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.