Gas-blocking ambidextrous firearm charging handle
A charging handle that forms a seal against the receiver to prevent the escape of discharge gas from the interface between the charging handle and the receiver.
1. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising:
a slide latch;
a lever, wherein the slide latch and the lever are integrated into the charging handle; and
a sealing component integrated into a portion of the charging handle and configured to support a formation of a pneumatic seal against an area of a lower portion of a receiver that is covered by the portion of the charging handle when the slide latch is actuated to a locked position by the lever.
2. The charging handle of claim 1 , wherein the lever comprises a positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle.
3. The charging handle of claim 1 , wherein the charging handle further comprises:
a second lever comprising a positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle.
4. The charging handle of claim 1 , wherein the charging handle is an ambidextrous charging handle comprising a second lever, wherein the lever is configured to provide a first positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle, and wherein the second lever is configured to a provide a second positive handhold member for actuating the charging handle.
5. The charging handle of claim 4 , wherein the lever and the second lever are configured to independently unlatch the charging handle from the receiver.
6. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during operation of a suppressed firearm, comprising:
a spring-loaded plate; and
a lever, wherein the spring-loaded plate and the lever are integrated into the charging handle, and wherein the spring-loaded plate is configured to form a wedge to seal the charging handle against both a lower portion of a receiver and an upper portion of the receiver when the lever is actuated to a locked position.
7. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising:
a spring-loaded plate;
a first lever; and
a second lever, wherein the spring-loaded plate, the first lever, and the second lever are integrated into the charging handle, and wherein the spring-loaded plate is configured to form a wedge to seal the charging handle against both a lower portion of a receiver and an upper portion of the receiver when the first lever, the second lever, or both, are actuated to a locked position.
8. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising:
a slide latch;
a lever, wherein the slide latch and the lever are integrated into the charging handle; and
a channel integrated into a portion of the charging handle that covers an area of a lower portion of a receiver when the slide latch is actuated to a locked position by the lever, the channel being configured to receive a sealing member that is configured to form a pneumatic seal against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.
9. The charging handle of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member is compliant and configured to deform and nest against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.
10. The charging handle of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material and is selectively attached to the channel.
11. The charging handle of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material and is embedded into the channel.
12. The charging handle of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member comprises a fibrous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the area of the lower portion of the receiver.
13. The charging handle of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member comprises a fibrous material and is embedded in the charging handle.
14. The charging handle of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member comprises a porous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the area of the lower portion of the receiver.
15. A charging handle for blocking gasses discharged during firing, comprising:
a slide latch;
a first lever;
a second lever, wherein the first lever, and the second lever are integrated into the charging handle, and wherein the first lever and the second lever comprise a single bias spring configured to bias both the first lever and the second lever; and
a channel integrated into a portion of the charging handle that covers an area of a lower portion of a receiver when the slide latch is actuated to a locked position by the first lever, the second lever, or both, the channel being configured to receive a sealing member that is configured to form a pneumatic seal against the area of the lower portion of the receiver configured.
16. The charging handle of claim 1 , wherein the sealing component comprises:
a spring-loaded plate configured to form a wedge to seal the charging handle against both the lower portion of the receiver and an upper portion of the receiver.
17. The charging handle of claim 1 , wherein the sealing component comprises:
a channel configured to receive a sealing member that is configured to form the pneumatic seal against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.
18. The charging handle of claim 17 , wherein the sealing member is embedded within the channel.
19. The charging handle of claim 18 , wherein the sealing member is compliant and configured to deform and nest against the area of the lower portion of the receiver.
20. The charging handle of claim 18 , wherein the sealing member comprises a fibrous material configured to create a pneumatic turbulent barrier at an interface between the sealing member and the area of the lower portion of the receiver.