US12352515 - Compact action with forward charging handle incorporated into an upper receiver handguard

This patent describes a compact firearm action that integrates a forward charging handle into the upper receiver handguard, allowing for manual cycling of the bolt and carrier. The design includes a fixed ejector that ensures spent shell casings are ejected efficiently as the bolt cycles during operation.

Claim 1

1. A compact action assembly incorporated into a firearm upper receiver, comprising: an upper receiver housing incorporating a barrel; a bolt and supporting carrier having a carrier key positioned within said upper receiver housing so that said bolt is engaged to a rear receiver end of said barrel in a forward most cartridge chambering position; said upper receiver housing including a forward portion and a rear portion; a sideways extending charging handle projecting from a forward location of said upper receiver housing and which is displaceable along a lengthwise extending slot in said housing for manually cycling said carrier and bolt; an ejector secured to said upper receiver housing; a first channel formed in said carrier which seats an inward projecting portion of said ejector; a second channel formed in said bolt which is offset from said first channel when said bolt is in said forward most cartridge chambering position; a pair of guide rods extending in parallel and spaced apart fashion along an interior of said upper receiver housing to a rear located retainer, a pair of springs seating over said guide rods for biasing said bolt and carrier against said rear receiver end of said barrel; said carrier key being supported by and displaceable along said guide rods between said rear receiver end of said barrel and a rearward located bumper component of said retainer; a latch extending from said charging handle and engaged to said upper receiver housing such that, upon rotation of said latch about a spring biased pivot connection to said charging handle, said latch unlocks said charging handle from said housing, with subsequent displacement of said charging handle actuating a slider component supported within said housing, said slider component in turn contacting and actuating said carrier key during the manual cycling of said carrier and bolt; and simultaneous with discharge of the ballistic, said bolt rotating out of engagement with said receiver end of said barrel so that said second channel aligns with said first channel, with subsequent rearward displacement of the bolt and carrier causing the spent shell casing to contact said inward projecting portion of the ejector and be ejected out of the upper receiver. an upper receiver housing incorporating a barrel; a bolt and supporting carrier having a carrier key positioned within said upper receiver housing so that said bolt is engaged to a rear receiver end of said barrel in a forward most cartridge chambering position; said upper receiver housing including a forward portion and a rear portion; a sideways extending charging handle projecting from a forward location of said upper receiver housing and which is displaceable along a lengthwise extending slot in said housing for manually cycling said carrier and bolt; an ejector secured to said upper receiver housing; a first channel formed in said carrier which seats an inward projecting portion of said ejector; a second channel formed in said bolt which is offset from said first channel when said bolt is in said forward most cartridge chambering position; a pair of guide rods extending in parallel and spaced apart fashion along an interior of said upper receiver housing to a rear located retainer, a pair of springs seating over said guide rods for biasing said bolt and carrier against said rear receiver end of said barrel; said carrier key being supported by and displaceable along said guide rods between said rear receiver end of said barrel and a rearward located bumper component of said retainer; a latch extending from said charging handle and engaged to said upper receiver housing such that, upon rotation of said latch about a spring biased pivot connection to said charging handle, said latch unlocks said charging handle from said housing, with subsequent displacement of said charging handle actuating a slider component supported within said housing, said slider component in turn contacting and actuating said carrier key during the manual cycling of said carrier and bolt; and simultaneous with discharge of the ballistic, said bolt rotating out of engagement with said receiver end of said barrel so that said second channel aligns with said first channel, with subsequent rearward displacement of the bolt and carrier causing the spent shell casing to contact said inward projecting portion of the ejector and be ejected out of the upper receiver.

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USPTO PDF

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