Patent ID: 8156854

Claim:
A firearm comprising: a receiver defining a receiver bore extending along a longitudinal axis; a bolt carrier disposed in said receiver bore and moveable relative to said receiver along said longitudinal axis between a firing position and a rearward position; an elongated member fixed relative to said bolt carrier and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; a hand guard coupled to said receiver and disposed about said elongated member; and a handle assembly disposed in said hand guard and moveable toward said receiver to define a charging motion and away from said receiver to define a forward assist motion with said handle assembly engaging said elongated member during both of said charging motion and said forward assist motion, said handle assembly including: a base disposed in said hand guard; and an arm coupled to said base and moveable between a disengaged position spaced from said elongated member and an engaged position abutting said elongated member with said arm moving said elongated member and said bolt carrier toward said firing position when in said engaged position and when said handle assembly is moved in said forward assist motion and with said arm moving said elongated member and said bolt carrier toward said rearward position when in said engaged position and when said handle assembly is moved in said charging motion.