Patent Publication Number: US-11041683-B2

Title: Rifle charging handle converter BullCharger

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/546,978 filed on Aug. 17, 2017. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to rifle accessories. More specifically, the present invention, BullCharger, comprises a steel rod positioned within in a slotted aircraft grade aluminum block. When the present invention is mounted to a riser rail on an AR, M4, or SR25 flat top rifle, the steel rod, with a handle attached by a plurality of fasteners to the rod, moves backward by pulling the handle to engage the existing charging handle on the rear of the rifle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The charging handle of flat top AR, M4, or SR25 rifles is a critical component that enables a user to load a round into the firing chamber by pulling and releasing the handle. Located on the rear section above the buffer tube, the charging handle is a T-shaped, rod type handle below the rear side scope on a Picatinny rail. The action of the user pulling the charging handle back causes a long channel with a hole in one end to push existing charging handle, and forcing the hammer down to cock the rifle. At the same time the bolt is pulled back against a spring and a cartridge is forced to move up. When the handle is pulled back to the end and the user&#39;s hand is released, the bolt moves forward stripping the cartridge out of the magazine into the chamber. The charging handle not only allows the user to chamber a round, but also to normally extract or clear a double feed and to remove an empty case that won&#39;t eject due to malfunction. However, the location and operation of a standard charging handle for an AR, M4, or SR25 flat top rifle, such as AR-15, has been awkward and can become difficult to the point that the user wishes to have a third joint in the user&#39;s thumb. Additionally, the standard charging handle is extremely difficult to reach while using a scope. Thus, there has been an increasing demand for a more convenient charging apparatus to solve these problems. One type of popular apparatus is a converter that turns the top operating charging handle into a side charger. Most devices of this type replace the standard charging handle with proprietary design, which are normally expensive and are not compatible with the existing charging handle. A few devices that are on the market which do work with the existing charging handle, but they lack sturdiness and ambidexterity. 
     An objective of the present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems of a standard charging handle and a replacement charging handle converter. The present invention, the BullCharger, includes a rod that slides in and out of the hole of a block by a handle connected to the rod using a plurality of fasteners. When the BullCharger is mounted to the side of the flat top rifle through the slots on the riser rail, the rod is aligned and in contact with the charging handle of the rifle. The user can hold the rifle with one hand and aim at the target which pulls the BullCharger backward to engage the charger handle to load a round and prepare to fire. The BullCharger works with the existing charging handle and can be installed on either a left or right-hand ejecting AR, M4, or SR25 rifle, and thus provides ambidexterity to the user. The BullCharger must be installed on the opposite side of the ejecting port of the rifle. Installed onto the Picatinny riser rail with bolts and cap nuts, the BullCharger provides the user a stable, reliable, and efficient side charging handle for flat top rifles including, but not limited to, AR-10, AR-15, SR-25, and M4, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the plurality of pins of the handle. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the protrusion of the handle. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the foldable handle. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the foldable handle and the protrusion of the bracket. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the foldable handle and the plurality of pins of the bracket. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the foldable handle and the plurality of pins of the bracket. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the foldable handle and the plurality of pins of the bracket. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the plurality of pins of the handle. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the protrusion of the handle. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the foldable handle and the plurality of pins of the bracket. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the foldable handle and the protrusion of the bracket. 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the details of the foldable handle and the plurality of pins of the bracket. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-2, and 4 , the present invention, BullCharger, comprises a block  10 , a rod  20 , an end stopper  30 , a handle  40 , a plurality of fasteners  50 , and at least one indentation  60 . The block  10  comprises a flange  11 , a block body  12 , a first through hole  13 , a second through hole  14 , a handle sliding slot  15 , and a plurality of slots  16 . The handle sliding slot  15  is positioned on the longitudinal side of the block body  12 , opposite the flange  11  along the adjacent lateral surface. The first through hole  13  traverses through the block body  12  of the block  10 . The second through hole  14  is positioned at the center of the longitudinal side of the block body  12 , perpendicular to the first through hole  13 . The rod  20  is concentrically and slidably positioned within the first through hole  13  of the block  10 . The rod  20  comprises a first plurality of through holes  21 . The end stopper  30  is terminally and concentrically mounted to the rod  20  opposite the first plurality of through holes  21 . The end stopper  30  is made of materials to protect the end surface of the rod  20 , and also the surface of the charging handle on an AR, M4, or SR25 flat top rifle. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 1-2 , the end stopper  30  is made of rubber, and removably attached to the rod  20 , thus, the end stopper  30  can be replaced due to tear and wear. Any other suitable materials can be used for the end stopper  30  in other embodiments of the present invention. The preferred shape of the end stopper  30  is cylindrical, but any other suitable shapes can be used in other embodiments of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rod  20  is made of steel, and the block  10  is made of aircraft grad aluminum. Any other suitable materials can be used for the block  10  and rod  20  in other embodiments of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, as seen in  FIGS. 1-2, 4, and 10 , the rod  20  comprises a first plurality of through holes  21  and a second plurality of though holes  22 . Each of the first plurality of through holes  21  is oriented perpendicular to each of the second plurality of through holes  22 . Each of the first plurality of through holes  21  is positioned at the same location on the rod  20  as one of the second plurality of through holes  22 . The handle  40  comprises a plurality of pins  41  and a plurality of through holes  42 . The plurality of pins  41  is terminally positioned to the handle  40 . Each of the plurality of through holes  42  is aligned with one of the plurality of pins  41  and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of pins  41 . The shape of the each of the plurality of pins  41  is cylindrical. Any other shapes including, but not limited to, rectangular, square, etc., can be used in other embodiments. As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the handle  40  is terminally connected to the rod  20  through the handle sliding slot  15  of the block  10  by first inserting the plurality of pins  41  into each of the second plurality of through holes of the rod  20 , then inserting and tightening the plurality of fasteners  50  into the first plurality of through holes  22  of the rod  20  and each of the plurality of pins  41  of the handle  40 . The plurality of fasteners  50  is a roll pin. In other embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of fasteners  50  for attaching the handle  40  to the rod  20  can be a screw, a bolt and a nut, etc. The preferred shape of the handle is curved on one longitudinal side and straight on the opposite side as  FIGS. 2 and 4  illustrate. Other embodiments can have any other shapes of the handle. 
     In another embodiment, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 11 , the rod  20  comprises the first plurality of through holes  21  and a slot  21 A. The slot  21 A is positioned on the distal surface of the rod  20 . Each of the first plurality of through holes  21  is oriented perpendicular to slot  21 A. The handle  40  comprises a protrusion  41 A and a plurality of through holes  42 . The protrusion  41 A is terminally positioned to the handle  40 . Each of the plurality of through holes  42  traverses through the protrusion  41 A and is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal surface of the protrusion  41 A. The shape of the protrusion  41 A is rectangular with rounded lateral ends. Any other shapes including, but not limited to, elliptical, oval, square, etc., can be used in other embodiments. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the handle  40  is terminally connected to the rod  20  through the handle sliding slot  15  of the block  10  by first inserting the protrusion  41 A into the slot  22 A of the rod  20 , then inserting and tightening the plurality of fasteners  50  into the plurality of through holes  42  of the protrusion  41 A of the handle  40 . 
     In another embodiment, as seen in  FIGS. 5, 7-9, 12, and 14 , the handle  40  is foldable and comprises a hinge  43 , a bracket  44 , a spring-loaded stabilizer  45 , a stabilizer aperture  46 , the plurality of pins  41 , and the plurality of through holes  42 . The hinge  43  is terminally mounted to the handle  40  and connected to the bracket  44 . The spring-loaded stabilizer  45  is mounted to the center of the bracket  44  opposite the plurality of pins  41 . The stabilizer aperture  46  is positioned in the handle  40  and comprises a curved channel matching the profile of the spring-loaded stabilizer  45  as seen in  FIG. 14 . This configuration allows the user to turn the foldable handle  40  90 degrees to “on” and “off” positions. When the foldable handle  40  is turned to “on” position, the foldable handle  40  is oriented perpendicular to the handle sliding slot  15  of the block  10 . The foldable handle  40  is secured in place by the spring-loaded stabilizer to allow the user to slide the rod  20  backward, thus, engaging and moving the charging handle of the rifle. When the foldable handle  40  is turned 90 degrees to be parallel to the handle sliding slot  15  of the block  10 , the spring-loaded stabilizer  45  holds the handle  40  securely at this “off” position to prevent inference with any of the user&#39;s activity. The plurality of pins  41  is terminally and perpendicularly connected to the longitudinal surface of the bracket  44 , opposite the hinge  43 . Each of the plurality of through holes  42  is located on each of the plurality of pins  41 . The axis of each of the plurality of through holes  42  is oriented perpendicular to and intersects the axis of each of the plurality of pins  41 . The handle  40  is terminally connected to the rod  20  through the handle sliding slot  15  of the block  10  by first inserting the plurality of pins  41  of the bracket  44  into each of the second plurality of through holes of the rod  20 , then inserting and tightening the plurality of fasteners  50  into the first plurality of through holes  22  of the rod  20  and each of the plurality of pins  41  of the bracket  44 . In yet another embodiment,  FIGS. 6 and 13 , the handle  40  is foldable and comprises the protrusion  41 A, instead of the plurality of pins  41 . 
     The plurality of slots  16  is distributed across the flange  11  of the block  10 . The flange  11  is terminally positioned on and traversing across the block body  12 . At least one indentation  60  is located on the block body  12 , opposite the plurality of slots  16  of the flange  11  along the block body  12 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of slots  14  of the flange  11 , and at least one indentation  60  of the block body  12 , allow the user to attach to the present invention to either side of the Picatinny riser rail of an AR, M4, or SR25 flat top rifle. The plurality of slots  14  allows the user to adjust the position of the BullCharger when mounting the BullCharger to the Picatinny riser using a plurality of bolts, washers, and cap nuts. In other embodiments, one indentation  60  may be used to mount the BullCharger to the specific side of the Picatinny riser rail of a flat top rifle together with the plurality of slots  14  which is used for secure attachment. This feature provides the user ambidextrous configuration no matter if the user is left-handed or right-handed. The BullCharger must be installed on the opposite side of the ejecting port of the rifle. 
     To assemble the handle  40  onto the rod  20  in the preferred embodiment, the user first aligns the second plurality of through holes  22  on the rod  20  with the handle sliding slot  15  on the block body  12  of the block  10 . The user inserts the plurality of pins  41  of the handle  40  into the second plurality of through holes  22  on the rod  20 . In turn, the user aligns each of the first plurality of through holes  21  of the rod  20  with the second through hole  14  of the block  10 , and each of the plurality of through holes of the handle  40  by sliding the rod  20  and handle  40  along the handle sliding slot  15 . Once aligned, the user inserts each of the plurality of fasteners  50  and tightens the fastener  50 . The assembly process is the similar for the other embodiment of the present invention, wherein the protrusion  41 A of the handle  40  is first inserted into the slot  22 A of the rod  20  through the handle sliding slot  15 . By aligning through holes on the block  10 , the protrusion  41 A, and the rod  20 , the user inserts the fastener  50 , on after another to securely attach the handle  40  to the rod  20  through the handle sliding slot  15 . 
     To install and use the present invention, the user first acquires the BullCharger. The user then mounts the BullCharger on the Picatinny riser rail on the flat top of the rifle by first align the block  10  in front of the charging handle on the rifle with the end stopper  30  touching the charging handle. With one hand holding the BullCharger on the rifle, the user inserts the bolt with a washer through the Picatinny riser rail slot and then the plurality of slots on the flange  11  of the block  10 . Subsequently, the user uses cap nuts to securely tighten the BullCharger onto the Picatinny riser rail. To operate the BullCharger, the user pulls the handle  40  backward while holding the rifle with one hand and aiming at the target. The handle  40  engages and moves the charging handle of the rifle. Once the charging handle reaches its end, the user releases the handle  40  of the BullCharger. At the same time, the charging handle returns to the original position and loads a round into the chamber. The rifle is ready to fire. For the BullCharger with a foldable handle  40 , the user first rotates the handle  40  90 degrees from “off” position to “on” position so that the handle  40  is locked in place which is perpendicular to the rod  20  to allow the user to pull and load a round. Once the round is loaded, the user rotates the handle  40  back to “off” position, and the rifle is ready for use. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.