Upper receiver assembly for a firearm

Abstract

A charging handle assembly for a firearm may include a charging handle body including a handle portion and a shaft portion, a first actuation wing rotatably coupled to the handle portion and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis between a first position and a second position, and a biasing mechanism engaging the first actuation wing and biasing the first actuation wing to the first position. The first actuation wing may include a latch configured to selectively engage an upper receiver assembly of the firearm, and the first actuation wing may have a center of mass disposed along the first rotational axis.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . An upper receiver assembly for a firearm, the upper receiver assembly comprising:
 an upper receiver body comprising a recess defined in a lateral surface of the upper receiver body; and   a latch plate disposed at least partially within the recess, the latch plate comprising:
 an opening configured to selectively receive a portion of a latch of a charging handle assembly; and 
 a latch-plate engagement surface defining a portion of the opening, the latch-plate engagement surface configured to engage a latch engagement surface of the latch when the portion of the latch is received within the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the recess extends from a top surface of the upper receiver body; and   the latch plate is coupled to the upper receiver body via a dovetail connection.   
     
     
         3 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper receiver body is formed of a first material having a first hardness; and   the latch plate is formed of a second material having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.   
     
     
         4 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the latch plate further comprises:
 a plate portion comprising a surface extending flush with the lateral surface of the upper receiver body;   an extension portion extending from the plate portion and laterally beyond the lateral surface of the upper receiver body, the extension portion at least partially surrounding the opening; and   a ramp leading to the opening and configured to deflect the latch as the latch engages the latch plate and moves toward the opening.   
     
     
         5 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a bumper coupled to the upper receiver body and configured to bias the charging handle assembly rearward relative to the upper receiver body such that the latch-plate engagement surface engages the latch engagement surface when the portion of the latch is received within the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bumper is formed of a resiliently compressible material and configured to be resiliently compressed between the upper receiver body and the charging handle assembly when the portion of the latch is received within the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a top rail removably coupled to the upper receiver body and at least partially covering a top end of the recess when the top rail is coupled to the upper receiver body. 
     
     
         8 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the latch-plate engagement surface defines a negative angle relative to a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the upper receiver body. 
     
     
         9 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the negative angle is within a range of 1 degree to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper receiver body further comprises a slot disposed adjacent to and in communication with the recess, the slot extending in a rearward-forward direction and configured to allow the latch to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper receiver body further comprises a cutout defined in a top surface of the upper receiver body and configured to receive at least a portion of a bumper therein. 
     
     
         12 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cutout extends downward from the top surface and forward from a rearward end of the upper receiver body. 
     
     
         13 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a through opening extending entirely through the latch plate from an outer surface to an inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the latch plate further comprises a ramp leading to the opening and configured to deflect the latch as the latch engages the latch plate and moves toward the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The upper receiver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the latch plate is removably coupled to the upper receiver body. 
     
     
         16 . A firearm comprising:
 a lower assembly; and   an upper receiver assembly coupled to the lower assembly, the upper receiver assembly comprising:
 an upper receiver body comprising a recess defined in a lateral surface of the upper receiver body; and 
 a latch plate disposed at least partially within the recess, the latch plate comprising:
 an opening configured to selectively receive a portion of a latch of a charging handle assembly; and 
 a latch-plate engagement surface defining a portion of the opening, the latch-plate engagement surface configured to engage a latch engagement surface of the latch when the portion of the latch is received within the opening. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The firearm of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the upper receiver body is formed of a first material having a first hardness; and   the latch plate is formed of a second material having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.   
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 16 , wherein the latch-plate engagement surface defines a negative angle relative to a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the upper receiver body, and wherein the negative angle is within a range of 1 degree to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 16 , further comprising the charging handle, wherein the latch includes a latch engagement surface having a negative angle within a range of 1 degree to 30 degrees, the latch engagement surface being substantially parallel to the latch-plate engagement surface. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm of  claim 16 , wherein the latch plate further comprises:
 a plate portion comprising a surface extending flush with the lateral surface of the upper receiver body;   an extension portion extending from the plate portion and laterally beyond the lateral surface of the upper receiver body, the extension portion at least partially surrounding the opening; and   a ramp leading to the opening and configured to deflect the latch as the latch engages the latch plate and moves toward the opening.