Enhanced Charging Handle

Abstract

An enhanced charging handle for a firearm which has an elongated shaft having a forward end and a rear end. The forward end is formed into a bolt hook that engages the bolt carrier group within the firearm. Attached to the rear end is a latching assembly comprising an L-shaped latch, a vertical lever, and a compression spring where the latch and vertical lever are pivotably attached to the rear end. The latch and vertical lever operate together such that pivoting the vertical lever disengages the latch from the upper receiver of a firearm allowing the charging handle to be moved freely by the user independent of the upper receiver of the firearm.

1 . A charging handle for a firearm having a housing, comprising:
 a. an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis, a forward end formed to engage a rifle action and a rear end;   b. a lever pivotably attached to the rear end and oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis;   c. a latch pivotably attached to the rear end;   d. a biasing element extending between the rear end and the latch; and   wherein the lever and latch operate together such that pivoting the lever causes the latch to pivot from a closed position, engaged with the housing, to an open position, where the latch is disengaged from the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The charging handle of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring. 
     
     
         3 . The charging handle of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises an elastomeric nub. 
     
     
         4 . The charging handle of  claim 1 , wherein the lever is shaped to permit ambidextrous operation. 
     
     
         5 . The charging handle of  claim 1 , wherein the lever is in the general form of a V. 
     
     
         6 . The charging handle of  claim 1 , wherein the lever pivots about a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The charging handle of  claim 6 , wherein the horizontal axis is perpendicular to the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         8 . A charging handle for a firearm having a housing, comprising:
 a. an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis, a forward end formed to engage a rifle action and a rear end;   b. a lever pivotably attached to the rear end and oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis where the lever pivots about a horizontal axis and where the horizontal axis is perpendicular to the elongated shaft;   c. a latch pivotably attached to the rear end;   d. a biasing element extending between the rear end and the latch; and   wherein the lever and latch operate together such that pivoting the lever causes the latch to pivot from a closed position, engaged with the housing, to an open position, where the latch is disengaged from the housing.   
     
     
         9 . The charging handle of  claim 8 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring. 
     
     
         10 . The charging handle of  claim 8 , wherein the biasing element comprises an elastomeric nub. 
     
     
         11 . The charging handle of  claim 8 , wherein the lever is shaped to permit ambidextrous operation. 
     
     
         12 . The charging handle of  claim 11 , wherein the lever is in the general form of a V. 
     
     
         13 . A charging handle for a firearm having a housing, comprising:
 a. an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis, a forward end formed to engage a rifle action and a rear end;   b. a lever, in the general form of a V, pivotably attached to the rear end and oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis where the lever pivots about a horizontal axis and where the horizontal axis is perpendicular to the elongated shaft;   c. a latch pivotably attached to the rear end;   d. a biasing element extending between the rear end and the latch; and   wherein the lever and latch operate together such that pivoting the lever causes the latch to pivot from a closed position, engaged with the housing, to an open position, where the latch is disengaged from the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The charging handle of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring. 
     
     
         15 . The charging handle of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing element comprises an elastomeric nub.