardly curved distal end 18 for ergonomic
retention of fingers during manual pulling of the handle. The
assembly further comprises mounting means which are adapted for
rigidly and securely interconnecting the proximal end of the handle
16 with the rearward end of the pawl member 2,4,6, and are adapted
for laterally cantilevering the handle 16. In a preferred
embodiment, such mounting means comprise a laterally opening socket
19 and pin joint, the pin component of such joint comprising the
proximal end of handle 16. In order to securely retain the proximal
end of handle 16 within socket 19, a set screw 28 which turns
within threaded socket 26 may be provided. Alternatively, a
vertically transverse shear pin (not depicted within views) may be
used to anchor the proximal end of handle 16 within socket 19.
[0025] Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2, a further structural
component of the instant inventive assembly 1 comprises a pivot lug
22 which is fixedly attached to and extends rearwardly from the
pawl's rear or base end 2. In the preferred embodiment, the pivot
lug 22 at least has an oppositely laterally positioned (with
respect to the lateral handle 16 and the lateral slide surface 12)
cartridge rim socket engaging edge or corner 24.
[0026] In use of the assembly 1, an operator may, for example,
grasp handle 16 and may insert the pawl 2,4,6 oppositely laterally
into and through a laterally opening ejector port or chamber window
of the type commonly present within the receiver of an AR-15 or M16
rifle. Thereafter, the operator may release such weapon's bolt and
bolt carrier to forwardly slide within the receiver toward base end
2 and toward such end's pivot lug 22. Provided that the pawl 2,4,6
is axially aligned with such weapon's rifle bore, such forward bolt
sliding motion advantageously causes the bolt's front end cartridge
rim socket to receive the pivot lug 22. Further forward sliding
motion of the bolt and bolt carrier drives the pawl 2,4,6 "home" in
a manner similar to the bolt's conventional chamber charging
action. While the pawl member is held by the bolt at such forward
position, the pawl member advantageously functions as a rifle fire
disabling safety plug, and the laterally cantilevering handle 16
advantageously continuously signals the presence of such plug.
[0027] In the event that the rifle includes a telescopic sight, and
in the event that a marksman operator has shouldered the weapon for
scope assisted surveyal of a field of fire for potential targets,
such operator may, upon viewing a target, quickly use the fingers
of his or her trigger hand to rearwardly pull upon handle 16.
According to the function of the instant invention, such pull upon
handle 16 may be executed without any gross or substantial movement
of the rifle's barrel away from its sighted target acquisition
orientation. Continued rearward pulling upon the handle 16
substantially simultaneously "cycles" the bolt within the receiver
for upward dispensation of a cartridge and for chambering of such
cartridge by the bolt, the assembly advantageously extracting from
the receiver substantially simultaneously with such cycling action.
Under the operation of the assembly 1, the marksman may
advantageously transition between safety mode sighting of a target
to charged weapon sighting without any substantial interruptions of
target sighting.
[0028] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-6, the depicted
automatic or semi-automatic rifle receiver 30, bolt carrier 32,
bolt 34, firing pine 33, barrel 48, cartridge chamber 50, and
cartridge magazine 44 components are preferably considered as
constituting coordinating components included within and as parts
of the inventive assembly 1.
[0029] The rifle's magazine 44 defines an upwardly opening well 45
which stores and dispenses a plurality of rifle rounds or
cartridges 46. As may be particularly seen in Drawing FIG. 5, the
rearward interior wall 43 of the well 45 of the magazine 44 is
positioned forwardly from the rearward edge or rim 40 of the
receiver's ejection port or chamber window 38. Such well wall 43
may constitute a rear wall of a removable "ammo clip" or constitute
an integral receiver component.
[0030] In conventional operation of the rifle, an operator may
grasp and pull rearwardly upon charging handle 36, such pulling
force rearwardly pulling the bolt 34 and bolt carrier 32 against
the rifle's rear action spring (not depicted within views).
Provided that such pull against charging handle 36 draws the bolt
34 and bolt carrier 32 to the rearwardly displaced position
depicted in FIG. 5, wherein the bolt's front end resides rearwardly
from magazine's well wall 43 and resides forwardly from ejection
port rim 40 (i.e., a critical draw pull), the lower magazine spring
of magazine 44 (not depicted within views) may drive cartridges 46
upwardly within well 45. The critical draw of the bolt 34 allows
upward dispensation of an uppermost cartridge 46 into the receiver
30 immediately in front of bolt 34. Thereafter, the operator may
release charging handle 36, allowing the rifle's action spring to
slide the bolt 34 and bolt carrier 32 forwardly to the position
depicted in FIG. 6 at which point such cartridge 46 has been
"driven home" or chambered within chamber 50.
[0031] In order for the instant inventive assembly 1 to replicate
the above described conventional weapon charging action or cycle,
the longitudinal length "L" of the pawl member 2,4,6 is preferably
specially sized and fitted in relation to the longitudinal lengths
of the ejection port 38 and the magazine's well 45 (and
consequently in relation to the lengths of cartridges 46) so that
such length "L" is less than the longitudinal length of the
ejection port 38, and so that such length "L" is greater than the
longitudinal length of the magazine well 45. Such relative sizing
of structures assures that rotation stopping counter-torque (i.e.,
torque stopping laterally outward pivoting of pawl 2,4,6 about rim
socket 39) continues to be exerted by the receiver until the bolt
34 and bolt carrier 32 are drawn rearwardly to the critical draw
point depicted in FIG. 5.
[0032] Counter-torque exerted by receiver components in opposition
to clockwise torque from a pull against handle 16 is initially
provided via impingement of the pawl's lateral slide surface 12
against the lateral aspect or face 53 of cartridge chamber 50. Such
torque and counter-torque moments are about or have a pivoting
locus at the oppositely lateral edge or corner 24 of the at least
oppositely laterally positioned pivot lug 22 and at the oppositely
lateral aspect or face 35 of the bolt's rim socket forming annular
wall 37.
[0033] Upon continued rearward pulling upon handle 16, pawl surface
12 slides along the lateral face 53 of chamber 50 until the front
end 6 of the pawl exits such chamber and laterally outwardly pivots
into contact with breech lock lugs 56. Further rearward sliding of
the pawl trips the pawl end 6 further outwardly to the position
depicted in FIG. 5 where the front end 6 of the pawl contacts the
forward edge or rim 42 of ejection port 38. From that point, a
slight rearward sliding motion of the pawl advantageously causes
such rim 42 to function as a trip latch or ledge which releases the
pawl. Exposure of the pawl's front end 6 within port 38 during
handle pulling allows the pawl to pivot laterally outwardly, and
allows the operator to laterally remove the pawl 2,4,6 and handle
16 from the receiver 30. Following complete removal of the pawl
2,4,6 and handle 16 assembly, the weapon may operate conventionally
to cycle and charge home the round 46 within chamber 50.
[0034] The instant inventive assembly preferably further comprises
pawl insertion stopping means which are adapted to resist forward
sliding insertions of the pawl component 2,4,6 into chamber 50
beyond the position depicted in FIG. 4. Such insertion stopping
means preferably comprises a combination of a conical and annular
shoulder portion 54 of chamber 50 in combination with matching
conical surfaces 8 and 10 which are preferably formed at the front
end 6 of pawl. Such insertion stopping means 8,10,54 advantageously
position the pawl 2,4,6 so that handle 16 normally outwardly
cantilevers from a position slightly to the rear of the ejection
port's front rim 42. The assembly's insertion stopping means may
suitably alternatively comprise the frontal or forward aspect 14 of
handle 16 itself. Other structures such as an annular cartridge
neck transition 52 between the chamber 50 and bore 49 of the gun
barrel 48 may also be suitably alternatively utilized as an
insertion stop.
[0035] The instant invention's rear pivot lug 22, which is at least
positioned oppositely laterally, may be alternatively configured
annularly as indicated in FIG. 7. All reference numerals appearing
in FIG. 7 having the suffix "A" are substantially functionally
identical to similarly numbered structures appearing in FIGS.
1-6.
[0036] The alternative annular pivot lug configuration of FIG. 7
allows the pivot lug 22A to assume the configuration of a common
ejector rim 47 of a common rifle cartridge 46. By configuring the
annular pivot lug 22A for function as an ejector rim 47A (which
configuration includes an oppositely lateral rim socket wall
hooking edge 24A), ejector pin actuated ejections of the pawl
2A,4A,6A, may proceed in a manner substantially identical to the
weapon's ejection of conventional cartridges 46 or spent shells.
While the pawl configuration 2,4,6 of FIGS. 1-6 promotes materials
economy, the alternative cylindrical configuration of FIG. 7
promotes economies in fabrication.
[0037] In use of the instant inventive assembly, the pawl 2,4,6 and
handle 16 components may be initially positioned and situated, as
depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. While the rifle is shouldered and used
for target sighting, the operator typically has difficulty grasping
the weapon's conventional charging handle 36 to cycle and charge
one of the cartridges 46 into chamber 50, such charging handle
motion being directed toward the operator's face. However, upon
provision of the instant inventive assembly, the operator may
alternatively reach forward, grasp handle 16, and pull rearwardly
until the pawl 2,4,6 and the bolt 34, are drawn rearwardly to the
position depicted in FIG. 5. At that point, the pawl 2,4,6
advantageously trips laterally and outwardly through ejection port
38, and the bolt 34 and bolt carrier 32 substantially
simultaneously charge cartridge 46 home to the position depicted in
FIG. 6. All of such manipulations may be advantageously performed
without displacing the weapon from its shouldered position and
without any gross motion of the weapon away from a pre-selected
target sighting orientation. Accordingly, the instant inventive
assembly markedly enhances the functionality of the weapon during
cartridge charging use. At other times, while cartridge charging
does not occur, the inventive assembly functionally serves as a
chamber plug safety.
[0038] While the principles of the invention have been made clear
in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may
make modifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and
components of the invention without departing from those
principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and
drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting
sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with
the appended claims.
* * * * *