Add-on handle assembly to facilitate cartridge charging for magazine-fed, gas-operated semi-automatic rifles

Abstract

A handle assembly is disclosed which can be installed onto a standard T-shaped charging handle of a firearm such as an AR-15. The handle assembly is designed to engage and operate the charging handle, including the latch which secures the charging handle in the forward position, when the user grasps and pulls on the handle assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the left ear and latch of the charging handle are disposed in a window through a prong of the handle assembly and the right ear of the charging handle is disposed in a window through an opposing prong of the handle assembly.

1 . A handle assembly for operating a charging handle of a firearm, comprising:
 a first grip surface configured for frictional engagement by a hand of a user;   a first prong extending from said at least one grip surface toward a proximal end of said handle assembly, said first prong comprising a first mechanism to engage a first ear of said charging handle; and   a second prong extending from said at least one grip surface toward said proximal end, said second prong comprising a second mechanism to engage a second ear of said charging handle;   wherein said handle assembly is installable on said charging handle, and wherein a first force exerted on said handle assembly in a direction of a distal end of said handle assembly results in said handle assembly exerting a second force on said charging handle in a direction of a rear of said firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The handle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom side of said handle assembly comprises a generally arched shape channel configured to span around at least a portion of a component of said firearm adjacent said bottom side. 
     
     
         3 . The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said second force actuates a latch disposed on said first ear or said second ear, said latch configured to secure said charging handle in a forward position in which said charging handle is nested against a body of said firearm, and wherein actuation of said latch by said handle assembly releases said charging handle for movement toward a rearward position. 
     
     
         4 . The handle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said first mechanism comprises a first recess disposed on a first internal wall of said first prong, said first recess sized for receipt of said first ear, wherein at least a portion of said first ear is disposed within said first recess when said handle assembly is installed on said charging handle; and   said second mechanism comprises a second recess disposed on a second internal wall of said second prong, said second recess sized for receipt of said second ear, wherein at least a portion of said second ear is disposed within said second recess when said handle assembly is installed on said charging handle;   wherein said first and second internal walls are opposing, and wherein a distance between said first internal wall and said second internal wall is less than a maximum width of said charging handle.   
     
     
         5 . The handle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said first mechanism comprises a first window disposed in said first prong, said first window having a first height and a first width, said first height corresponding to a thickness of said first ear and said first width corresponding to a width of said first ear, wherein said first ear is at least partially disposed within said first window when said handle assembly is installed on said charging handle; and   said second mechanism comprises a second window disposed in said second prong, said second window having a second height and a second width, said second height corresponding to a thickness of said second ear and said second width corresponding to a width of said second ear, wherein said second ear is at least partially disposed within said second window when said handle assembly is installed on said charging handle.   
     
     
         6 . The handle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said first ear comprises said latch and said latch is at least partially disposed within said first window when said handle assembly is installed on said charging handle. 
     
     
         7 . The handle assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a biasing mechanism disposed within said second window, wherein said biasing mechanism is configured to compress during exertion of said second force to mimic a force exerted by said latch on said first prong to reduce rotation of said handle assembly in relation to said charging handle resulting from operation of said latch.   
     
     
         8 . The handle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a flexible member having a compressible structure. 
     
     
         9 . The handle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said flexible member comprises at least one of a rubber, a polymer, and a thermoplastic polyurethane, and wherein said compressible structure comprises a plurality of void spaces which are reducible in volume during compression of said flexible member. 
     
     
         10 . The handle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said biasing mechanism comprises at least one coiled spring. 
     
     
         11 . The handle assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first member; and   a second member;   wherein said first member comprises said first prong and said second member comprises said second prong.   
     
     
         12 . The handle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first member is removably attachable to said second member by a press fitting. 
     
     
         13 . The handle assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a screw; and   a nut;   wherein said first member is removably attachable to said second member by installing said screw through an aperture extending at least partially through said first member and said second member and securing said screw with said nut.   
     
     
         14 . The handle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said nut is integrally formed into said first member or said second member. 
     
     
         15 . The handle assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an alignment tab disposed on a first mating surface of one of said first member and said second member; and   an alignment cavity disposed on a second mating surface of the other of said first member and said second member;   wherein said alignment cavity is sized for receipt of said alignment tab, and wherein said first mating surface at least partially contacts said second mating surface when said alignment tab is disposed within said alignment cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The handle assembly of  claim 6 , further comprises:
 a second grip surface extending from a first side of said first grip surface; and   a third grip surface extending from a second side of said first grip surface opposite said first side.   
     
     
         17 . The handle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said second and third grip surfaces comprise a plurality of grooves and ridges. 
     
     
         18 . The handle assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a tail extending from said first grip surface at the distal end, wherein said tail extends away from a stock of said firearm when installed on said charging handle.   
     
     
         19 . The handle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said first grip surface comprises a Picatinny rail structure. 
     
     
         20 . The handle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of said handle assembly comprises at least one of a polylactic acid, plastic, thermoplastic polyurethane, rubber, polymer, nylon, polycarbonate, polypropylene, and polystyrene. 
     
     
         21 . A handle assembly for operating a charging handle of a firearm, comprising:
 a body;   a first elongate arm extending a first distance outward from an end of the body;   a second elongate arm extending a second distance outward from the end of the body, wherein the second elongate arm is parallel to, and spaced apart from, the first elongate arm;   a first window providing a passageway through the first elongate arm; and   a second window providing a passageway through the second elongate arm,   wherein the first window has a width and a height corresponding to a width and a height of a first ear and a latch of the charging handle of the firearm, and   wherein, when the handle assembly is mounted onto the firearm, the first ear and the latch are both received in and extend at least part way through the first window and a second ear of the charging handle opposite the first ear is concurrently received in and extends at least part way through the second window.   
     
     
         22 . The handle assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the width of the first window is less than about the width of the first ear and the latch and wherein the second window has a width equal to the width of the first window. 
     
     
         23 . The handle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the second window includes a biasing mechanism applying a spring force against the second ear, when the second ear is positioned within the second window, that resists movement of the second ear toward a front end of the firearm. 
     
     
         24 . The handle assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the body has a lower arcuate surface that is positioned adjacent to and receives a curved portion of the firearm when the handle assembly is mounted onto the firearm, wherein the body includes separable left and right members with each including one of the first and second elongate arms, and wherein the first and second windows are aligned when the left and right members are assembled with mating surfaces in abutting contact. 
     
     
         25 . A handle assembly for operating a charging handle of a firearm, comprising:
 a body with an upper grip surface and a lower surface with an arcuate cross sectional shape;   a first arm extending from an end of the body;   a second arm extending from the end of the body;   a first window on the first elongate arm; and   a second window on the second elongate arm,   wherein, when the handle assembly is mounted onto the firearm with the charging handle extending between the first and second arms, a first ear with a latch is received in the first window and a second ear of the charging handle opposite the first ear is received in the second window, and   wherein the second window includes a biasing mechanism applying a spring force against the second ear, when the second ear is positioned within the second window, that resists movement of the second ear toward a front end of the firearm.   
     
     
         26 . The handle assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the first window has a width corresponding to a width of a first ear with a latch of the charging handle of the firearm, and wherein the width of the first window is less than about the width of the first ear and the latch and wherein the second window has a width equal to the width of the first window. 
     
     
         27 . The handle assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the body includes separable left and right members with each including one of the first and second elongate arms, and wherein the first and second windows are aligned when the left and right members are assembled with mating surfaces in abutting contact.