Abstract:
A charging handle for a firearm includes a primary handle and secondary handle in communication with a latch for engaging to or releasing from a firearm&#39;s bolt carrier, allowing for ambidextrous operation of the charging handle, allowing for operation that overcomes interference from optical sights on a firearm, and allowing for operation in various firing positions.

Description:
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/279,866, filed on 18 Jan. 2016. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is generally directed to a charging handle for use with a firearm. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A charging handle for a firearm enables a shooter to retract and lock a bolt carrier in a firearm receiver to chamber a first round from a new magazine while in a firing position and without significantly moving the firearm from a sighted position. In addition, a charging handle facilitates the clearing of a misfired round, jammed ammunition, and bolt malfunctions, all while the shooter remains in a shooting position. Also, if the bolt does not retract sufficiently following firing, such as when shooting low recoil ammunition, the charging handle enables the shooter to manually chamber the next round. 
     What is needed is a charging handle that allows for ambidextrous operation, serving right-handed and left-handed users, serving on firearms that include rear-extending optical sights, and serving to make operation easy in any firing position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a substantial improvement in the design of a charging handle. It places a primary handle and secondary handle into communication with a latch for engaging to or releasing from a firearm&#39;s bolt carrier. 
     The charging handle configured and arranged as described will provide improved functionality, with a minimum of moving parts. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein below with reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a detail of a front elevation of a charging handle, showing internal structure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front, right, and bottom perspective view of the complete charging handle; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevation of the charging handle; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a rear elevation of the charging handle; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a right side elevation of the charging handle; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a left side elevation of the charging handle; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top plan of the charging handle; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom plan of the charging handle; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a front, right, and bottom perspective view of the primary and secondary handles of the charging handle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed towards a charging handle for use with the M16 family of firearms which includes the AR15, AR10, M16 and M4 rifles of all varieties and other derivatives to include those which use a gas piston or blowback operation in place of a gas tube. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is directed to a charging handle  100  consisting of a shaft  110 , primary handle  140 , secondary handle  160 , spring  180 , and connectors  182  and  184 . 
     Shaft  110  is connected to a transverse head  114 , and in a preferred embodiment shaft  110  and head  114  are integrally connected. The lower portion of charging handle  100  has a bolt carrier engagement portion  116  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) which is configured to engage on a portion of a bolt carrier, well known in the prior art as it relates to the M16 family of firearms. Shaft  110  includes a groove  112  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). It will be understood that charging handle  100  is intended to be employed with any M16 type firearm; however with minor modifications, some of its features could be more widely used for other firearms as well. It will also be understood that the charging handle is housed within an upper receiver of an M16 type rifle. 
     The head  114  has a front surface  118  and a rear surface  130  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), with a first recess  122  between the front surface  118  and the rear surface  130  to the right of a centerline of shaft  110  and a second recess  124  between the front surface  118  and the rear surface  130  to the left of the centerline of shaft  110 . First recess  122  includes opening  126  for spring  180 . Head  114  includes holes  128   a ,  128   b ,  130   a , and  130   b , and in a preferred embodiment also includes holes  132   a , and  132   b.    
     Primary handle  140  is integrally formed with a first body portion  142 , arm  144 , first pivot portion  146 , first protrusion  148 , and latch  150 . Arm  144  includes a first charging surface  154  facing the bottom of charging handle  100 , and first body portion  142  includes a first release surface  156  facing the bottom of charging handle  100 . Arm  144  has two ends, connecting at its first end to first body portion  142 , and connecting at its second end to first pivot portion  146 . Branching from the first pivot portion  146 , approximately transversely from arm  144 , are latch  150  and first protrusion  148 . Hole  152  is provided within first pivot portion  146 . 
     Primary handle  140  is pivotally mounted to head  114 , with first protrusion  148 , first pivot portion  146 , and part of arm  144  fitting within first recess  122 . Hole  152  lines up between holes  128   a  and  128   b , with first connector  182  passing through the holes and connecting primary handle  140  to head  114 , so that primary handle  140  pivots about first connector  182 . 
     Secondary handle  160  is integrally formed with a second body portion  162 , top surface  164 , second pivot portion  166 , and flange  170 . Second body portion  162  includes a second charging surface  174  and a second release surface  178  which faces the bottom of charging handle  100 . Hole  176  is provided within second pivot portion  166 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, slot  172  is provided within flange  170 . Slot  172  lines up between holes  132   a  and  132   b , with third connector  186  passing through slot  172  and the holes. The diameter of slot  172  is large enough that third connector  186  will not touch the sides of slot  172  as secondary handle  160  pivots. Rather, third connector  186  will act to stop the rotation of secondary handle  160  when it contacts the top and bottom of slot  172 . 
     Secondary handle  160  is pivotally mounted to head  114 , with top surface  164  covering the top of head  114 . Part of flange  170  and second pivot portion  166  fit within second recess  124 . Hole  176  lines up between holes  130   a  and  130   b , with second connector  184  passing through the holes and connecting secondary handle  160  to head  114 , so that secondary handle  160  pivots about second connector  184 . 
     Spring  180 , which is installed within opening  126 , biases first protrusion  148 . When spring  180  is uncompressed to the greatest extent possible while charging handle  100  is assembled, first protrusion  148  rests against an edge  168  of second pivot portion  166 . This edge  168  blocks first protrusion  148  from moving further, and traps spring  180  within opening  126 . In this position, when charging handle  100  is placed within a firearm for which it is designed, latch  150  engages with the upper receiver of the firearm. While thus engaged, a user can pull charging handle  100 , by pulling on head  114 , first charging surface  154 , and second charging surface  174 , or a combination thereof. This action causes the bolt carrier engagement portion  116  to engage and operate the bolt carrier of the firearm. 
     To release the charging handle  100  when installed on a firearm, the user can retract the primary handle  140  or the secondary handle  160  individually or simultaneously to disengage the latch  150  from the upper receiver of the firearm. The user may prefer one handle over the other based on factors such as whether the user is right-handed or left-handed, the current firing position of the user, and whether the firearm has an optical gun sight or other obstruction that reduces access to one handle. 
     To retract the primary handle  140 , the user pulls first release surface  156  upwards, toward the top of charging handle  100 . This causes primary handle  140  to rotate about first connector  182  to the extent allowed by first recess  122 . This rotation compresses spring  180 , causing latch  150  to move away from shaft  110 . This action causes latch  150  to disengage from the upper receiver of the firearm, allowing the user to remove charging handle  100  from the firearm. If a user releases the first release surface  156 , spring  180  decompresses, pushing first protrusion  148  until it is blocked from moving further by edge  168  of second pivot portion  166 . 
     To retract secondary handle  160 , the user pulls second release surface  178  upwards, toward the top of charging handle  100 . This causes secondary handle  160  to pivot about second connector  184 . Edge  168  rotates clockwise, putting pressure on first protrusion  148  of the primary handle  160 . This compresses spring  180 , allowing the actions described above. A user can pivot secondary handle  160  to the extent allowed by edge  168  pushing against first protrusion  148 , which in turn is limited by the dimensions of first recess  122 . In the preferred embodiment where slot  172  is present, the interaction of third connector  186  reaching the bottom portion of slot  172  will also block further movement of secondary handle  160 . If a user releases second release surface  178 , spring  180  decompresses, pushing away first protrusion  148 . First protrusion  148  places pressure on edge  168 , causing second pivot portion  166  to rotate away. First protrusion  148  continues to move until its progress is blocked by the edge  168  of second pivot portion  166 . 
     The lengths of primary handle  140  and secondary handle  160  each extend laterally past the ends of head  114 . In various embodiments the lengths, widths, and shapes of primary handle  140  and secondary handle  160  vary. In a preferred embodiment, the lengths of primary handle  140  and secondary handle  160  are such that they extend laterally beyond head  114  an equal distance as measured from a center line of the head  114 . In a preferred embodiment, the tops of primary handle  140  and secondary handle  160  have a convex shape, while the undersides have a convex shape. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a texture is applied to first release surface  156  and second release surface  178  to aid the user in acquiring and maintaining a grip on either or both of primary handle  140  and secondary handle  160 , respectively, in order to retract the handle(s) and release charging handle  100  from a firearm. In one embodiment, the texture applied comprises a series of latitudinal furrows which form a series of peaks and valleys along the surfaces of first release surface  156  and second release surface  178 . 
     In another preferred embodiment, a texture is applied to first charging surface  154  and second charging surface  174  to aid the user in acquiring and maintaining a grip on the charging handle  100  in order to operate the bolt and carrier of the firearm. 
     Shaft  110 , primary handle  140 , and secondary handle  160  can be constructed out of metal including aluminum, steel, and stainless steel, as well as other materials including thermoplastic, carbon fiber, fiberglass resin laminates such as G10. 
     Each connector  182 ,  184 ,  186  is constructed from a solid piece of metal, preferably steel, that is resistant to shearing that may occur when a force is applied to first release surface  156  and/or second release surface  178 . Connectors  182 ,  184 ,  186  can be roll pins, screws, bolts, or other known attachment means. The preferred embodiment where slot  172  is provided is especially desirable in limiting a danger of shearing, as the long pivot arm of secondary handle  160  could allow for significant force to be generated at second pivot portion  166 . Third connector  186  acts to stop the movement of secondary handle  160  when it reaches the bottom of slot  172 . 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.