Patent Publication Number: US-9846003-B2

Title: Charging handle with ambidextrous latch and interchangeable handles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/143,981, filed Apr. 7, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure generally relates to firearms and more particularly relates to a charging handle with an ambidextrous latch and interchangeable handles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A charging handle may be used to manually manipulate a bolt carrier of a firearm. For example, the charging handle may be used to clear malfunctions and as a means to retract the bolt carrier for inspection of the firearm. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the charging handle disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the charging handle may include an elongated body having a forward end and a rear end, a handle assembly disposed about the rear end of the elongated body, and a latch assembly disposed about the rear end of the elongated body in mechanical communication with the handle assembly. The charging handle may include an ambidextrous latch and/or interchangeable handles. 
     Other features and aspects of the charging handle will be apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and the detailed description. All other features and aspects, as well as other system, method, and assembly embodiments, are intended to be included within the description and are intended to be within the scope of the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a side view of a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a cross-sectionals view of a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a partial a cross-sectional view of a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  depicts a top view of a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  depicts a partial exploded view of a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method for utilizing a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method for utilizing a charging handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described below are embodiments of a charging handle (as well as individual components of the charging handle) that can be attached to a firearm. Methods of installing and using the charging handle on the firearm are also disclosed. The firearm may be a conventional firearm. For example, the firearm may be an M-16 style rifle, an AR-15 style rifle, an AR-10 style rifle, or an M-4 style rifle, among others. The charging handle may be used with any type of firearm, including rifles and/or pistols. 
     Generally speaking, the charging handle may include an elongated body having a forward end and a rear end. A handle assembly may be disposed about the rear end of the elongated body. In addition, a latch assembly may be disposed about the rear end of the elongated body. The latch assembly may be in mechanical communication with the handle assembly. The latch assembly may include a latch pivotably attached to the handle assembly. The latch may be moved between a closed position and an open position. The latch assembly also may include a spring configured to bias the latch in the closed position. 
     The handle assembly may include a first handle pivotable attached to a first side of the handle assembly. Similarly, the handle assembly may include a second handle pivotable attached to a second side of the handle assembly opposite the first handle. The first handle may be configured to move the latch between the open position and the closed position as the first handle is rotated independent of the second handle. Likewise, the second handle may be configured to move the latch between the open position and the closed position as the second handle is rotated independent of the first handle. That is, a user may manipulate (e.g., pivot) the first handle, the second handle, or both to move the latch between the open position and the closed position. In some instances, the second handle may include a stop configured to engage an end of the latch to prevent over rotation of the latch beyond the open configuration. 
     The charging handle may include interchangeable handles. That is, the first handle, the second handle, and/or components thereof may be removed and replaced with a different handle. In this manner, a user may swap out different handles or portions thereof as desired. For example, the first handle, the second handle, or both may include a removable outer handle portion attachable to an inner handle portion. In some instances, the inner handle portion may include an outwardly extending protrusion, and the removable outer handle portion may include an aperture therein configured to mate with the outwardly extending protrusion. In addition, a fastener may be used to removably fasten the removable outer handle portion to the inner handle portion. Other types of attachment configurations are also possible. 
     These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be described in more detail through reference to the accompanying drawings in the detailed description of the disclosure that follows. This brief introduction, including section titles and corresponding summaries, is provided for the reader&#39;s convenience and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims or the proceeding sections. Furthermore, the techniques described above and below may be implemented in a number of ways and in a number of contexts. Several example implementations and contexts are provided with reference to the following figures, as described below in more detail. However, the following implementations and contexts are but a few of many. 
       FIGS. 1-6B  schematically depict a charging handle  100  (as well as individual components of the charging handle  100 ) that can be attached to a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , the charging handle may include an elongated body  102  having a forward end  104  and a rear end  106 . The forward end  104  of the elongated body  102  may include a hook  108  configured to engage a bolt or the like. The hook  108  may include a hole  109  extending therethrough. The forward end  104  of the elongated body  102  also may include lugs  110  extending outwardly from the sides of the elongated body  102 . 
     The charging handle  100  may include a handle assembly  112 . The handle assembly  112  may be disposed about the rear end  106  of the elongated body  102 . In addition, a latch assembly  114  may be disposed about the rear end  106  of the elongated body  102 . The latch assembly  114  may be in mechanical communication with the handle assembly  112 . That is, the latch assembly  114  and the handle assembly  112  may be mechanically coupled. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the latch assembly  114  may include a latch  116  pivotably attached to the handle assembly  112 . For example, the latch  116  may include a pivot  118  disposed between its ends. In some instances, one end of the latch  116  may include a catch  120  (e.g., a hook or the like). The latch  116  may be moved between a closed position and an open position. The latch assembly  114  also may include a spring  122  configured to bias the latch  116  in the closed position. The spring  122  may be disposed within a spring slot  123 . The spring  122  may engage an end  144  of the latch  116  opposite the catch  120  on the catch  120  side of the latch  116 . 
     The handle assembly  112  may include a first handle  124  pivotable attached to a first side  126  of the handle assembly  112 . For example, the first handle  124  may be attached to the handle assembly  112  by pivot  125 . The first handle  124  may include a first end  128  and a second end  130 . The first end  128  of the first handle  124  may include a knob  132  or the like configured to be manipulated by a user. Similarly, the handle assembly  112  may include a second handle  134  pivotable attached to a second side  136  of the handle assembly  112  opposite the first handle  124 . For example, the second handle  134  may be attached to the handle assembly  112  by pivot  127 . The second handle  134  may include a first end  138  and a second end  140 . The first end  138  of the second handle  134  may include a knob  142  or the like configured to be manipulated by a user. 
     The first handle  124  may be configured to move the latch  116  between the open position and the closed position as the first handle  124  is rotated about pivot  125 . For example, as the first handle  124  is rotated, the second end  130  of the first handle  124  may engage the end  144  of the latch  116  opposite the catch  120 , which may pivot the latch  116  from the closed position to the open position about the pivot  118 . The first handle  124  may move the latch  116  between the open position and the closed position independent of the second handle  134 . Likewise, the second handle  134  may be configured to move the latch  116  between the open position and the closed position as the second handle  134  is rotated. For example, as the second handle  134  is rotated, the second end  140  of the second handle  134  may engage the end  144  of the latch  116  opposite the catch  120 , which may pivot the latch  116  from the closed position to the open position about the pivot  118 . The second handle  134  may be configured to move the latch  116  between the open position and the closed position independent of the first handle  124 . In this manner, a user may manipulate (e.g., pivot) the first handle  124 , the second handle  134 , or both to move the latch  116  between the open position and the closed position. 
     A first handle spring  151  may be disposed within a first handle spring slot  145  so as to bias the first handle  124  in the closed configuration. In this manner, in some instances, the first handle  124  may stay in the closed position as the second handle  134  is moved to actuate the latch  116  between the closed and open positions. Similarly, a second handle spring  153  may be disposed within a second handle spring slot  147  so as to bias the second handle  134  in the closed configuration. In this manner, in some instances, the second handle  134  may stay in the closed position as the first handle  124  is moved to actuate the latch  116  between the closed and open positions. Accordingly, the first handle  124  and the second handle  134  may move the latch  116  between the open and closed positions independent of each other. 
     In some instances, the second handle  134  may include a stop  146 . The stop  146  may be disposed about the second end  140  of the second handle  134 . The stop  146  may be configured to engage the end  144  of the latch  116  opposite the catch  120  to prevent over rotation of the latch  116  beyond the open configuration. For example, as the first handle  124  and/or the second handle  134  are rotated to move the latch  116  from the closed position to the open position, the stop  146  may be configured to engage the end  144  of the latch  116  opposite the catch  120  to prevent over rotation of the latch  116  beyond the open configuration. The stop  146  may be any protrusion, lip, ledge, or nub disposed about the send end  140  of the second handle  134 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the charging handle  100  may include interchangeable handles. That is, the first handle  124 , the second handle  134 , and/or portions thereof may be removed and replaced with a different handle or handle component. In this manner, a user may swap out different handles or portions thereof as desired. For example, as depicted in  FIGS. 5-6B , the first handle  124 , the second handle  134 , or both may include a removable outer handle portion  148 . The removable outer handle portion  148  may be attachable to an inner handle portion  150 . In some instances, the inner handle portion  150  may comprise an outwardly extending protrusion  152 , and the removable outer handle portion  148  may include an aperture  154  therein configured to mate with the outwardly extending protrusion  152 . In addition, as depicted in  FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6B , a fastener  156  assembly may be used to removably fasten the removable outer handle portion  148  to the inner handle portion  150 . In some instances, the fastener  156  assembly may include a bore  158  extending through the removable outer handle portion  148  and the inner handle portion  150 . The bore  158  may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first handle  124  and/or the second handle  134 . The fastener assembly  156  also may include a screw  160  or the like securable within the bore  158  to removably attach the removable outer handle portion  148  to the inner handle portion  150 . For example, the screw  160  may be threaded into the bore  158 . In some instances, a head of the screw  160  may at least partially nest within the bore  158  so as to be flush with the first handle  124  and/or the second handle  134 . In other instances, the removable outer handle portion  148  may include internal threads that mate with external threads on an outer surface of the outwardly extending protrusion  152 . In this manner, the removable outer handle portion  148  may be screwed directly onto the outwardly extending protrusion  152 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 6B , the removable outer handle  148  and the outwardly extending protrusion  152  of the inner handle  150  may include a transverse bore  162  in which a set screw  164  may be threaded or the like to secure the removable outer handle  148  and the inner handle  150 . As its name implies, the transverse bore  162  may be generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first handle  124  and/or the second handle  134 . The transverse bore  162  and set screw  164  may be used in conjunction with or independent of the fastener  156  the bore  158 , and vice versa. In this manner, the removable outer handle  148  may be attached and detached from the inner handle  150  using the bore  158 , which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first handle  124  and/or the second handle  134 , and/or the transverse bore  162 , which is perpendicular to the first handle  124  and/or the second handle  134 . Other types of attachment configurations are also possible. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method  200  for moving the latch  116  between the open position and the closed position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
     At block  202  of method  200 , the latch  116  may be moved between the open position and the closed position by rotating the first handle  124 . For example, as the first handle  124  is rotated, the second end  130  of the first handle  124  may engage an end  144  of the latch  116  opposite the catch  120 , which may move the latch  116  between the open and closed positions. At block  204 , the latch  116  may be moved between the open position and the closed position by rotating the second handle  134 . For example, as the second handle  134  is rotated, the second end  140  of the second handle  134  may engage the end  144  of the latch  116  opposite the catch  120 , which may move the latch  116  between the open and closed positions. At block  206 , the latch  116  may be moved between the open position and the closed position by rotating the first handle  124  and the second handle  134 . In this manner, a user may manipulate (e.g., pivot) the first handle  124 , the second handle  134 , or both to move the latch  116  between the open position and the closed position. Accordingly, the latch assembly  114  is ambidextrous. The steps described in blocks  202 - 206  of method  200  may be performed in any order. Moreover, certain steps may be omitted, while other steps may be added. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method  300  for interchanging the handles of the charging handle  100  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. At block  302  of method  300 , the first handle  124  may be removed and/or replaced. For example, the screw  160  may be removed from the bore  158  to remove the removable outer handle portion  148  from the inner handle portion  150  of the first handle  124 . In this manner, a different removable outer handle portion  148  may be attached to the inner handle portion  150  of the first handle  124 . At block  304  of method  300 , the second handle  134  may be removed and/or replaced. For example, the screw  160  may be removed from the bore  158  to remove the removable outer handle portion  148  from the inner handle portion  150  of the second handle  134 . In this manner, a different removable outer handle portion  148  may be attached to the inner handle portion  150  of the second handle  134 . The steps described in blocks  302  and  304  of method  300  may be performed in any order. Moreover, certain steps may be omitted, while other steps may be added. 
     Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.