Ambidextrous cam style charging handle

Abstract

An action mechanism together with a charging handle for a firearm in which the charging handle is configured to be used by either a right handed user or a left handed user. The rod member has one end configured to engage the action mechanism such that a rearward movement of the rod member causes the action to accept a bullet and place the bullet in position to be fired. At the opposing end is a handle which uses two rotationally mounted levers, one lever able to be worked independent of the other. The second lever, when worked, engaging the first lever to move the rod into an unlocked condition.

1 . A firearm having:
 a) an action mechanism configured to accept a bullet and place the bullet in position to be fired; and,   b) a charging handle comprising:
 1) a rod member, a first end thereof configured to engage the action mechanism such that movement of the rod member causes the action to accept said bullet and place the bullet in position to be fired; and, 
 2) a handle portion secured to a second end of said rod member having,
 A) a first rotationally mounted lever having a first finger surface, a first prong, and a locking member, said locking member configured to engage an edge of said action mechanism and be disengaged when manual pressure is exerted on said first finger surface, and, 
 B) a second rotationally mounted lever having a second finger surface and a second prong positioned such that when pressure is exerted on the second finger surface said second prong engages the first prong forcing said locking member into an unlocked condition. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The firearm according to  claim 1 , wherein pressure on the first finger surface does not engage the first prong with the second prong. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm according to  claim 2 , wherein the second finger surface is significantly larger than the first finger portion. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm according to  claim 3 , further including a spring member interposed between the first rotationally mounted lever and the second rotationally lever such that, at rest, the locking member is positioned to engage the edge of the action mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm according to  claim 4 , wherein the first prong and the second prong are contained within the handle portion. 
     
     
         6 . A charging handle comprising:
 a) a rod member, a first end thereof configured to engage an action of a firearm; and,   b) a handle portion secured to a second end of said rod member and having,
 1) a first rotationally mounted lever having a first finger surface, a first prong, and a locking member, said locking member configured to engage an edge of said firearm and be disengaged when manual pressure is exerted on said first finger surface, and, 
 2) a second rotationally mounted lever having a second finger surface and a second prong positioned such that when pressure is exerted on the second finger surface said second prong engages the first prong forcing said locking member into an unlocked condition. 
   
     
     
         7 . The charging handle according to  claim 5 , wherein pressure on the first finger surface does not engage the first prong with the second prong. 
     
     
         8 . The charging handle according to  claim 7 , wherein the second finger surface is significantly larger than the first finger portion. 
     
     
         9 . The charging handle according to  claim 8 , further including a spring member interposed between the first rotationally mounted lever and the second rotationally lever such that, at rest, the locking member is positioned to engage the edge of the firearm. 
     
     
         10 . The charging handle according to  claim 9 , wherein the first prong and the second prong are contained within the handle portion. 
     
     
         11 . A charging handle having a handle portion secured to an end thereof, said handle having,
 a) a first rotationally mounted lever having a first finger surface, a first prong, and a locking member, said locking member configured to engage an edge of said firearm and be disengaged when manual pressure is exerted on said first finger surface, and,   b) a second rotationally mounted lever having a second finger surface and a second prong positioned such that when pressure is exerted on the second finger surface said second prong engages the first prong forcing said locking member into an unlocked condition.   
     
     
         12 . The charging handle according to  claim 11 , wherein pressure on the first finger surface does not engage the first prong with the second prong. 
     
     
         13 . The charging handle according to  claim 12 , wherein the second finger surface is significantly larger than the first finger portion. 
     
     
         14 . The charging handle according to  claim 13 , further including a spring member interposed between the first rotationally mounted lever and the second rotationally lever such that, at rest, the locking member is positioned to engage the edge of the firearm. 
     
     
         15 . The charging handle according to  claim 14 , wherein the first prong and the second prong are contained within the handle portion.