Abstract:
A charging handle for a firearm having a receiver, a bolt and bolt carrier reciprocating within the receiver and a gas tube for directing powder gases to cause operation of the bolt carrier and bolt within the receiver. The charging handle is a generally elongated member having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion with the rearward portion having a portion that extends outside of the receiver that is sized, shaped and adapted to be grasped by a hand of a shooter using the firearm. The charging handle has grooves and gas deflecting surfaces for diverting and deflecting powder gases to protect the shooter from powder gases that may develop around the charging handle when the firearm is fired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When a cartridge is fired in a firearm the powder in the cartridge is ignited by the primer and as the powder burns it generates gases that propel the bullet out of the cartridge case and down the barrel of the firearm. Normally, most of these gases leave the bore of the barrel of the firearm after the bullet exits the bore since the rear of the barrel is sealed during the firing process by the cartridge case which expands outward under the pressure of the gases to seal the chamber area of the barrel. 
     With certain firearms a portion of the gases in the bore of the barrel are used to open the action of the firearm. In such cases there is usually a port or hole along the barrel that permits a portion of the gases to be directed outside of the bore of the barrel. These gases either impinge upon a part, usually called an operating rod, that serves to unlock the breech of the firearm or are fed via what is usually called a gas tube to what is called a bolt carrier where the gases exert a rearward force upon the bolt carrier that results in unlocking the bolt and causing it to move to its open rearward position. In the M-16 or M-15 family of firearms, the bolt carrier also has a part called the bolt carrier key for receiving the gases from the gas tube. In this latter type of operation this results in gases in and around the bolt carrier in the receiver that need to be dispersed. 
     In the well known M-16 or AR-15 family of firearms, two holes are provided in the bolt carrier that are designed to vent gases within the bolt carrier outward and away from the receiver area of the firearm. However, these holes in practice do not vent all of the gases outside of the receiver and in addition a certain amount of gases are dumped into the receiver of the firearm when the bolt carrier key with its gas hole moves rearward away from the rear portion of the gas tube when the bolt carrier is pushed to the rear under gas pressure. This gas tends to travel to the rear of the receiver along the paths created by the charging handle and its associated pathway in the receiver. Since the rear portion of the charging handle is located near the eyes of the shooter this has the undesirable and dangerous effect of diverting gases into shooter&#39;s eyes which can cause eye damage or at least interfere with the shooter&#39;s ability to see properly and hence shoot accurately. 
     As might be expected, this undesirable and potentially dangerous gas situation becomes even more severe with a firearm that is fired fully automatically. It has also been determined that the dangerous gas situation is severe in suppressed firearms. 
     In the past there have been various attempts to remedy or alleviate this undesirable and dangerous problem. These have included the use of silicone rubber seals and the addition of baffles. Unfortunately, gas and heat resulted in the eroding away of the silicone rubber seals and baffles have a tendency to fall off the receiver of the firearm. 
     This invention eliminates the undesirable and dangerous problem of gas near the eyes of the shooter. With this invention, the gas in the vicinity of the firearm charging handle is controlled and is diverted away from the eye region of the shooter. This is also accomplished without any modifications to the basic firearm by a simple substitution of a new charging handle that is fully compatible with the existing firearm receiver and other associated parts. With this new charging handle the gas is both diverted and the eyes of the shooter are also shielded. In addition, the new charging handle also has provisions for making it easier to be operated by the shooter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to firearm charging handles for loading a firearm with a cartridge and more particularly to firearm charging handles that protect the shooter and are easier to operate. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that has increased safety for the shooter. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that protects the eyes of the shooter. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that controls gases that develop within the receiver of a firearm when it is fired. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that is particularly useful with firearms that fire semi-automatically and or fully automatically. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that is particularly useful with firearms that fire semi-automatically and or fully automatically such as the AR-15 or M-16 type firearms. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that is particularly useful with firearms that fire semi-automatically and or fully automatically that are sound suppressed. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that avoids sighting problems related to powder gases in the shooter&#39;s eyes. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that diverts powder gases away from the shooter&#39;s eyes. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that shields the eyes of the shooter from undesired and dangerous powder gases. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that is easier to operate than current charging handles. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that is easily operated by the shooter while wearing gloves. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that has an improved latch. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that has an improved latch that is more comfortable for the shooter to operate than the current latch. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that is readily interchangeable with existing AR-15 or M-16 type firearms family charging handles. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm charging handle that requires no modification of the firearm for its use. 
     These and other objects will be apparent from the charging handle invention for a firearm having a receiver, a bolt reciprocating within the receiver and a gas tube for directing powder gases to cause operation of the bolt within the receiver in which the charging handle includes a generally elongated member having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, with the rearward portion having at least a portion thereof extending outside of the receiver and being sized, shaped and adapted to be grasped by a hand of a shooter using the firearm and means for protecting the shooter from powder gases that may be around the charging handle when the firearm is fired. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a prior art firearm with a prior art charging handle illustrating the gas problem with a prior art charging handle and previous attempts to alleviate this problem; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a prior art charging handle such as set forth in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the prior art charging handle illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the charging handle of the invention illustrating how powder gases are blocked to protect the eyes of the shooter; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the charging handle of the invention set forth in FIG. 4 illustrating how powder gases are diverted to protect the eyes of the shooter; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the charging handle of the invention set forth in FIG. 4 taken on the line  6 — 6  thereof; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the charging handle of the invention set forth in FIG. 4 taken on the line  7 — 7  thereof; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the charging handle of the invention set forth in FIG. 5 taken on the line  8 — 8  thereof; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view of the charging handle of the invention set forth in FIG. 8 taken in the direction of the line  9 — 9  thereof; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged bottom view of a portion of the charging handle of the invention set forth in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a prior art latch and associated handle portion for a charging handle; 
     FIG. 12 is a top plan view of an improved latch for a charging handle that replaces the latch set forth in FIG. 11; and 
     FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of the latch illustrated in FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevational view of the receiver area of an M-16 type firearm that is designated generally by the number  10  with portions broken away. The firearm  10  has the well known upper and lower receiver  12  and  14 , bolt  16 , bolt carrier  18  with its bolt carrier key  20 , charging handle  22  and a gas tube  24 . The firearm  10  illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown after a cartridge  26  has been fired and its bullet has just left the barrel  28 . At this time, part of the powder gases generated from the fired cartridge  26  have passed through the gas tube  24  and into the bolt carrier key  20  with the resulting rearward movement of the bolt carrier  18  and bolt carrier key  20 . 
     The bulk of the released powder gases are expelled out of the bolt carrier  18 , through the ports  30  and out of the ejection port  32  of the firearm  10 . However, powder gases are also released in the area designated by the letter A that is inside the receiver  12  of the firearm  10 . These powder gases remain in the receiver  12  and this creates a positive gas pressure area. This positive gas pressure area and the rearward movement of the bolt  16  and the bolt carrier  18  when the firearm  10  is fired forces powder gases along with dirt and other debris inside the receiver  12  to the rear of the receiver  12  and out of the cracks  34  between the charging handle  22  and the upper receiver  12  and into the face and eyes of the person firing the firearm  10  as illustrated by the letter B. 
     Such gases, dirt and other debris not only interfere with the accurate shooting of the firearm  10 , but also can be dangerous to the shooter and particularly the eyes of the shooter. It should be understood that any reference to powder gas or gases in connection with a charging handle is meant to include not only gases resulting from the combustion of the powder or propellant from cartridges but also may include oil, partially burnt powder, unburnt powder, mud, dust, and other similar matter collected in the firearm  10  in a hostile environment that can be contained in or carried by powder gases. 
     This undesirable problem of having powder gases introduced into the face of the shooter has been recognized in the past and attempts have been made to glue or bond silicone rubber to the charging handle  22  near its rear end portion  36  as illustrated by the numbers  38  and  40  in FIG.  1 . Unfortunately, these rubber seals  38  and  40  tend not to be effective since they are readily eroded away by the heat and force of the powder gases. Another attempt to alleviate this powder gas problem has been through the addition of metal shields such as the shields  44  and  46  attached to the rear end portion  36  of the charging handle  22  as illustrated in FIG.  1 . These shields  44  and  46  are attached to the charging handle  22  by screws (not shown). Unfortunately, these shields are not that effective and they tend to come loose in use. In addition, these shields  44  and  46  tend to interfere with the normal use of the charging handle  22 . Fortunately, this invention does not have these problems associated with the silicone rubber seals  38  and  40  or the add on shields  44  and  46 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 set forth the side and top views of the prior art charging handle designated generally by the number  22  for the M-16 type firearm  10  illustrated in FIG.  1 . As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the charging handle  22  has an elongated body portion  51  with basically smooth and unbroken sides  52  and  54  and basically a smooth and unbroken top surface  56  that terminate in an enlarged handle portion  58  on the rear end portion  36  of the charging handle  22 . Since both of the sides  52  and  54  and the top surface  56  of the charging handle  22  are smooth and unbroken they serve as excellent surfaces for powder gases to travel along and in addition there is really nothing on the handle portion  58  to deflect powder gases to any large extent. It should be noted that the charging handle  22  has a deflecting surface  59  that is shaped like a portion of the circumference of a circle that is located in the upper surface  56  of the handle portion  58 . This deflecting surface  59  that is shaped to conform to the circumference of a circle in the prior art charging handle  22  for the M-16 family of weapons is part of the circumference of a circle with a radius R that is equal to 0.875 of an inch. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 set forth side and top views of the charging handle of the invention that is designated generally by the number  60 . This charging handle  60  has an elongated body portion  62  that is identical to the body portion  51  for the prior art charging handle  22 . This body portion has smooth and unbroken sides  64  and  66  and a smooth and unbroken top surface  68  that are the same as the corresponding surfaces  52 ,  54 , and  56  of the body portion  51 . 
     However, the charging handle invention  60  set forth in FIGS. 4 and 5 has important differences from the prior art charging handle  22  set forth in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 . Specifically, the charging handle  60  has an enlarged and differently configured rear end portion  70 . In this connection, the rear end portion  70  has a generally T-shaped grasping handle portion  72  with an upward extending shield portion  74  that has a forward sloping gas deflecting surface  76  and right and left downward extending shield portions  78   a  and  78   b  that have respective gas deflecting surfaces  80   a  and  80   b . These downward extending shield portions  78   a  and  78   b  are mirror images of each other and are located on the handle portion  72  in position to be located on each side of the adjacent portion of the lower receiver  14  of the firearm  10  when the charging handle  60  is installed in the firearm  10  and is in its normal forward firing position. The downward extending shield portions  78   a  and  78   b  must also be sized, shaped and located on the handle portion  72  to clear the butt stock of the firearm  10  when the charging handle  60  is pulled rearward. 
     As indicated in FIG. 5, the charging handle  60  has a grasping portion  72  with a gas deflecting surface  76  that is different from the surface  59  set forth in FIG.  3 . In this connection, when viewed from the top as illustrated in FIG. 5 the gas deflecting surface  76  is shaped to conform to the circumference of a circle having a radius Ri and as indicated this Ri is related to the previous prior art R set forth in FIG.3 by the relationship: 
     
       
         1.25R≦Ri≦2.0R 
       
     
     Where: 
     R Is the radius of the circle formed by the deflecting surface  59  on the charging handle  22  for the AR-15 or M-16 type family of firearms. 
     This relationship has been determined to be important for the proper deflection of powder gases etc. In the preferred embodiment, Ri is equal to 2.0R or 1.75 inches. 
     Also as indicated in FIG. 5, the charging handle  60  has a rectangular shaped gas groove  84  in its upper surface  68  located adjacent to the grasping portion  72 . FIGS. 6,  7 , and  8  are sectional views taken on the lines  6 — 6 ,  7 — 7 , and  8 — 8  on the views in FIGS. 4 and 5 that illustrate in greater detail the important features of the charging handle invention  60 . As indicated by the sectional view in FIG. 6, the body portion  62  has a generally horseshoe shaped cross section  86  with an open channel  88  in the center of its underside  90 . This same cross section is essentially unchanged for the entire length of the body portion  62 . As also illustrated in FIG. 6, the forward portion  92  of the charging handle  60  has a downward depending portion  94  and a round aperture  96 . This body portion  62  is identical to that of the standard prior art body portion  51  of the standard charging handle  22 . 
     The sectional views in FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  along with the bottom view in FIG. 10 of the rear end portion  70  of the charging handle  60  illustrate important features of the charging handle invention  60  that are different from the conventional charging handle  22 . As illustrated in FIG. 10, the rear end portion  70  of the charging handle  60  has, in addition to the upper gas groove  84 , a lower gas groove  98  that is in fluid communication with the open channel  88  in the underside of the body portion  62  so that any gas in this open channel  88  can readily pass into the lower gas groove  98  and leave the charging handle  60  and the firearm  10 . 
     As previously indicated in FIG. 5, the upper gas groove  84  is rectangular shaped. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the bottom surface  100  of this gas groove  84  makes an angle D with the upper surface  102  of the T-shaped grasping portion  72 . In the preferred embodiment, this angle D is between five degrees and 10 degrees. In addition, this bottom surface  100  of the groove  84  slopes downward toward the right side  66  of the charging handle  60 . Consequently, this groove  84  allows any gases that may move rearward along or adjacent the upper surface  102  of the charging handle  62  to pass into the groove  84  and be diverted by the groove  84  to the right side  66  of the charging handle  62  and away from the firearm  10 . 
     In addition to the gas grooves  84  and  98  that direct powder gases to the right side of and away from the firearm  10 , the charging handle  60  also has the rear portion  70  with the generally T-shaped grasping portion  72  with the upward extending shield portion  74  with the gas deflecting surface  76  and the downward shield portion  78   b  with its gas deflecting surface  80   b  that are also set forth in FIG. 8 as well as the previously described FIGS. 4 and 5. These deflecting surfaces  76  and  80   b  and also  80   a  cooperate with the grooves  84  and  98  to deflect additional gun gases that are not diverted by the grooves  84  and  98  in order to keep powder gases away from the vicinity of the eyes of the shooter. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 10, the wall  104  of the gas groove  98  is shaped to form part of the circumference of a circle with a radius Rq that should be between 0.6 of an inch and 1.0 inch and 0.65 of an inch in the preferred embodiment. Since the wall  104  is formed in the shape of part of the circumference of a circle, it tends to divert gun gases in the lower gas groove  98  not only outward but also forward toward the muzzle or front end portion of the firearm  10 . 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and also FIG. 5, the rear end portion  70  of the charging handle  60  has an upward projecting gas deflecting protrusion  101  that is located in the center of the of the rear end portion  70  adjacent to the shield portion  74 . As illustrated in FIG. 9, the protrusion  101 , when viewed from the grasping handle portion  72  end of the charging handle  60 , has the shape of a portion of the circumference of a circle with a radius Rs equal to substantially one half of an inch and its upper surface  103  is located substantially a distance equal to one half of an inch above the the adjacent upper surface  105  of the rear end portion  70 . This protrusion  101  has curved surfaces  107  and  109  with radii Rv substantially equal to one half of an inch that merge with the upper surface  105 . This protrusion  101  has a forward inclined gas deflecting surface  111  that is located adjacent to the previously described gas deflecting surface  76 . As best illustrated in FIG. 8, the gas deflecting surface is also inclined at the same angle E as the gas deflecting surface  76  which is between 70 degrees and 80 degrees and 80 degrees in the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of a conventional charging handle latch that is designated generally by the number  108 . This latch  108  is illustrated as it is attached by a pin  109  to the handle portion  58  of the conventional charging handle  22 . This latch  108  locks the charging handle  22  in place in its forward position within the receiver of the firearm  10 . The current prior art latch  108  is difficult to use and FIG. 12 illustrates the top view of an improved latch designated generally by the number  110  that overcomes the deficiencies of the previous latch  108 . This new latch  110  has an important feature that is not present on the previous latch  108 . This feature is the addition of an enlarged finger pad area  112  illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 that provides an enlarged surface area  114  that is to be contacted by the finger of the person that is using the firearm  10 . 
     This enlarged surface area  114  allows the user of the firearm to easily exert a larger force to operate the latch  110  than is possible with a conventional prior art latch  108  that does not have this pad portion with its enlarged surface area  114 . The latch with its enlarged surface area  114  is also easier to operate with a hand that has a glove on it. This enlarged surface area  114  is also illustrated in the end view set forth in FIG.  12 . This new latch  110  has a conventional hole  116  that is located and sized to receive a conventional roll pin. In order to reduce the weight of the latch  110  a generally rectangular hole  118  is located in its central portion. 
     The charging handle  60  is made in the following manner. The charging handle  60  can be made in the same manner as the current charging handle  22  from suitable strength aluminum that can be forged or investment cast. Basically, the configuration is identical to the prior art charging handle  22  except that the rear portion  70  is larger and has a different shape as previous indicated. Any necessary forming or shaping is accomplished using conventional cutting, machining and shaping techniques that are well known in the art. The latch  110  is formed in a similar manner, however, in the preferred embodiment it is made by stamping from a suitable grade steel known in the art. The parts are protected by conventional anodizing for aluminum and by Parkerizing or a manganese phosphate coating in the case of the steel latch  110 . The latch  110  is assembled on the charging handle  60  in a conventional manner using the conventional roll pin  118  and a conventional latch spring (not shown). 
     In order to install the charging handle  60 , the prior art charging handle  22  is removed from the firearm  10  in a conventional manner, by pushing the firearm&#39;s take down pin to the left, opening the firearm  10  and removing the bolt carrier and bolt first and then the charging handle  22  from the firearm  10 . The new charging handle  60  is then inserted into the firearm  10  in place of the prior art charging handle  22  and the firearm  10  is reassembled. 
     The new improved charging handle  60  is used in exactly the same manner as the prior art charging handle  22  except that it is easier to grasp and use by the shooter. In addition, the new charging handle  60  prevents or greatly reduces powder gases that are directed toward the eyes and face of the shooter. 
     Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain preferred embodiment, it will be understood that variations or modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.