12038247

Analysis of U.S. Patent No. 12,038,247

Title: Firearm trigger mechanism

Assignee: ABC IP, LLC

Inventor: Brian A. Blakley

Filing Date: May 30, 2023

Issue Date: July 16, 2024

Abstract:
The patent describes a trigger mechanism for AR-pattern firearms that includes a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a cam, and a three-position safety selector. The selector allows for "safe," "standard semi-automatic," and "forced reset semi-automatic" modes. In the standard semi-automatic mode, the disconnector catches the hammer after a shot, requiring the user to release the trigger to reset it. In the forced reset mode, the safety selector prevents the disconnector from engaging the hammer, and the movement of the bolt carrier forces the trigger to reset, allowing for a faster rate of fire without needing to release the trigger.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a firearm trigger mechanism that can be installed in the fire control pocket of a receiver. It details the interaction of a hammer, trigger member, disconnector, and a pivoting cam. The key feature is a three-position safety selector that enables:
  • Safe: Prevents the trigger from being pulled.
  • Standard Semi-Automatic: After a shot, the bolt carrier's movement resets the hammer, which is then caught by a disconnector. The user must release the trigger to reset it for the next shot.
  • Forced Reset Semi-Automatic: The safety selector deactivates the disconnector. The bolt carrier's movement not only resets the hammer but also forces the trigger to reset via a cam mechanism. This allows for a subsequent shot without the user needing to manually release the trigger.
• Claim 4: This claim is similar to claim 1 but describes the trigger mechanism as being contained within a "housing" or "drop-in" module. This module, containing the hammer, trigger, disconnector, and cam, is designed to be easily installed into a firearm's receiver. The functionality with the three-position safety selector remains the same as in claim 1.
• Claim 9: This claim describes a complete firearm that includes the trigger mechanism from claim 1. It details the interaction between the reciprocating bolt carrier and the trigger mechanism's components (hammer, trigger, disconnector, cam, and three-position safety selector) to achieve the safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes of operation.
• Claim 14: This claim broadens the description of the cam, stating that it is "movably mounted" rather than specifically "pivoting." The core functionality remains the same as in claim 1, with the three-position safety selector controlling the standard and forced reset semi-automatic modes. This broader language could cover different mechanical designs for the cam's movement.
• Claim 15: This claim describes a firearm trigger mechanism with two modes: standard semi-automatic and forced reset semi-automatic. In the standard mode, a disconnector catches the hammer, and the user must release the trigger to fire again. In the forced reset mode, a cam forces the trigger to reset, and the disconnector is prevented from catching the hammer, allowing for a faster rate of fire.
• Claim 20: Similar to claim 15, this claim describes a trigger mechanism with safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset modes. It specifies that the cam is not part of the safety selector and that the selector operates by rotation. The trigger and disconnector are described as being on a coaxial pivot.

Litigation:

A search of court dockets indicates that U.S. Patent No. 12,038,247 is currently involved in litigation. A case, ABC IP LLC v. Mars Trigger LLC, was filed in the Eastern District of Texas on March 23, 2026. The plaintiff, ABC IP, LLC, alleges that the defendant's "Super Safety" firearm trigger mechanism infringes on this patent, among others. There is also a record of a PTAB case, IPR2025-01473, which has not been instituted. A search of CAFC dockets for "12038247" did not yield any direct results at this time.