IP Verse

Firearm Trigger Mechanism

Patent No. US11724003 (titled "Firearm Trigger Mechanism") was filed by Abc Ip Llc on Oct 21, 2022.

What is this patent about?

’003 is related to the field of firearm trigger mechanisms, specifically those used in semiautomatic firearms. Semiautomatic firearms cycle automatically, chambering a new round after each shot, but require a separate trigger pull for each shot. A common desire among shooters is to increase the rate of fire of these firearms, leading to the development of various mechanisms to achieve faster trigger reset and subsequent firing.

The underlying idea behind ’003 is to provide a forced reset trigger mechanism that can be easily retrofitted into existing AR-pattern firearms. This is achieved by using the rearward movement of the bolt carrier to reset the trigger and a locking member to prevent premature firing. The design incorporates a three-position safety selector, offering safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes of operation.

The claims of ’003 focus on a trigger mechanism comprising a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a locking member, and a three-position safety selector. The locking member is key, as it blocks the trigger until the bolt carrier is nearly in battery, preventing out-of-battery firing. The safety selector dictates whether the disconnector engages, enabling either standard semi-automatic or forced reset semi-automatic operation.

In practice, the trigger mechanism works by using the bolt carrier's movement to both cock the hammer and reset the trigger. In forced reset mode, the safety selector prevents the disconnector from catching the hammer, and the locking member holds the trigger in the set position until the bolt carrier is almost fully forward. Once the bolt carrier reaches its in-battery position, it pushes the locking member out of the way, allowing the user to immediately pull the trigger again without manually releasing it first.

This design differentiates itself from prior approaches by offering a drop-in replacement trigger module that works with a standard M16-pattern bolt carrier. Unlike some prior art that requires modifications to the bolt carrier or uses complex camming mechanisms, this invention provides a simpler and more easily implemented solution for achieving a faster rate of fire in semiautomatic AR-pattern firearms, while also incorporating a locking mechanism to enhance safety.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2020s when ’003 was filed, at a time when firearm trigger mechanisms typically relied on established designs with disconnectors to prevent automatic firing, increasing the rate of semi-automatic fire often involved modifications to existing platforms. When hardware or software constraints made achieving faster firing rates non-trivial, solutions often involved complex mechanical linkages or modifications to the bolt carrier assembly.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the patent because the prior art failed to disclose or make obvious the claimed firearm trigger mechanism. Specifically, the prior art does not show a firearm with the claimed hammer, bolt carrier, sear, trigger, disconnector with hook, locking member, and safety selector structurally related to provide safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes. The prior art also does not teach where rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes the hammer to pivot and force the trigger to a set position, the safety selector prevents the disconnector hook from catching a hammer hook, and when the bolt carrier reaches the in-battery position the user can fire the firearm without manually releasing the trigger member.

Claims

This patent contains 14 claims, with independent claims 1, 4, 9, and 14. The independent claims are directed to firearm trigger mechanisms and firearms incorporating such mechanisms, focusing on features like a hammer, trigger member, disconnector, locking member, and safety selector for achieving standard semi-automatic and forced reset semi-automatic firing modes. The dependent claims generally add specific details or features to the broader concepts defined in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Disconnector Hook
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14)		“When in the standard semi-automatic position (safety selector indicator 111 pointing upward), a flat portion 114 of the safety selector 110 permits the trigger blade 54 to be pulled. The disconnector 60 can pivot with the trigger member 38 and the disconnector hook 64 can catch the hammer hook 53 during rearward pivoting travel of the hammer head 50. When in the forced reset semi-automatic position (safety selector indicator 111 pointing rearward), a narrow semi-circular portion 116 permits the trigger blade 54 to be pulled but prevents the disconnector 60 from pivoting with the trigger member 38 thus preventing the disconnector hook 64 from catching the hammer hook 53 during rearward pivoting travel of the hammer head 50.”A feature of the disconnector that catches the hammer hook during rearward pivoting travel of the hammer head in standard semi-automatic mode. In forced reset semi-automatic mode, the safety selector prevents the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook.
Forced Reset Semi-Automatic
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14)		“A three position safety selector 110 has safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions. When in the forced reset semi-automatic position (safety selector indicator 111 pointing rearward), a narrow semi-circular portion 116 permits the trigger blade 54 to be pulled but prevents the disconnector 60 from pivoting with the trigger member 38 thus preventing the disconnector hook 64 from catching the hammer hook 53 during rearward pivoting travel of the hammer head 50. In other words, in the forced reset semi-automatic position, the disconnector 60 is “disabled” in that the disconnector hook 64 is unable to catch the hammer hook 53 during cycling of the bolt carrier assembly 92.”One of three positions of the safety selector. In this position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer, forcing the trigger member to the set position. The safety selector prevents the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook, and when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position, the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing the trigger member.
Hammer Hook
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14)		“The hammer 36 has a hammer head 50, a sear catch 52, a hammer hook 53, and a concave contact surface 51. When in the standard semi-automatic position (safety selector indicator 111 pointing upward), a flat portion 114 of the safety selector 110 permits the trigger blade 54 to be pulled. The disconnector 60 can pivot with the trigger member 38 and the disconnector hook 64 can catch the hammer hook 53 during rearward pivoting travel of the hammer head 50. When in the forced reset semi-automatic position (safety selector indicator 111 pointing rearward), a narrow semi-circular portion 116 permits the trigger blade 54 to be pulled but prevents the disconnector 60 from pivoting with the trigger member 38 thus preventing the disconnector hook 64 from catching the hammer hook 53 during rearward pivoting travel of the hammer head 50.”A feature of the hammer that is caught by the disconnector hook during rearward pivoting travel of the hammer head in standard semi-automatic mode. In forced reset semi-automatic mode, the safety selector prevents the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook.
Locking Member
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14)		“A locking or blocking member 72 is movably mounted to the housing 12. The locking member 72 has a first contact surface 78 that interacts with an engagement surface 94 in a rear portion 96 of a bolt carrier body 98 of a bolt carrier assembly 92, in a manner to be described below. The locking member 72 has a second contact surface 80 that interacts with surface 69 of trigger member 38 in a manner to be described below. The locking member 72 is spring biased by a torsion spring 82 acting between a pin 84 in the sidewalls 21, 22 and a lower portion of the locking member 72 such that surface 78 is biased rearward and surface 80 is biased forward.”A component that mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to the released position in a first position, and does not block the trigger member in a second position. It is spring biased toward the first position and moved to the second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movement as the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position.
Sear Catch
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14)		“The hammer 36 has a hammer head 50, a sear catch 52, a hammer hook 53, and a concave contact surface 51. When the sear 56 and the sear catch 52 are engaged, the hammer 36 and trigger member 38 are in their set positions. When the sear 56 and sear catch 52 are not engaged, the hammer 36 and trigger member 38 are in their released positions.”A feature of the hammer that engages with the sear of the trigger member when the hammer and trigger member are in their set positions. Disengagement of the sear catch and sear allows the hammer to strike the firing pin.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
4:25-cv-00299Jun 6, 2025Abc Ip, Llc V. Harrison Gunworks Llc
2:25-cv-00852Jan 31, 2025Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. V. Elation Lighting, Inc.
1:25-cv-00124Jan 30, 2025Anuvu Corp. V. Intellectual Ventures I Llc

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US11724003

ABC IP LLC
Application Number
US18048572
Filing Date
Oct 21, 2022
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Oct 21, 2042
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents