Intermediate charging handle engagement with carrier of firearm

Abstract

Firearms with improved systems and methods of pulling back a carrier within the firearm and charging handles for such firearms. In some embodiments, the charging handle engages the carrier at an engagement face located between a rearward first end and a forward second end of the charging handle and the engagement face is at least ten percent of the length of the charging handle from the second end. In some embodiments, the charging handle has a stem having a top wall, a left wall, and a right wall, and the engagement face extends from the left wall to the right wall. In various embodiments, walls are perpendicular or parallel or are one piece, the bottom is open, the carrier has a protrusion contacting the charging handle, the engagement face is concave, the firearm is a rifle that selectably fires in fully-automatic and semi-automatic modes, or a combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm comprising a carrier and a charging handle wherein: the charging handle has a rearward first end, a forward second end, and a length from the first end to the second end; the charging handle engages the carrier at an engagement face on the charging handle located between the first end and the second end; and the engagement face is at least ten percent of the length of the charging handle from the second end of the charging handle. 
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein: the charging handle comprises a stem comprising a top wall, a left wall, and a right wall; and the engagement face extends from the left wall to the right wall. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 2  wherein: the left wall is perpendicular to the top wall; the right wall is perpendicular to the top wall; and the left wall is parallel to the right wall. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 3  wherein: the engagement face, the left wall, the right wall, and the top wall are all one piece. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 4  wherein: the stem has an open bottom between the left wall and the right wall. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 5  wherein: the engagement face is perpendicular to the top wall. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein: the carrier comprises a protrusion and the engagement face contacts the protrusion when the charging handle pulls back the carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein: the engagement face is at least 20 percent of the length of the charging handle from the second end of the charging handle. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein: the engagement face is at least 60 percent of the length of the charging handle from the first end of the charging handle. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein: the engagement face is concave. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of any of  claim 1  wherein the firearm is a rifle configured to selectably fire in a fully-automatic mode and in a semi-automatic mode. 
     
     
         12 . A firearm comprising a carrier and a charging handle wherein: the charging handle comprises a stem comprising a top wall, a left wall, a right wall, and an engagement face extending from the left wall to the right wall; and the charging handle engages the carrier at the engagement face. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 12  wherein: the left wall, the top wall, and the right wall are all one piece. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 12  wherein: the left wall is perpendicular to the top wall; the right wall is perpendicular to the top wall; and the left wall is parallel to the right wall. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 14  wherein: the engagement face, the left wall, the right wall, and the top wall are all one piece. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm of  claim 12  wherein: the stem has an open bottom between the left wall and the right wall. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm of  claim 12  wherein: the engagement face is perpendicular to the top wall. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 12  wherein: the carrier comprises a protrusion and the engagement face contacts the protrusion when the charging handle pulls back the carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 12  wherein: the engagement face is concave. 
     
     
         20 . A charging handle for a firearm, the charging handle comprising a rearward first end, a forward second end, a length from the first end to the second end, and an engagement face for engaging a carrier wherein: the engagement face is located between the first end and the second end; the engagement face is at least ten percent of the length from the second end of the charging handle; and the charging handle comprises a stem comprising a top wall, a left wall, a right wall, and the engagement face.