Forward Charging Handle

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/663,083 filed Sep. 12, 2018, entitled “Forward charging handle system for the AR-15/M16 platform” to Brandon Paul Jennings, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] Firearms often include a charging handle to facilitate a number of functions such as ejection of spent shell casings or unfired cartridges from the chamber, loading a round from the magazine or by hand through the chamber, clearing stoppages such as jams, double feeds, misfires, and so forth. Conventional charging handles, however, require a user of a firearm to break sight with a target, lose a firing grip, remove a rifle from their shoulder, or reach around an optical attachment. Accordingly, use of a conventional charging handle involves a user effectively dismounting from the firearm thereby reducing the efficiency, speed, and accuracy in operating the firearm.

[0003] A forward charging system for a firearm is described. In one example, the forward charging system includes an elongate gas tube configured to permit passage of gas caused by firing of a cartridge by a firearm, the gas tube extending along a longitudinal axis; a gas regulator block connected to the gas tube and configured to regulate entry of the gas from a barrel of the firearm into the gas tube; a gas key connected to the gas tube and configured to direct the gas into a bolt carrier group of the firearm; a forward charging handle; and a forward charging handle actuator tube coupled with the forward charging handle and mounted around the gas tube and around at least a portion of the longitudinal axis, the forward charging handle actuator configured to move along the longitudinal axis to exert a force against the gas key.

[0004] In another example, a system includes: a firearm; a forward charging system on the firearm including: an elongate gas tube configured to permit passage of gas caused by firing of a cartridge by the firearm, the gas tube extending along a longitudinal axis; a forward charging handle actuator tube mounted around the gas tube and around at least a portion of the longitudinal axis and configured to move along the longitudinal axis; and a forward charging handle coupled with the forward charging handle actuator tube; and a rear charging system on the firearm.

[0005] In a further example, a method for charging a firearm includes: receiving a force on a forward charging handle of a firearm, the forward charging handle coupled with a forward charging handle actuator tube mounted along an elongate gas tube configured to permit passage of gas caused by firing of a cartridge by a firearm; sliding the forward charging handle and the forward charging handle actuator tube along a longitudinal axis from a forward position toward a rear position; contacting, by the forward charging handle actuator tube, a gas key of a bolt carrier group; cycling, responsive to the contacting, the bolt carrier group; and returning the forward charging handle and the forward charging handle actuator tube to the forward position.

[0006] This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. As such, this Summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0015] FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a firearm 100 showing various components of the firearm 100. The firearm 100 includes a receiver 102, an upper receiver 104, a barrel 106, and a stock 108. The receiver 102 (also commonly referred to as a “lower receiver”) includes a fire control group (i.e., a trigger, a bolt catch, a sear, a hammer, and so forth), a buffer tube, a grip 110, a magazine well 112, and a safety structure 114. The buffer tube includes a buffer and a buffer spring, which collectively absorb recoil upon firing of the firearm 100. The stock 108 both provides a surface on which a user may place a shoulder during operation of the firearm 100 and also serves to provide counterweight at the rear of the firearm 100. The stock 108 is attached to one or both of the receiver 102 and the upper receiver 104.

[0016] The upper receiver 104 includes a gas impingement system, a bolt carrier group, a firing chamber, a firing pin, a rail system 116, and a charging assembly 118. The rail system 116 generally surrounds the barrel 106 and protects a user's hands from the heat generated in the barrel 106 during operation of the firearm 100. Further, the rail system 116 provides mounting locations for a variety of additional parts or accessories such as sights, optics, lasers, flashlights, grips, bi-pods, and so forth. The barrel 106 is attached to the upper receiver 104 such as by resting in the upper receiver 104 in a cantilevered fashion.

[0017] FIG. 2 depicts a side view 200 of the firearm 100 of FIG. 1 without the rail system 116 or the stock 108 in order to better illustrate the gas impingement system and the charging assembly 118 of the firearm 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the gas impingement system includes a gas regulator block 202, a gas tube 204 and a gas key 206. During operation of the firearm 100, a projectile is propelled along the barrel 106 and discharged from the firearm. Typically, this involves the use of a cartridge, which is a pre-assembled ammunition that includes a projectile, a propellant, and a primer within a case. The upper receiver 104 activates the primer (e.g., by striking the cartridge with a firing pin) which in turn ignites the propellant. Ignition of the propellant releases gases which pressurize and expand, pushing the projectile longitudinally down the bore of the barrel 106.

[0018] The gas impingement system of the firearm 100 harnesses a portion of the pressurized gas to provide energy to move additional parts of the firearm 100, such as to facilitate ejection of a spent cartridge, movement of a new cartridge from the magazine into the firing chamber, and so forth. The gas regulator block 202 is coupled with the barrel 106 and provides a small hole through which gas may move. When a projectile travels past the gas regulator block 202, a portion of the pressurized gas continues to move along the bore of the barrel 106 while another portion of the pressurized gas moves into the gas regulator block 202 through the small hole. The gas regulator block 202 routes this pressurized gas into the gas tube 204, which in turn routes the pressurized gas into the gas key 206.

[0019] The gas key 206 is coupled with a bolt carrier group 208 of the upper receiver 104. The pressurized gas is released from the gas key 206 into an expansion chamber of the bolt carrier group 208 to exert pressure on the bolt. This pressure moves the bolt longitudinally toward the rear of the firearm 100, exposing a firing chamber and ejecting a spent cartridge from the firearm 100. This action additionally releases the pressurized gas from the bolt carrier group 208, allowing the bolt to return to the forward position (e.g., through use of springs configured to bias the bolt toward the forward position). As the bolt moves from the rear position to the forward position, the bolt carrier group 208 collects a cartridge from the magazine, loads the cartridge into the firing chamber, and seals the firing chamber.

[0020] Thus, the gas impingement system operates when a projectile is fired from the firearm 100. This protects the firearm 100 and a user from out-of-battery detonations, but activating the bolt carrier group 208 after the cartridge has detonated and the projectile has fired. For instance, the bolt carrier group 208 may include a locking mechanism that secures the firing chamber and prevents unwanted activation of the bolt carrier group 208. The gas impingement system may release the locking mechanism, allowing the bolt carrier group 208 to be activated.

[0021] Alternative to activating the bolt carrier group 208 via the gas impingement system, however, a user may desire to activate the bolt carrier group 208 without firing a projectile. For instance, a user may have a need to eject an unfired cartridge from the firing chamber, load a cartridge into the firing chamber from the magazine or by hand (i.e., when the firing chamber is empty), clear a stoppage such as a jam, double feed, misfire, and so forth. To do so, the charging assembly 118 is provided. The charging assembly 118 provides a manual mechanism to move the bolt carrier group 208 without utilizing the gas impingement system.

[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 depict a side view 300 and a top view 400, respectively, of components of the firearm 100 of FIG. 1 without the receiver 102, the stock 108, or the rail system 116 in order to better illustrate the gas impingement system and the charging assembly 118 of the firearm 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the gas impingement system includes the gas regulator block 202 coupled with the barrel 106 and the gas tube 204, and the gas key 206 coupled with the gas tube 204 and the bolt carrier group 208, as described above with respect to FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. 4 further depicts an enlarged view of a region 402 generally disposed around the gas regulator block 202. The charging assembly 118 includes a charging mount 404 coupled with a charging handle actuator tube 406 and charging handles 408. The charging handle actuator tube 406 surrounds a gas tube 410, both of which extend along a longitudinal axis. Thus, the gas tube 204 as generally depicted and described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 is mounted inside of the charging handle actuator tube 406. Accordingly, an interior diameter of the charging handle actuator tube 406 is larger than an exterior diameter of the gas tube 410.

[0024] The charging handle actuator tube 406 extends to and is in contact with the gas key 206. The charging handle actuator tube 406 may be moved along a longitudinal axis to exert pressure upon the gas key 206 and thereby activate the bolt carrier group 208 (e.g., cause motion of the bolt). The charging mount 404 is coupled with the charging handle actuator tube 406, such that a force exerted on the charging mount 404 is transferred to the charging handle actuator tube 406. The charging mount 404 is mounted around the gas tube 410 and may move or slide longitudinally along the gas tube 410. For instance, the charging mount 404 and the charging handle actuator tube 406 may move along a longitudinal axis toward the rear of the firearm 100, thereby causing motion of the bolt carrier group 208 toward the rear of the firearm 100.

[0025] The gas tube 410 is in a fixed position relative to the gas regulator block 202 and the gas key 208. In this way, the gas tube 410 provides structural support for and enforces alignment of the charging mount 404 and the charging handle actuator tube 406. In this example, the charging mount 404 includes a channel configured to surround the gas tube 410. The charging handle actuator tube 406 and the channel of the charging mount 404 each have an interior diameter that is dimensioned corresponding to an exterior diameter of the gas tube 410. When the gas tube 410 is situated inside of the channel of the charging mount 404 and the charging handle actuator tube 406, vertical or lateral motion is substantially inhibited. In this way, by fixing the gas tube 410 relative to the gas regulator block 202 and the gas key 208, the charging mount 404 and the charging handle actuator tube 406 are substantially limited to motion along a longitudinal axis corresponding to the gas tube 410.

[0026] The charging mount 404 is further coupled with the charging handles 408, such that a force exerted on a charging handle 408 is transferred to the charging mount 404. The charging handles 408 provide, for instance, convenient objects or grips for a user to grasp and pull to effectuate movement of the charging handle actuator tube 406. A charging handle 408 is coupled to the charging mount 404 via a hinge 412 the enables the charging handle 408 to rotate about the hinge 412 with respect to the charging mount 404. In this example, the charging handle 408 is depicted in a forward position substantially parallel to the barrel 106. The charging handle 408 may optionally be moved by rotating about the hinge 412 into a rear position that is substantially perpendicular to the barrel 106, as further described with respect to FIG. 5.

[0027] Conventional gas impingement systems do not utilize a gas tube for structural support, and further do not provide a tube extending along an axis. For instance, conventional gas tubes include offsets or ‘kinks’ that extend in multiple directions. Accordingly, in some implementations the systems and techniques described herein utilize a gas tube that is substantially straight in contrast to conventional gas tubes, and further utilize a gas tube with thicker walls to provide additional strength compared to conventional gas tubes. Similarly, conventional gas impingement systems do not include a charging handle actuator tube whatsoever and do not exert an external force against a gas key. Accordingly, in some implementations the systems and techniques described herein utilize a gas key with an enhanced forward surface configured to receive external force.

[0028] FIG. 5 depicts an isometric view 500 of components of the firearm 100 of FIG. 1 without the receiver 102, the stock 108, or the rail system 116 in order to better illustrate the charging assembly 118 of the firearm 100, and further includes an enlarged view of a region 502. In this example, a user has pulled on a charging handle 504 on the left side of the firearm 100 to rotate the charging handle about a hinge 506 into a rear position substantially perpendicular to the barrel 106. However, the user has not pulled on a charging handle 508 on the right side of the firearm 100, and the charging handle 508 remains in a forward position substantially parallel to the barrel 106 without having been rotated about a hinge 510.

[0029] The charging handle 504 and the charging handle 508 are independently and individually operable, such that a user may use one or both of the charging handles 504 and 508. The charging handles 504 and 508 are each coupled with a charging mount 512 via the hinges 506 and 510, respectively. When a force is applied to at least one of the charging handles 504 and 508, such as by pulling a charging handle toward the rear of the firearm 100, the force is transferred to the charging mount 512 effecting a longitudinal movement of the charging mount 512 toward the rear of the firearm 100. This enables ambidextrous operation of the charging assembly 118, as either charging handle 504 or 508 individually allows for full operation of the charging assembly 118.

[0030] The charging mount 512 is coupled to a charging handle actuator tube 514, such that movement of the charging mount 512 effectuates a corresponding movement of the charging handle actuator tube 514. The charging handle actuator tube 514 is positioned in alignment with a gas key 516. When the charging handle actuator tube 514 moves longitudinally toward the rear of the firearm 100, the charging handle actuator tube 514 contacts the gas key 516 and exerts a force upon the gas key 516. The gas key 516 is coupled with a carrier bolt group 518, and thus a longitudinal force exerted upon the gas key 516 is transferred to effect a longitudinal force upon the carrier bolt group 518. In this manner, a force applied to the charging handle 504 may effectuate a force against the carrier bolt group 518. For instance, a user pulling the charging handle 504 toward the rear of the firearm 100 will indirectly cycle the carrier bolt group 518 and move the bolt toward the rear of the firearm 100.

[0031] The bolt is biased toward the front of the firearm 100, for instance through the use of spring mechanisms. Thus, to activate the carrier bolt group 518, a force applied to the charging handle 504 must exceed the biasing force applied to the bolt. Further, when force ceases to be applied to the charging handle 504, the biasing force applied to the bolt returns the bolt to a forward position, which in turn applies a force against the charging handle actuator tube 514 and moves the charging handle actuator tube 514 and the charging mount 512 back into a forward position. In this way, the charging assembly 118 is biased toward the front of the firearm 100, and a user does not need to manually reposition or return the charging assembly 118 to a forward position following activation of the carrier bolt group 518.

[0032] In implementations, the charging assembly 118 is non-reciprocating and the charging handle actuator tube 514 is not attached to the carrier bolt group 518. Thus, during operation of the firearm 100 the carrier bolt group 518 moves independent of the charging handle actuator tube 514. For example, after a cartridge is fired the gas impingement system activates and cycles the carrier bolt group 518 while the charging handle actuator tube 514 remains stationary with respect to the firearm 100 and does not travel with the carrier bolt group 518. In this way, the charging handle actuator tube 514 only reciprocates with the carrier bolt group 518 when a user engages the charging assembly 118.

[0033] The charging handles 504 and 508 may be biased toward their forward positions, such as through use of spring mechanisms (e.g., torsion springs) associated with the hinges 506 and 510, respectively. For example, the hinge 506 may be biased to exert a clockwise force while the hinge 510 may be biased to exert a counter-clockwise force, thus biasing the charging handles 504 and 508 toward their forward positions substantially parallel to the barrel 106. Further, the hinges 506 and 510 may impose a limited range of motion. For example, the hinge 506 may have a rear limit that stops counter-clockwise motion when the forward charging handle is substantially perpendicular to the barrel 106, and may have a forward limit that stops clockwise motion when the forward charging handle is substantially parallel to the barrel 106.

[0034] It is to be appreciated that rotation of the charging handles 504 and 508 is optional. In some scenarios the rotation is useful and/or convenient, such as when a user utilizes a hand to grasp one of the charging handles 504 or 508, rotation of the charging handle to the rear position increases the ability to grasp the charging handle, increases comfort, and makes it easy to perform a pulling motion on the charging handle. To further enhance this process, the charging handles 504 and 508 may include a divergent portion 520. For instance, when the charging handle 504 is in a forward position substantially parallel to the barrel 106, the divergent portion 520 is substantially perpendicular to the barrel 106. This provides an enhanced surface with which a user may grasp the charging handle 504 when it is in the forward position, and facilitate movement toward the rear position. Further, the charging handle 504 may include a sloped portion 522 between the divergent portion 520 and the main body of the charging handle 504. A user may, for example, slide a finger or other portion of their hand between the barrel 106 (or the rail system 116) and the sloped portion 522 to initiate a rotation of the charging handle 504. This is useful in implementations where there is not enough space between the barrel 106 (or the rail system 116) and the charging handle 504 in the forward position for a user to insert their entire hand to grasp the charging handle 504.

[0035] However, the charging handles 504 and 508 may be activated via other means. For example, a user may push the firearm 100 and the charging handle 504 toward another object such as a door frame, a table, a belt, and so forth. In these examples, a force is exerted longitudinally against the charging handle 504 without initiating rotation about the hinge 506, and the charging assembly 118 is operated with the charging handle 504 in the forward position. The charging assembly 118 may be operated, for instance, by a user grasping the grip 110 and exerting a force away from the user along the longitudinal axis, pushing the charging handle 504 into another object which in turn exerts a force on the charging handle 504 in an opposite longitudinal direction.

[0036] FIG. 6 depicts an assembly view showing how individual components of the charging assembly 118 of FIG. 5 relate to one another. A gas tube 602 is affixed to a gas regulator block 604, such as by inserting the gas tube 602 into a channel of the gas regulator block 604. The charging handles 504 and 508 are coupled to the charging mount 512, such as by connection via the hinges 506 and 510 as described with respect to FIG. 5. The charging mount 512 includes a hole with a diameter larger than an exterior diameter of the gas tube 602, and the charging mount 512 is slid onto the exterior surface of the gas tube 602. The charging handle actuator tube 514 has an interior diameter that is slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the gas tube 602, and is slid onto the exterior surface of the gas tube 602. The charging handle actuator tube 514 is coupled to the charging mount 512. In some implementations, the charging handle actuator tube 514 includes a portion 606 with an exterior diameter smaller than an exterior diameter of other portions of the charging handle actuator tube 514. The portion 606, for instance, may have an exterior diameter dimensioned to fit inside of the hole of the charging mount 512.

[0037] The gas tube 602 is inserted into the gas key 516, and in some implementations is removably coupled with the gas key 516. While coupled, the gas tube 602 and the gas key 516 form a seal to prevent gas from escaping. The gas tube 602 and the gas regulator block are affixed to one another and remain stationary with respect to each other, while the gas tube 602 and the gas key 516 may move in relation to one another. For instance, as the charging handle actuator tube 514 slides along the gas tube 502, the charging handle actuator tube 514 may cause movement of the gas key 516. During the movement of the gas key 516, the gas tube 502 remains stationary to provide structural support for the charging handle actuator tube 514. In this manner, the gas tube 602 and the gas regulator block 604 may remain in a relative fixed position while the gas key 516 and the carrier bolt group 518 move longitudinally. Further, the charging mount 512 and the charging handle actuator tube 514 are fixed to one another such that they may collectively slide along the gas tube 602.

[0038] In some implementations, the firearm 100 includes two or more charging systems. For example, the firearm 100 may include the charging assembly 118 as described above in addition to a second charging assembly. The second charging assembly may include, for instance, a rear charging handle. The rear charging handle is located above the buffer tube and couples with the carrier bolt group 518. The rear charging handle is pulled backward longitudinally to pull backward on and activate the carrier bolt group 518. By including two or more charging assemblies, a user is given greater choice, flexibility, and reliability in operating the firearm 100. For example, if one of the charging assemblies breaks or otherwise fails to operate, a user may simply utilize another charging assembly. As another example, a user may be experienced in using a rear charging handle (i.e., having ‘muscle memory’ as to how to operate the rear charging handle) but desires to switch to using the charging assembly 118. By including both charging assemblies, the user may acquire experience and familiarity with the charging assembly 118 while retaining the rear charging handle in case the user accidentally attempts to utilize the rear charging handle due to muscle memory.

[0039] FIG. 7 depicts an example method for charging a firearm through use of a forward charging handle in accordance with one or more implementations.

[0040] At step 700, a force is received on a forward charging handle. The forward charging handle is coupled with a forward charging handle actuator tube mounted along an elongate gas tube configured to permit passage of gas caused by firing of a cartridge by the firearm. For example, a user grasps the forward charging handle and exerts a backward force by pulling the forward charging handle toward the user.

[0041] At step 702, the forward charging handle is slid along a gas tube. The forward charging handle is coupled with the forward charging handle actuator tube, thus the forward charging handle actuator tube is also slid along the gas tube from a forward position toward a rear position. For example, as the user pulls the forward charging handle backward, the forward charging handle and the forward charging handle actuator tube utilize the gas tube as a guide and support to allow longitudinal movement of the forward charging handle toward the user.

[0042] At step 704, a gas key of a bolt carrier group is contacted. The forward charging handle actuator tube comes into contact with a gas key of the bolt carrier group, and exerts a force on the bolt carrier group. At this point, the forward charging handle has not yet reached the rear position. For example, as the user continues to exert force on the forward charging handle, the force transfers to the bolt carrier group and causes a locking mechanism of the bolt carrier group to disengage, thus allowing the bolt to move backwards within the firearm.

[0043] At step 706, the bolt carrier group is cycled responsive to the contacting. This may include, for instance, ejecting a spent cartridge from the firing chamber and loading a new cartridge from the magazine into the firing chamber. For example, as the user continues to exert force on the forward charging handle to move the forward charging handle into the rear position, the bolt carrier group is moved into a corresponding rear position. The movement of the bolt carrier group into a rear position includes ejecting a spent cartridge from the firing chamber. After the bolt carrier group reaches the rear position, it is returned to a forward position. The movement of the bolt carrier group into the forward position includes extracting a cartridge from the magazine and placing the cartridge into the firing chamber.

[0044] At step 708, the forward charging handle is returned to a forward position. This may be, for instance, through use of recoil springs that bias the bolt carrier group and/or the forward charging handle to a forward position. For example, the user releases the forward charging handle upon cycling of the bolt carrier group, and springs return the forward charging handle to the forward position.

[0045] Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claimed invention.