US 11346627

A review of US Patent 11,346,627 reveals the following details regarding the invention and its legal status.

Title: Forced reset semiautomatic trigger with sliding blocking bar

Assignee: ABC IP, LLC

Inventor: Lawrence DeMonico

Filing Date: February 8, 2022

Issue Date: May 31, 2022

Abstract: The patent details a trigger mechanism for a firearm equipped with a reciprocating bolt carrier that displaces a hammer during its cycle. The mechanism includes a hammer and a trigger member, both pivoting on transverse axes. As the bolt carrier cycles, it forces the hammer to contact the trigger member, causing the trigger to reset to its set position. A key innovation is a slideably mounted locking bar, which is spring-biased to mechanically block the trigger from moving. This block is removed only when the bolt carrier returns to its in-battery position, at which point it contacts the locking bar and moves it, allowing the trigger to be operated.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

US Patent 11,346,627 has two independent claims, which define the core scope of the invention:

Independent Claim 1: This claim outlines the fundamental trigger mechanism. It describes a system where the cycling of the firearm's bolt carrier causes the hammer to pivot, which in turn forcibly resets the trigger. A crucial element is a sliding "locking bar" that is spring-loaded to prevent the trigger from being pulled. Only when the bolt carrier is fully forward (in battery) does it push this locking bar out of the way, permitting the trigger to be pulled and the firearm to be discharged. This ensures that a subsequent shot cannot be fired until the action is properly closed.

Independent Claim 6: This claim is structurally similar to the first, but specifies that the hammer, trigger member, and sliding locking bar are all mounted within a self-contained housing. This describes a "drop-in" trigger module that can be manufactured and installed as a single unit into the fire control mechanism pocket of a firearm receiver, rather than as individual components.

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) 2026 dockets for cases involving patent 11,346,627 was conducted, and no responsive records were found. This indicates that, as of today's date, there is no public record of appellate litigation concerning this patent in the specified period.

Known Litigation for US Patent 11,346,627

As of May 1, 2026, a comprehensive search of federal court dockets and specialized patent litigation databases reveals no known litigation involving US Patent 11,346,627.

Searches were conducted using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service, which covers all federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts, as well as patent-specific litigation resources. No records of complaints, lawsuits, or other proceedings where US Patent 11,346,627 is asserted have been found.

Proceedings overview

There is no PTAB activity on file for US Patent 11,346,627.

Strategic summary

As of May 30, 2026, all claims (1-10) of US Patent 11,346,627 remain untested by any AIA trial proceeding. This means the patent owner has not yet had to defend the patentability of its claims before the PTAB.

Since there are no PTAB proceedings, there is no estoppel landscape to consider under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2). All prior-art grounds remain available for a defendant to assert. There is no pattern of PTAB filings by any petitioner, nor has the patent owner been involved in any PTAB appeals for this patent. The absence of PTAB challenges for a patent that was granted in May 2022 could indicate a variety of factors, such as the patent not being widely asserted or its claims not being perceived as vulnerable to invalidation through AIA trials.

Recommended next steps

If you are a defendant facing assertion of US Patent 11,346,627, the absence of PTAB activity means that the full scope of available prior-art grounds is open for challenge. An IPR could be a viable defense strategy to consider. Since there are no active proceedings, there are no trial-stage milestones to track.

Inventors

• Lawrence DeMonico: No employer at the time of filing is determinable from the patent document.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is ABC IP LLC. The patent document does not provide information about whether ABC IP LLC ships a product embodying the claims, its primary line of business, or its current operating status.

Assignment timeline

• 2022-02-08 (executed) / recorded 2022-02-08 — Reel 059943/0651
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: DEMONICO, LAWRENCE
  • Assignee: ABC IP, LLC
  • Correspondent: R. Steven Herbert, Herbert & Cowling, 2030 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 105, Atlanta, GA 30339. This correspondent appears multiple times in this chain.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventor to assignee.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11346627
    2022 : Filed by Lawrence DeMonico
         : Assigned to ABC IP, LLC
         : Issued

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. The initial assignment is from the inventor to ABC IP, LLC. Without further information about ABC IP, LLC's business activities or physical address beyond what is recorded for the correspondent, it is difficult to definitively determine if it is a shell entity.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. As of the current analysis, neither Lawrence DeMonico nor ABC IP, LLC appear on public NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. R. Steven Herbert of Herbert & Cowling is listed as the correspondent for the only recorded assignment. This specific correspondent's recurrence could be a signal if tracking multiple patents associated with this entity.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. There is only one recorded assignment for this patent.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. There is no known litigation involving this patent.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the assignor or assignee.
7. Privateering — unclear. There is no information available in the patent document or assignment records to suggest a privateering arrangement.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. Only one assignment from the inventor to ABC IP, LLC is recorded (Reel 059943/0651, executed and recorded on 2022-02-08). While the nature of "ABC IP, LLC" might suggest a potential for shell entity characteristics, there is not enough public information to definitively confirm this, nor are there other assignments or litigation records to indicate an NPE pattern.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html.

To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 11,346,627, a search of its cited references was performed. The following patents are identified as prior art.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 11,346,627

1. US10514223B1

• Full Citation: US10514223B1, "Firearm trigger mechanism" to Wolf Tactical Llc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued December 24, 2019, with a priority date of September 29, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a forced reset semiautomatic trigger assembly where the hammer forces the trigger to the set position when the bolt carrier cycles, and a pivoting locking bar, operated by a spring and contact with the bolt or bolt carrier, prevents early hammer release.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US10514223B1 is explicitly identified in US11346627B1 as a prior art patent that describes a forced reset semiautomatic trigger assembly. The key distinction highlighted in US11346627B1 is that its locking bar employs linear, sliding movement, as opposed to the pivotal movement of the locking bar in US10514223B1. Therefore, US10514223B1 would likely anticipate claims in US11346627B1 that cover the general concept of a forced reset trigger with a locking bar, but not those specifically claiming a slidably mounted locking bar. It would potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 6 related to the hammer and trigger member interaction for forced reset. Claims 1 and 6 define a hammer and trigger member that operate in the same manner as described in US10514223B1.

2. US7398723B1

• Full Citation: US7398723B1, "Trigger forward displacement system and method" to Blakley Brian A.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued July 15, 2008, with a priority date of April 25, 2003.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a replacement trigger mechanism for a semi-automatic firearm in which a rotating cam, contacted by the cycling bolt carrier, forces the trigger member to reset between shots to increase the cyclic rate of fire.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US7398723B1, like US10514223B1, focuses on a mechanism to increase the cyclic rate of a semi-automatic firearm by forcibly resetting the trigger. It employs a rotating cam for this purpose. This patent would likely anticipate the broad concept of a trigger mechanism where the bolt carrier's cycling forces the trigger to reset, as recited in the preambles of claims 1 and 6, and potentially the interaction between the hammer and trigger member that results in the forced reset. However, it does not describe a sliding blocking bar and therefore would not anticipate the distinctive locking bar feature of US11346627B1.

3. US10006734B1

• Full Citation: US10006734B1, "Trigger assembly with trigger block" to Smith & Wesson Corp.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued June 26, 2018, with a priority date of March 22, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a trigger mechanism having a trigger block pivotably mounted on a trigger, with a face surface that engages an actuating surface.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a "trigger block" that is pivotably mounted. While it involves a blocking mechanism related to the trigger, the specific mechanism (a trigger block pivotably mounted on the trigger) and its actuation differ from the sliding locking bar described in US11346627B1. It could potentially anticipate aspects of general trigger blocking or safety mechanisms if construed broadly, but not the specific "sliding locking bar" feature.

4. US10267584B2

• Full Citation: US10267584B2, "Latch for a rifle" to Juggernaut Tactical, Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued April 23, 2019, with a priority date of August 9, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a latch for a rifle, which may not directly relate to the core trigger mechanism of US11346627B1. Further review of the patent text would be needed to determine specific relevance to trigger blocking or reset.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without a more detailed description readily available from the provided search snippets, it is difficult to determine direct anticipation of claims 1 or 6. Its relevance would depend on whether the "latch" functions in a way that directly controls trigger movement or reset in a manner similar to the locking bar or forced reset features of US11346627B1.

5. US10488136B2

• Full Citation: US10488136B2, "Selective fire firearm systems and methods" to ArmWest, LLC.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued November 26, 2019, with a priority date of September 23, 2016.
• Brief Description: This patent relates to selective fire firearm systems and methods, which could involve different modes of firing, potentially including mechanisms that affect trigger function or rate of fire.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US10267584B2, without more specific details from the search results, it's hard to definitively state anticipation. If this patent describes a mechanism that achieves a forced reset or a trigger blocking function in a way that aligns with claims 1 or 6, it could be relevant. The term "selective fire" suggests it might include mechanisms for controlling the firing rate or mode, which could touch upon the functions of a forced reset trigger or a locking mechanism.

6. US10584932B2

• Full Citation: US10584932B2, "Trigger-locking apparatus, system, and method for semiautomatic firearms" to David Foster.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued March 10, 2020, with a priority date of January 28, 2016.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a trigger-locking apparatus, system, and method for semiautomatic firearms.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent explicitly mentions a "trigger-locking apparatus" for semiautomatic firearms, which makes it highly relevant. If its locking mechanism functions similarly to the sliding locking bar of US11346627B1, or if it achieves the same functional outcome of preventing trigger movement until the bolt carrier is in battery, it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 6 related to the locking bar and its function.

7. US11293715B1

• Full Citation: US11293715B1, "Firearm trigger mechanism" to Heckler & Koch Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued April 5, 2022, with a priority date of December 11, 2019.
• Brief Description: This patent relates to a firearm trigger mechanism, but the specific details of its operation or if it incorporates a forced reset or sliding locking bar are not immediately clear from the provided snippets.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without more specific details about the mechanism described in US11293715B1, it's not possible to determine direct anticipation. Its relevance would depend on whether its trigger mechanism includes a forced reset feature and/or a sliding locking bar as described in US11346627B1.

8. US11287205B2

• Full Citation: US11287205B2, "Trigger assembly" to CMC Triggers Corp.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued March 29, 2022, with a priority date of January 20, 2020.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a trigger assembly. Specific details regarding forced reset or a sliding blocking bar are not immediately available from the provided snippets.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US11293715B1, more detailed information about this patent's mechanism is needed to assess its potential to anticipate claims 1 or 6 of US11346627B1. Its relevance would be based on whether it incorporates the unique features of a forced reset trigger with a sliding locking bar.

The primary reference for the forced reset trigger mechanism with a locking bar is US10514223B1. The patent US11346627 explicitly states this and highlights that US10514223B1's locking bar is pivotally mounted. The key difference in US11346627 is the slidably mounted locking bar.

Analysis of Obviousness for US Patent 11,346,627 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

The present invention, US Patent 11,346,627, introduces a forced reset semiautomatic trigger mechanism with a sliding blocking bar. The patent acknowledges US Pat. No. 10,514,223 (hereinafter "US '223") as prior art for a "forced reset semiautomatic trigger assembly" with a locking bar that is pivotally mounted. The central distinguishing feature of US '627 is the change in motion of the locking bar from pivotal to linear, sliding movement, offering advantages in adjustability and compensating for tolerance stacking (Description).

A person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) in firearm trigger mechanisms would have recognized the advantages of a sliding motion over a pivoting motion in certain mechanical contexts, particularly when precision, stability, and adjustability are desired to mitigate issues like "tolerance stacking" and "imprecise actuation contact" (Description).

Combination 1: US Pat. No. 10,514,223 in view of general mechanical engineering principles and existing firearm safety/locking mechanisms.

• US Pat. No. 10,514,223 (Wolf Tactical LLC): This patent teaches a firearm trigger mechanism comprising:

  • A hammer having a sear notch and mounted to pivot on a transverse axis.
  • A trigger member having a sear and mounted to pivot on a transverse axis, with a surface positioned to be forcibly contacted by the hammer when the bolt carrier cycles, thereby forcing the trigger member to the set position. (This constitutes the "forced reset" feature).
  • A locking bar that is pivotally mounted in a frame and spring biased to a first position where it mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to the released position. This locking bar is movable against the spring bias to a second position when contacted by the bolt carrier reaching a substantially in-battery position, allowing the trigger member to be moved to the released position.

  Thus, US '223 discloses all elements of independent Claim 1 and Claim 6 of US '627, except for the "slidably mounted" aspect of the locking bar.

• Motivation to Modify to a Sliding Locking Bar: The '627 patent itself provides a clear motivation for a PHOSITA to change the pivotal locking bar to a sliding one: "tolerance stacking in the various parts other than the trigger assembly can sometimes result in imprecise actuation contact between the bolt carrier and the locking bar" (Description). The patent states that the sliding movement "also allows for adjustable configurations... which can help compensate for the tolerance stacking effects previously described" (Description). A PHOSITA would recognize that linear guides and sliding mechanisms often offer greater stability, reduced play, and easier adjustability compared to pivoting mechanisms, especially in applications where precise engagement and disengagement with a reciprocating component (like a bolt carrier) are critical. The 1911 pistol, for example, is known to have a sliding trigger which moves straight to the rear, as opposed to a pivoting trigger, which contributes to a predictable trigger press. This demonstrates that sliding components in firearm trigger mechanisms are a known design choice. Further, adjustable sliding mechanisms are widely known in various mechanical arts for compensating for manufacturing tolerances and achieving precise positioning, as seen in general adjustable security bars for sliding doors.

• Obviousness of Claim 1: Given US '223 as a primary reference, a PHOSITA, motivated by the desire to improve the precision and adjustability of the locking bar's interaction with the bolt carrier to mitigate tolerance stacking, would have found it obvious to replace the pivoting locking bar of US '223 with a sliding locking bar. This modification leverages well-known engineering principles where linear movement can provide more controlled and adjustable engagement than pivotal movement. The concept of using a sliding element for blocking or safety in a firearm is also generally known, as evidenced by "sliding lever safety" mechanisms.

Combination 2: Obviousness of Claim 6 (Housing)

Independent Claim 6 introduces the additional element of a "housing" in which the components (hammer, trigger member, and sliding locking bar) are mounted, effectively describing a "drop-in" trigger assembly.

• Prior Art for Drop-in Housings: The concept of "drop-in" trigger assemblies, where the entire trigger mechanism is pre-assembled within a housing for modularity and ease of installation into a firearm receiver, is well-established in the art, particularly for AR-pattern firearms. Numerous products and patents demonstrate this, such as AR15 drop-in triggers from Arrowhead Survival, Midwest Industries, and TriggerTech. These products highlight the advantages of a self-contained design for quick installation and consistent performance without the need for fine-tuning. US Pat. No. 6,722,072 (McCormick) explicitly describes a "trigger group module for firearms and method for installing a trigger group in a firearm."

• Obviousness of Claim 6: If the sliding locking bar of Claim 1 is considered obvious, then integrating this improved mechanism into a drop-in housing, as claimed in Claim 6, would also have been obvious to a PHOSITA. The firearm industry, especially for AR-pattern firearms, routinely utilizes drop-in trigger modules for manufacturing efficiency, ease of assembly, and user convenience. A PHOSITA, seeking to commercialize or implement the improved sliding locking bar trigger, would naturally consider packaging it in a modular, drop-in housing, which is a common and known design choice for such components in AR-style firearms. This would be a mere design choice or an obvious application of known technology to a known device to improve its ease of installation and modularity.

Therefore, the combination of US Pat. No. 10,514,223 with general mechanical engineering principles regarding the advantages of sliding mechanisms for precision and adjustability, or with other firearm-related sliding blocking mechanisms, would render Claim 1 obvious. Further, the combination of this modified trigger mechanism with the well-known practice of using drop-in housings for firearm trigger assemblies (e.g., as exemplified by AR-pattern drop-in triggers), would render Claim 6 obvious.