US12379169 - Side charging handle for semi-automatic firearm

The patent describes a semi-automatic firearm featuring a side-mounted charging handle that allows manual cycling of the bolt carrier assembly between closed and open breech positions. The design includes a mounting pin that secures the firing pin within the bolt carrier, preventing its withdrawal during operation.

Claim 1

1. A firearm with side-mounted charging handle comprising: a longitudinal axis; a receiver defining a longitudinal cavity; a barrel coupled to the receiver, the barrel comprising a front muzzle end, a rear breech end, and an internal bore extending axially between the ends to define a projectile passageway; a bolt carrier assembly movably disposed in the longitudinal cavity of the receiver, the bolt carrier assembly collectively comprising a bolt carrier and a bolt disposed at least partially inside a forwardly open bolt cavity in the bolt carrier; the bolt carrier assembly being axially moveable between a forward closed breech position in battery with the barrel and a rearward open breech position; a firing pin disposed in a firing pin passage formed longitudinally in the bolt, the firing pin axially movable between a forward striking position for contacting a chambered cartridge in the barrel and a rearward ready-to-fire position; a charging handle detachably mounted to the bolt carrier assembly, the charging handle comprising a mounting pin member passing transversely through the bolt carrier between first and second lateral sides thereof, and a grasping member projecting transversely outwards from the first lateral side of the bolt carrier; the charging handle operable to manually cycle the bolt carrier assembly from the forward closed breech position to the rearward open breech position via the grasping member; wherein the mounting pin member of the charging handle is configured and positioned to retain the firing pin in the bolt carrier by blocking withdrawal of the firing pin from the bolt carrier assembly. a longitudinal axis; a receiver defining a longitudinal cavity; a barrel coupled to the receiver, the barrel comprising a front muzzle end, a rear breech end, and an internal bore extending axially between the ends to define a projectile passageway; a bolt carrier assembly movably disposed in the longitudinal cavity of the receiver, the bolt carrier assembly collectively comprising a bolt carrier and a bolt disposed at least partially inside a forwardly open bolt cavity in the bolt carrier; the bolt carrier assembly being axially moveable between a forward closed breech position in battery with the barrel and a rearward open breech position; a firing pin disposed in a firing pin passage formed longitudinally in the bolt, the firing pin axially movable between a forward striking position for contacting a chambered cartridge in the barrel and a rearward ready-to-fire position; a charging handle detachably mounted to the bolt carrier assembly, the charging handle comprising a mounting pin member passing transversely through the bolt carrier between first and second lateral sides thereof, and a grasping member projecting transversely outwards from the first lateral side of the bolt carrier; the charging handle operable to manually cycle the bolt carrier assembly from the forward closed breech position to the rearward open breech position via the grasping member; wherein the mounting pin member of the charging handle is configured and positioned to retain the firing pin in the bolt carrier by blocking withdrawal of the firing pin from the bolt carrier assembly.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12379169

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12379169