IP Verse

Firearm Trigger Mechanism

Patent No. US12038247 (titled "Firearm Trigger Mechanism") was filed by Abc Ip Llc on May 30, 2023.

What is this patent about?

’247 is related to the field of firearm trigger mechanisms, specifically those designed to increase the rate of semi-automatic fire in existing firearm platforms like AR-pattern rifles. Traditional semi-automatic firearms use a disconnector to prevent the firearm from firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, ensuring that the hammer is held in a cocked position until the trigger is reset. This invention addresses the desire for a higher rate of fire while maintaining semi-automatic functionality.

The underlying idea behind ’247 is to introduce a cam-based mechanism that interacts with the trigger and hammer, coupled with a three-position safety selector, to achieve both standard semi-automatic and forced reset semi-automatic firing modes. In the forced reset mode, the bolt carrier's movement is used to mechanically reset the trigger, allowing for faster follow-up shots without requiring the user to fully release the trigger between each shot.

The claims of ’247 focus on a firearm trigger mechanism comprising a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a pivoting cam with a lobe , and a three-position safety selector. The cam is pivotable between a first position where it doesn't affect the trigger and a second position where its lobe forces the trigger towards the set position. The safety selector dictates whether the disconnector can engage the hammer, enabling either standard semi-automatic or forced reset semi-automatic operation.

In practice, the trigger mechanism operates differently depending on the safety selector position. In standard semi-automatic mode, the disconnector catches the hammer after the bolt carrier cycles, requiring the user to release the trigger for the next shot. However, in the forced reset mode, the safety selector prevents the disconnector from engaging, and the cam actively resets the trigger as the bolt carrier returns to battery, allowing for rapid follow-up shots without a full trigger release.

This design differentiates itself by providing a drop-in trigger module that can be easily installed in existing AR-pattern firearms without requiring modifications to the bolt carrier. The cam-based forced reset mechanism offers a mechanical advantage in resetting the trigger, potentially leading to a higher rate of fire compared to other forced reset systems. The three-position safety selector provides versatility, allowing the user to switch between safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes as desired.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2020s when ’247 was filed, at a time when firearm trigger mechanisms were typically implemented using mechanical components and designs that had been refined over decades. Semiautomatic firearms commonly relied on disconnectors to prevent automatic firing, and increasing the rate of fire without violating regulations was a persistent engineering challenge. Hardware constraints made designing drop-in trigger replacements for existing platforms non-trivial, requiring careful consideration of tolerances and compatibility with standard components.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner considered US patent 7,398,723 (Blakley) to be the closest prior art. However, that patent does not disclose a safety selector adapted to pivot between safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions. In the standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer and pivoting of the cam such that the cam lobe forces the trigger member towards the set position, but prior to reaching the set position, the disconnector hook catches the hammer hook. Thereafter, forward movement of the bolt carrier causes the cam to pivot, at which time the user must manually release the trigger member to free the hammer from the disconnector. In the forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer and pivoting of the cam such that the cam lobe forces the trigger member to the set position, with the safety selector preventing the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook. Thereafter, forward movement of the bolt carrier causes the cam to pivot, at which time the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing the trigger member. The examiner stated that there was no teaching in the prior art that would have motivated one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Blakley in such a manner.

Claims

This patent contains 23 claims, with independent claims 1, 4, 9, 14, 15, and 20. The independent claims generally focus on firearm trigger mechanisms and firearms that incorporate a hammer, trigger member, disconnector, cam, and safety selector to achieve standard semi-automatic and forced reset semi-automatic firing modes. The dependent claims generally add further details, features, or limitations to the elements and configurations described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Cam Lobe
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14, Claim 15, Claim 20)		“The cam 72 has a cam lobe 78 that interacts with the cam follower 58, in a manner to be described below. As the cam 72 pivots counter-clockwise, the cam lobe 78 may acts upon the cam follower 58 to pivot the trigger member 38 counter-clockwise.”A feature of the cam that interacts with the cam follower of the trigger member to force the trigger member towards the set position.
Disconnector Hook
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14, Claim 15, Claim 20)		“The disconnector 60 has a disconnector hook 64 and a tail 66. 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.”A feature of the disconnector that catches the hammer hook in standard semi-automatic mode to prevent the hammer from following the bolt carrier forward, until the trigger is released.
Fire Control Mechanism Pocket
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14, Claim 15, Claim 20)		“The module 10 includes a frame or housing 12 sized and shaped to fit within the internal fire control pocket of an AR-pattern lower receiver 14. The housing 12 includes left and right sidewalls 16, 18, which extend substantially vertically and parallel to one another in a laterally spaced-apart relationship.”The internal space within the receiver of a firearm where the trigger mechanism components are housed.
Hammer Hook
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14, Claim 15, Claim 20)		“The hammer 36 has a hammer head 50, a sear catch 52, and a hammer hook 53. 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.”A feature of the hammer that is engaged by the disconnector hook in standard semi-automatic mode to prevent the hammer from following the bolt carrier forward.
Sear Catch
(Claim 1, Claim 4, Claim 9, Claim 14, Claim 15, Claim 20)		“The hammer 36 has a hammer head 50, a sear catch 52, and a hammer hook 53. 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 both are in their set positions, preventing the hammer from falling until the trigger is pulled.

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

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US12038247

ABC IP LLC
Application Number
US18325225
Filing Date
May 30, 2023
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
May 30, 2043
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents