Cartridge Extractor of AR-Pattern Firearm

Abstract

A cartridge extracting tool for an AR-pattern firearm, such as the AR-15, M16, M4 and other variants, which employs a ratchet assembly with a charge handle claw that engages the firearm charge handle and buttstock, and applies tensile forces to withdrawn the charge handle, move the bolt carrier group, the bolt, and the jammed cartridge, to be ejected from the firearm.

1 . A cartridge extractor for an AR-pattern firearm for forcibly cycling the firearm action and clearing the firearm chamber of a jammed cartridge, the AR-pattern firearm having a buttstock with a buttplate at a breech end thereof, and having an upper receiver with a charge handle that presents a grip portion adjacent to and conforming with a rear contour portion of the upper receiver, the cartridge extractor comprising:
 a tension bar;   a ratchet assembly disposed about a first end of said tension bar, and having a ratchet actuator manually operable to forcibly move said ratchet assembly along said tension bar towards a second end thereof;   a charge handle engagement assembly fixed to said second end of said tension bar, and having a charge handle claw extending therefrom in a direction substantially orthogonal to said tension bar, and having an upper receiver recess formed into a distal end of said charge handle engagement assembly to provide conformal clearance for the AR-pattern firearm upper receiver rear contour portion, to thereby facilitate engagement of said charge handle claw with the grip portion of the charge handle, and wherein   said ratchet assembly further includes a buttplate jaw positioned to align with the buttplate of the AR-pattern firearm while said charge handle engagement assembly is engaged with the grip portion of the charge handle, and wherein   operation of said ratchet actuator while said jaw is engaged with the buttplate, and while said charge handle claw is engaged with the grip portion of the charge handle, applies tension forces that withdraw the charge handle from the upper receiver, thereby cycling the action and clearing the chamber of the AR-pattern firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge extractor of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said charge handle claw is canted in the range of zero to five degrees toward said tension bar, thereby urging said charge handle engagement assembly to engage, grip, and close with the charge handle as tension forces build in said tension bar.   
     
     
         3 . The cartridge extractor of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said charge handle claw is canted two degrees toward said tension bar, thereby urging said charge handle engagement assembly to engage, grip, and close with the charge handle as tension forces build in said tension bar.   
     
     
         4 . The cartridge extractor of  claim 1 , wherein the AR-pattern firearm charge handle includes a left and right charge handle grip portions, and wherein
 said charge handle engagement assembly includes left and right charge handle claws arranged to engage the left and right charge handle grip portions.   
     
     
         5 . The cartridge extractor of claim  5  wherein said charge handle engagement assembly further comprises:
 a forked frame having a tang extending from a first end and left and right fork tines extending from a second end, and wherein 
 said tang is attached to said tension bar, and wherein 
 said left and right charge handle claws extend from said left and right fork tines, respectively. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge extractor of  claim 5 , and wherein
 said left and right charge handle claws are roll pins pressed into said fired frame.   
     
     
         7 . The cartridge extractor of  claim 5 , and wherein
 said left and right charge handle claws are roll pins pressed into said forked frame.   
     
     
         8 . The cartridge extractor of  claim 5 , and wherein
 said left and right charge handle claws are integrally formed with said forked frame and located adjacent distal ends, respectively, of said left and right forked tines.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge extractor of  claim 5 , and wherein
 said forked frame is machined from an aluminum alloy.   
     
     
         10 . A method of forcibly cycling the action of an AR-pattern firearm for clearing the chamber of a jammed cartridge, the AR-pattern firearm having a buttstock with a buttplate at a breech end thereof, and having an upper receiver with a charge handle that presents a grip portion adjacent to and conforming with a rear contour portion of the upper receiver, the method employing a cartridge extractor including a tension bar having a ratchet assembly disposed about a first end thereof, and having a ratchet actuator manually operable for forcibly moving the ratchet assembly along the tension bar towards a second end thereof, and having a charge handle engagement assembly fixed to the second end of the tension bar, the charge handle engagement assembly having a charge handle claw extending therefrom in a direction substantially orthogonal to the tension bar, and having an upper receiver recess formed into a distal end of the charge handle engagement assembly for providing conformal clearance for the AR-pattern firearm upper receiver rear contour portion, the ratchet assembly further including a buttplate jaw, the method comprising the steps of:
 adjusting the position of the ratchet assembly along the tension bar to a length simultaneously enabling the charge handle claw to engage the grip portion of the charge handle and enabling the buttplate jaw to engage the buttplate of the AR-pattern firearm;   engaging the cartridge extractor with the AR-pattern firearm such that the charge handle engagement assembly upper receiver recess conformally clears the AR-pattern firearm upper receiver rear contour portion, and the charge handle claw engages the grip portion of the charge handle, and the buttplate jaw engages the buttplate;   manually actuating the ratchet actuator to advance the ratchet assembly along the tension bar toward the second end, thereby inducing tension in the tension bar and upon the charge handle engagement assembly and charge handle claw, and   continuing manually actuating the ratchet actuator, thereby increasing the tension forces and forcibly withdrawing the charge handle from the upper receiver, thereby cycling the action and clearing the chamber of the AR-pattern firearm.