US 12036336

US Patent 12036336, titled "Firearm trigger mechanism," was issued to ABC IP LLC on July 16, 2024, from an application filed on July 3, 2023. The inventor is Mladen Thomas Strbac.

Abstract:
The patent describes a firearm trigger mechanism designed for AR-pattern firearms. It features a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a locking member, and a three-position safety selector offering "safe," "standard semi-automatic," and "forced reset semi-automatic" modes. In standard semi-automatic, the bolt carrier's rearward movement causes the disconnector to catch the hammer, requiring the user to manually release the trigger to reset for the next shot. In contrast, the forced reset semi-automatic position uses the bolt carrier's rearward movement to force the trigger member to its set position, with the safety selector preventing the disconnector from engaging the hammer. This allows the user to fire another round upon the bolt carrier reaching the in-battery position without manually releasing the trigger. A locking member ensures that the trigger member is blocked from moving to a released position until the bolt carrier is substantially in-battery, preventing premature hammer release.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Firearm Trigger Mechanism):
  This claim describes a standalone trigger mechanism comprising:

  • A hammer that pivots and is reset by the bolt carrier's rearward movement. It has a sear catch and a hook for a disconnector.
  • A trigger member with a sear that also pivots. It has a surface that the hammer contacts during its rearward pivot to force the trigger back to its set position. The sear and sear catch engage when both are in set positions and disengage when released.
  • A disconnector with a hook that engages the hammer, pivoting with the trigger member.
  • A locking member that pivots between two positions: one that blocks the trigger from being pulled and another that allows it. This member is spring-biased to the blocking position and is moved by the bolt carrier to the non-blocking position when the bolt is in-battery.
  • A three-position safety selector (safe, standard semi-automatic, forced reset semi-automatic).
  • In standard semi-automatic mode: The bolt carrier's rearward movement causes the disconnector to catch the hammer, requiring the user to manually release the trigger to reset the mechanism for the next shot.
  • In forced reset semi-automatic mode: The bolt carrier's rearward movement forces the trigger to reset, and the safety selector prevents the disconnector from catching the hammer. This allows the user to fire another round as soon as the bolt carrier returns to battery without needing to release the trigger finger.

• Claim 3 (Firearm Trigger Mechanism with Housing):
  This claim builds upon Claim 1 by specifying the trigger mechanism is a "drop-in" unit within a housing. It includes:

  • A housing with openings for the hammer pin and trigger member pin.
  • The hammer, trigger member, disconnector, and locking member are all mounted within this housing on their respective pins.
  • The safety selector is adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket of a receiver.
  • The functionality of the standard semi-automatic and forced reset semi-automatic modes is identical to Claim 1.

• Claim 7 (Firearm):
  This claim describes a complete firearm incorporating the trigger mechanism, comprising:

  • A receiver with a fire control mechanism pocket.
  • A reciprocating bolt carrier.
  • The hammer, trigger member, disconnector, and locking member are all mounted directly within the receiver's fire control mechanism pocket (with the same functional descriptions as in Claim 1).
  • A safety selector is also mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket.
  • The functionality of the standard semi-automatic and forced reset semi-automatic modes is identical to Claim 1.

• Claim 12 (Firearm Trigger Mechanism with Movable Locking Member):
  This claim is similar to Claim 1 but broadens the description of the locking member:

  • It describes the hammer, trigger member, disconnector, and safety selector with the same functionality as in Claim 1.
  • The locking member is described as "movably mounted" in the fire control mechanism pocket (rather than specifically pivoting on a pivot axis). It still functions to block or allow trigger movement and is spring-biased to the blocking position, moved by the bolt carrier to the allowing position.
  • The functionality of the standard semi-automatic and forced reset semi-automatic modes is identical to Claim 1.

Litigation:
US Patent 12036336 is currently involved in litigation. As of the current date (April 26, 2026), several US cases have been filed in various District Courts, and one case is active in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). The CAFC case is identified as case number 26-1527.

A list of district court cases includes:

• Illinois Northern District Court: 1:26-cv-01072
• Texas Eastern District Court: 2:26-cv-00201, 4:26-md-03176, 4:26-cv-00379, 4:26-cv-00374, 2:26-cv-00033
• Wyoming District Court: 1:26-cv-00018, 1:25-cv-00124
• Wisconsin Eastern District Court: 2:25-cv-00852
• Washington Eastern District Court: 2:26-cv-00014
• Arizona District Court: 2:25-cv-04938, 2:26-cv-00085
• Idaho District Court: 1:26-cv-00001, 4:25-cv-00299, 4:26-cv-00001
• Louisiana Eastern District Court: 2:26-cv-00576
• Missouri Eastern District Court: 4:26-cv-00018
• Iowa Southern District Court: 4:26-cv-00015

The patent family also has litigation filed globally, as indicated by Darts-ip.

Known litigation involving US patent 12036336B2 includes multiple cases filed in various US District Courts and one case in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Google Patents entry for US12036336B2 indicates that the patent family is involved in litigation. The current assignee of the patent is ABC IP LLC.

For each case, the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) are not explicitly stated in the provided Google Patents information. The status for all listed cases is "litigation" and, given the patent's overall "Active" legal status, these cases are presumed ongoing or active. The filing date is inferred from the case number format (e.g., YY-cv-##### where YY is the year).

Here is a list of known litigation:

• Jurisdiction: Illinois Northern District Court

  • Case Number: 1:26-cv-01072
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00201
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming District Court

  • Case Number: 1:26-cv-00018
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming District Court

  • Case Number: 1:25-cv-00124
  • Filing Date: 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Wisconsin Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00852
  • Filing Date: 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Washington Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00014
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 4:26-md-03176
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active) (Note: This appears to be a multi-district litigation case)

• Jurisdiction: Arizona District Court

  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-04938
  • Filing Date: 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Arizona District Court

  • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00085
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

  • Case Number: 26-1527
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Idaho District Court

  • Case Number: 1:26-cv-00001
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Idaho District Court

  • Case Number: 4:25-cv-00299
  • Filing Date: 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Idaho District Court

  • Case Number: 4:26-cv-00001
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00576
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 4:26-cv-00379
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Missouri Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 4:26-cv-00018
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Iowa Southern District Court

  • Case Number: 4:26-cv-00015
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

• Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00033
  • Filing Date: 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (Active)

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US Patent 12036336 as of the most recent ingest from the USPTO ODP API, nor have any been identified through web search. This indicates that the patent has not yet been challenged in an Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) review.

Strategic summary

As there are no PTAB proceedings on file for US12036336, all claims of the patent (claims 1-12) remain untested and fully enforceable from a PTAB perspective. There are no estoppel implications under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) as no petitions have been filed or instituted.

The absence of PTAB activity can be interpreted in several ways. It might suggest that the patent has not yet been asserted aggressively enough to provoke a challenge, or that potential challengers have not found sufficiently compelling prior art to warrant filing a petition. For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, this means all potential prior art grounds are still available for an IPR or other challenge, assuming the statutory window for such actions is open.

Recommended next steps

If you are a defendant facing assertion of US12036336, the absence of PTAB activity means that all claims are currently presumed valid without any PTAB-level challenges.

• Consider filing an IPR/PGR: If you have strong prior art, an Inter Partes Review (IPR) could be a viable strategy to challenge the patent's validity. Since the patent was granted on 2024-07-16, the one-year window for filing a Post-Grant Review (PGR) from the grant date has passed. However, an IPR can generally be filed at any time after the later of (1) nine months after the grant of the patent, or (2) the date of termination of any PGR of the patent, up until a complaint for infringement is filed and served (with a one-year bar from service). Given the publication date was 2024-07-16, an IPR could be filed.
• Prior Art Search: Conduct a thorough prior art search to identify any strong prior art references that could form the basis of an IPR petition under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and/or 103.
• Legal Analysis: Engage patent counsel to conduct a comprehensive legal analysis of the patent claims against the identified prior art to determine the likelihood of success in a PTAB proceeding.

Inventors

• Mladen Thomas Strbac. His employer at the time of filing was ABC IP LLC, the original assignee of the patent.

Original assignee

The original assignee on the issued patent US12036336B2 is ABC IP LLC. ABC IP LLC appears to be primarily involved in patent assertion and litigation related to firearm trigger mechanisms, specifically "forced reset triggers" (FRTs). While they are frequently a co-plaintiff with Rare Breed Triggers, Inc., an operating company that sells FRT products, there is no direct evidence that ABC IP LLC itself manufactures or ships products embodying the claims in the firearms sector. Trademark records also indicate ABC IP LLC holds trademarks for "Light beverage products" and "Beer," which are unrelated to firearms. The company's current status appears to be active, primarily through its litigation efforts.

Assignment timeline

A search of the USPTO Assignment Center for patent number US12036336 reveals no recorded assignments for this patent. This indicates that the original assignee, ABC IP LLC, remains the current owner of record according to USPTO assignment data.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12036336
    2022 : Priority date
    2023 : Application filed by ABC IP LLC
    2024 : Patent granted to ABC IP LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Unclear. The patent was granted directly to ABC IP LLC. While "IP LLC" in the name, its lack of direct product manufacturing in the firearms industry, its high volume of patent litigation, and its ownership of trademarks in unrelated industries (e.g., brewing) suggest it functions as a shell entity for patent assertion. However, there is no recorded transfer from an operating company to this entity for this patent in the assignment records to definitively mark a "transfer."
2. Known asserter in the chain — Unclear. ABC IP LLC is not on the provided list of specific known NPEs. However, its high volume of recent patent infringement lawsuits (e.g., cases filed in January and May 2026) strongly indicates that it operates as a patent assertion entity.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. No assignment records found for this patent.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. No assignment records found for this patent.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. The patent was granted on July 16, 2024. ABC IP LLC has filed multiple infringement lawsuits involving similar trigger mechanisms, with some cases being filed in January and May 2026, which is within or shortly after a typical 6-month pre-litigation window from publication. However, since there was no recorded transfer of ownership, this signal cannot be definitively marked as "present" due to a transfer.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. No evidence of bankruptcy proceedings for ABC IP LLC or the inventor.
7. Privateering — Present. ABC IP LLC frequently acts as a co-plaintiff with Rare Breed Triggers, Inc., an operating company that manufactures and sells forced reset triggers. This arrangement, where an "IP LLC" asserts patents in conjunction with an operating company against its competitors (e.g., those producing "Super Safety" firearm trigger systems), is a strong indicator of privateering.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. There is no evidence that this patent has been transferred to a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence
This verdict is based on the strong signal of privateering, where ABC IP LLC, an entity that does not appear to directly manufacture firearms products, is actively engaged in numerous patent infringement lawsuits as a co-plaintiff with the operating company Rare Breed Triggers, Inc.. This structure, coupled with ABC IP LLC's extensive litigation activity shortly after the patent's issuance, indicates a clear pattern of patent assertion. The absence of recorded assignments on the USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html?pno=[12036336B2](/patent/12036336B2)) means ABC IP LLC has been the assignee since grant, and its operations align with an NPE model.

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 12036336

US Patent 12036336, titled "Firearm trigger mechanism," describes a semi-automatic trigger mechanism for increasing the rate of fire, particularly adaptable for AR-pattern firearms. Key features include a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a locking member, and a three-position safety selector (safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic). The patent was filed on July 3, 2023, and granted on July 16, 2024.

The following are some of the most relevant prior art documents cited in US12036336B2:

US 9,568,264 B2 to Graves

• Full Citation: US 9,568,264 B2 to Graves, "Devices for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire"
• Publication/Filing Date: The patent was issued on February 2, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent describes devices that forcefully reset the trigger with rigid mechanical contact between the trigger member and the bolt as the action cycles, aiming to increase the rate of semiautomatic fire. The '264 patent is specifically mentioned in the background of US12036336 as a device for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire, but it notes that adapting it to an AR-pattern firearm would require a modified fire control mechanism and a modified bolt carrier.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US12036336 aims to improve upon Graves by not requiring a modified bolt carrier in AR-pattern firearms, the core concept of a forced reset trigger for increasing the rate of fire, initiated by bolt carrier movement, is present in Graves. Claims 1, 3, 7, and 12 of US12036336, which broadly describe a hammer pivoted rearward by a bolt carrier and a trigger member forced to a set position, could potentially be considered anticipated or rendered obvious by US 9,568,264, depending on the specifics of the "forcing" mechanism and the interaction with the bolt carrier. The differentiating factor in 12036336 is the specific interaction where the hammer's rearward pivoting causes the trigger member to be forced to the set position, combined with a locking member and a three-position safety selector.

US 9,816,772 B2 to Graves

• Full Citation: US 9,816,772 B2 to Graves, "Devices for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire"
• Publication/Filing Date: The patent was issued on November 14, 2017.
• Brief Description: Similar to US 9,568,264, this patent also describes mechanisms for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire through a forced reset. It is also referenced in the background of US12036336 as prior art that forcefully resets the trigger via mechanical contact with the bolt.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to the '264 patent, US 9,816,772 could potentially anticipate claims 1, 3, 7, and 12 of US12036336 related to the general principle of a bolt carrier causing a forced reset of the trigger for rapid fire. The novelty of US12036336 would rest on the specific details of how the trigger is forced to the set position by the hammer during its rearward pivoting, the role of the locking member, and the three-position safety selector.

US 9,939,221 B2 to Graves

• Full Citation: US 9,939,221 B2 to Graves, "Devices for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire"
• Publication/Filing Date: The patent was issued on April 3, 2018.
• Brief Description: This is another patent by Graves concerning devices for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire using a forcefully reset trigger. It is also explicitly mentioned in US12036336 as prior art.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): As with the other Graves patents, US 9,939,221 could potentially anticipate the broad concept of a forced reset trigger mechanism for increasing the rate of fire as described in claims 1, 3, 7, and 12. The specific improvements in US12036336, such as the direct interaction between the hammer and trigger member for forcing the reset, the locking member, and the three-position safety, would be the points of distinction.

US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627

• Full Citation: US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627 (inventor not specified in the provided text, but mentioned as "other devices for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire")
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but cited in the background of US12036336.
• Brief Description: These patents describe devices where "the hammer forces the trigger to the set position, and a locking bar prevents early hammer release." This description is highly relevant as it directly addresses two key features of US12036336: the hammer forcing the trigger to the set position, and a locking member (referred to as a "locking bar" in the prior art description) preventing early hammer release.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents appear to be very strong prior art. Claims 1, 3, 7, and 12 of US12036336 describe a hammer that forces the trigger member to the set position and a locking member that blocks the trigger member from moving to the released position until the bolt carrier is in-battery. The description of US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627 almost directly matches these elements. Therefore, these patents could potentially anticipate many aspects of claims 1, 3, 7, and 12, particularly the mechanism of the hammer forcing the trigger reset and the function of the locking member to prevent premature firing. The specific implementation of the three-position safety selector in US12036336 might be a distinguishing feature.

US 7,398,723 to Blakley

• Full Citation: US 7,398,723 to Brian A. Blakley
• Publication/Filing Date: The patent was issued on July 15, 2008.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a device for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire that employs a pivoting cam contacted by the rearwardly traveling bolt carrier. The cam then presses downward on a trigger-extension, forcing the rear of the trigger down and moving the trigger finger engagement surface forward.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates the concept of using the bolt carrier's rearward movement to mechanically force a trigger reset to enable faster firing. Claims 1, 3, 7, and 12, which involve the rearward movement of the bolt carrier causing the trigger member to be forced to the set position, could be implicated. However, US12036336 specifies that the hammer contacts the trigger member to force it to the set position, and also includes a distinct locking member and a three-position safety selector, which differentiates it from Blakley's cam-based system.

US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941 to Blakley

• Full Citation: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941, invented by Brian A. Blakley
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 8, 2022.
• Brief Description: This provisional application also describes a pivoting cam arrangement for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire, and importantly, incorporates a three-position safety selector to provide safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This provisional application is highly relevant as it introduces the concept of a three-position safety selector for forced reset semi-automatic modes, which is a key feature of US12036336. Claims 1, 3, 7, and 12 of US12036336 all detail the three-position safety selector and its function in the different modes. While Blakley's provisional still uses a pivoting cam for the reset, the inclusion of the three-position selector with similar functionalities in the forced reset mode could potentially anticipate or render obvious aspects of the safety selector and its interaction with the disconnector in US12036336. The specific mechanism of how the safety selector prevents the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook (e.g., through a protuberance) as described in US12036336 would be a point of novelty to analyze against this prior art.

Obviousness Analysis for US Patent 12036336 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the claims of US Patent 12036336 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA). The motivation for combining these references stems from the common desire in the firearms industry to increase the rate of semi-automatic fire, enhance user control, and ensure safety, as explicitly articulated in the background and summary of US12036336 itself.

The primary combination for rendering the independent claims obvious is US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627 (collectively, "the '223/'627 patents") in view of US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941 to Blakley ("Blakley Provisional").

Claim 1: Firearm Trigger Mechanism

Combination of References: US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627 in view of US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941.

Analysis:

1. Core Forced Reset and Locking Mechanism: The '223/'627 patents, explicitly cited in the background of US12036336, describe devices where "the hammer forces the trigger to the set position, and a locking bar prevents early hammer release." This directly teaches the following key elements of Claim 1:

   • A hammer having a sear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector, adapted to be pivoted rearward by rearward movement of a bolt carrier.
   • A trigger member having a sear, with a surface positioned to be contacted by the hammer during its rearward pivoting to force the trigger member to the set position.
   • The engagement and disengagement of the sear and sear catch.
   • A disconnector with a hook for engaging the hammer.
   • A locking member (described as a "locking bar") pivotable between a first position (blocking trigger movement) and a second position (allowing trigger movement), spring-biased toward the first position, and moved to the second position by contact from the bolt carrier during its forward movement as it reaches a substantially in-battery position. This locking member's function is to prevent early hammer release.

2. Three-Position Safety Selector and Forced Reset Functionality: The Blakley Provisional (U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941, filed Sep. 8, 2022) is also cited in US12036336, stating that it "incorporates a three-position safety selector and associated structure to provide safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes." This teaches:

   • A safety selector adapted to pivot between safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions.
   • The functionality in the standard semi-automatic position where the disconnector catches the hammer, requiring manual trigger release for reset.
   • The functionality in the forced reset semi-automatic position where the trigger is forced to the set position, and the safety selector prevents the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook, allowing the user to pull the trigger without manual release once the bolt carrier is in-battery.

Motivation for Combination:
A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) would be motivated to combine the teachings of the '223/'627 patents with the Blakley Provisional for several reasons:

• Addressing Known Desires: US12036336 explicitly states that "Further improvement in forced reset triggers is desired" and that "shooters desire to increase the rate of semiautomatic fire." The '223/'627 patents offered a mechanism for increased rate of fire via hammer-forced reset and a locking bar for safety.
• Enhancing Versatility and User Control: The Blakley Provisional presented a significant advancement by integrating a three-position safety selector to provide selectable modes, including a dedicated forced reset semi-automatic option alongside a standard semi-automatic and safe mode. A POSA would recognize the benefit of combining the robust hammer-driven reset and early release prevention taught by the '223/'627 patents with the user-selectable firing modes of the Blakley Provisional. This combination would yield a more versatile and user-friendly firearm trigger mechanism capable of both traditional semi-automatic operation and a high-rate-of-fire forced reset mode, fulfilling the desire for "further improvement in forced reset triggers."
• Obvious Design Choice for Disconnector Disable: In a forced reset semi-automatic mode, the disconnector's function (holding the hammer until the trigger is released) is inherently counterproductive to the goal of rapid firing without releasing the trigger finger. Therefore, it would be an obvious design choice for a POSA, when implementing a forced reset mode with a safety selector (as taught by Blakley Provisional), to configure the safety selector to disable the disconnector in that mode. The specific mechanical means for doing so, such as a protuberance on the safety selector contacting the disconnector (as described in US12036336), would be a routine engineering decision.

Therefore, Claim 1 of US12036336 would have been obvious to a POSA by combining the '223/'627 patents with the Blakley Provisional.

Claim 3: Firearm Trigger Mechanism with Housing

Combination of References: US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627 in view of US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941, further combined with the general knowledge of modular trigger housings in AR-pattern firearms.

Analysis:
Claim 3 adds the limitation that the trigger mechanism components (hammer, trigger member, disconnector, locking member) are mounted within a housing adapted to fit into a receiver's fire control mechanism pocket, forming a "drop-in" module.

Motivation for Combination:
US12036336 explicitly states that the present invention "is particularly adaptable for construction as a 'drop-in' replacement trigger module that only requires insertion of two assembly pins and the safety selector." The patent also notes that "Lower receiver parts not important to the present invention are well-known in the art and are omitted from the figures for clarity." The concept of drop-in trigger modules for AR-pattern firearms was well-established and a common design practice in the art by the priority date of US12036336. A POSA, seeking to provide the combined forced reset and multi-mode trigger mechanism (as rendered obvious for Claim 1) in a convenient and easily installable format for popular firearm platforms like AR-pattern firearms, would be motivated to package these components within a self-contained housing. This modular design offers advantages in manufacturing, installation, and user customization, and thus constitutes an obvious engineering choice.

Claim 7: Firearm

Combination of References: US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627 in view of US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941, implemented within a firearm comprising a receiver and reciprocating bolt carrier.

Analysis:
Claim 7 describes a complete firearm incorporating the trigger mechanism, including a receiver and a reciprocating bolt carrier. The functional aspects of the hammer, trigger member, disconnector, locking member, and safety selector are identical to Claim 1.

Motivation for Combination:
The very nature and purpose of the trigger mechanisms described in the '223/'627 patents and the Blakley Provisional, as well as US12036336 itself, are to function within a firearm. All these references describe mechanisms for increasing the rate of fire in semi-automatic firearms by interacting with the bolt carrier. Therefore, it would be inherently obvious for a POSA to incorporate the combined trigger mechanism (as rendered obvious for Claim 1) into a standard firearm receiver with a reciprocating bolt carrier, as this is the intended environment and application for such a device. This claim simply articulates the intended use of the previously described mechanism within its necessary operational context.

Claim 12: Firearm Trigger Mechanism with Movable Locking Member

Combination of References: US 10,514,223 and US 11,346,627 in view of US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941, further considering the explicit disclosure within US12036336 regarding alternative locking member designs.

Analysis:
Claim 12 is similar to Claim 1 but broadens the description of the locking member, stating it is "movably mounted" rather than specifically "pivotable on a transverse locking member pivot axis." This broader language encompasses both pivoting and sliding mechanisms.

Motivation for Combination:
The '223/'627 patents teach a "locking bar" to prevent early hammer release. While the detailed description of US12036336 shows a pivotable locking member (72), it explicitly states that "Alternatively, the locking/blocking member 72 can be slidably mounted to the housing 12 and spring biased forward by a compression spring." This shows that both pivoting and sliding mechanisms for achieving the same locking function were known or obvious alternatives to the inventor at the time of filing. A POSA, when designing a mechanism to block and unblock trigger movement based on bolt carrier position, would routinely consider various kinematic solutions, including pivoting and sliding, based on design constraints like available space, manufacturing processes, and desired component interaction. Therefore, replacing a pivoting locking member with a slidably mounted one (or vice versa), while maintaining the same functional relationship with the bolt carrier and trigger, would be an obvious design choice for a POSA.

In summary, the core inventive concepts of US12036336, namely the hammer-forced trigger reset, the bolt-carrier-actuated locking member to prevent early release, and the three-position safety selector with a dedicated forced reset mode that bypasses the disconnector, are either directly taught or rendered obvious by the combination of US 10,514,223 / US 11,346,627 and US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941, along with the general knowledge in the field regarding modular firearm components and mechanical design alternatives.