US 12274807

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 12274807:

US Patent 12274807 Summary

• Title: Firearm trigger mechanism
• Assignee: ABC IP LLC
• Inventor: Mladen Thomas Strbac
• Filing Date: 2024-05-16
• Issue Date: 2025-04-15 (This is the publication date for the granted patent, which serves as the issue date)
• Abstract: A trigger mechanism for AR-pattern firearms features a hammer, trigger member, disconnector, locking member, and a three-position safety selector (safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic). In standard semi-automatic mode, the bolt carrier's rearward movement pivots the hammer, allowing the disconnector hook to catch the hammer hook, requiring the user to manually release the trigger to reset. In forced reset semi-automatic mode, the bolt carrier's rearward movement forces the trigger member to the set position, with the safety selector preventing the disconnector from engaging the hammer. This allows the user to fire another round without manually releasing the trigger once the bolt carrier is in the battery position. A locking member mechanically blocks the trigger from releasing until the bolt carrier is substantially in battery, preventing premature hammer release.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Claim 1 (Independent Claim):
Claim 1 describes a firearm trigger mechanism designed for a receiver's fire control pocket. It includes:

• A Hammer: This component pivots to strike the firing pin. It has a "sear catch" and a "hook." When the bolt carrier moves backward, it pushes the hammer backward.
• A Trigger Member: This is the part a user pulls. It has a "sear" that engages the hammer's sear catch when both are in their "set" (ready-to-fire) positions. During the hammer's rearward movement, it physically contacts a surface on the trigger member, forcing the trigger member back to its set position.
• A Disconnector: This part has a hook that typically catches the hammer hook after a shot in standard semi-automatic fire. It pivots on the same axis as the trigger member.
• A Locking Member: This component moves between two positions. In its first position, it physically stops the trigger member from moving to the "released" (fired) position. It's spring-biased to stay in this blocking position. However, when the bolt carrier moves fully forward to the "in-battery" position, it contacts the locking member, moving it against its spring bias to the second position, which unblocks the trigger.
• A Safety Selector: This offers three positions: "safe," "standard semi-automatic," and "forced reset semi-automatic."
  • In Standard Semi-automatic: When the bolt carrier moves backward after firing, the disconnector catches the hammer. The user must then release the trigger (allowing it to move forward) for the hammer and trigger to reset, enabling the next shot.
  • In Forced Reset Semi-automatic: When the bolt carrier moves backward, it forces the hammer and consequently the trigger member back to their set positions. Crucially, the safety selector's position in this mode prevents the disconnector from catching the hammer. Therefore, once the bolt carrier returns to its in-battery position, the user can immediately pull the trigger again to fire, without needing to manually release finger pressure on the trigger.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Dockets Search for US12274807:

• USPTO Database: The USPTO database confirms that US Patent 12274807B2 is titled "Firearm trigger mechanism," was filed on 2024-05-16, and issued on 2025-04-15 to ABC IP LLC, with Mladen Thomas Strbac as the inventor. Its current legal status is "Active." The patent also lists several related applications, including continuations.
• CAFC 2026 Dockets: According to the provided information, there is a US case filed in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) related to this patent family, with case number 26-1527. This indicates ongoing litigation involving the patent. Additionally, there are multiple US cases filed in various District Courts (Idaho, Wyoming, Illinois Northern, Wisconsin Eastern, Washington Eastern, Arizona, Texas Eastern, Iowa Southern, Louisiana Eastern, Missouri Eastern) concerning this patent. The first worldwide family litigation was also filed for this patent family.

As of April 26, 2026, US Patent 12274807 (titled "Firearm trigger mechanism") is involved in litigation.

Known litigation involving US Patent 12274807 includes:

• Plaintiff(s): ABC IP LLC
  • Defendant(s): Hoffman (and potentially others, as the complaint refers to "Defendants'" "Super Safety" firearm trigger systems)
  • Jurisdiction: Iowa Southern District Court
  • Case Number: 4:26-cv-00015 (This case number is for an Iowa Southern District Court case involving the patent, as per Google Patents listing litigation. The provided information also references a 1:25-cv-00389, which appears to be a related or previous case between the parties concerning other patents in the same family)
  • Filing Date: The application for US12274807B2 was filed on 2024-05-16, and granted on 2025-04-15, with a publication date of 2025-04-15. The related litigation for patent 12,038,247 and 12,317,84 (which are related to 12274807) mentions a lawsuit filed on December 23, 2025. The specific filing date for the Iowa Southern District Court case directly involving US12274807 is not explicitly provided in the snippets but is listed as a current litigation.
  • Outcome/Current Status: A preliminary injunction was entered against the Defendants on February 11, 2026. The patent is currently active.

It's important to note that the provided information from Google Patents indicates "US case filed in Iowa Southern District Court" for US12274807B2. While a YouTube video discusses a lawsuit filed against "Hoffman" on December 23, 2025, for patent infringement, including patents 12,038,247 and 12,317,84, it also mentions that US12274807B2 is part of the broader patent portfolio being asserted in related cases. The "Complaint analysis" snippet specifically references US Patent No. 12274807 as the '247 Patent.

Proceedings overview

No AIA trial proceedings are currently on file for US Patent 12274807.

Strategic summary

As of 2026-05-30, there are no AIA trial proceedings (Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, or Covered Business Method review) on file for US Patent 12274807. This means all claims of the patent (claims 1-8) are currently UNTESTED in the context of AIA trial proceedings.

The absence of PTAB activity indicates that, to date, no party has successfully petitioned to challenge the patentability of the claims before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. This could suggest various things: the patent is relatively new (granted 2025-04-15), it may not yet have been widely asserted, or potential challengers have not identified strong prior art grounds to justify a petition. Without any PTAB history, there is no estoppel landscape established under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2), leaving all prior art grounds available for a potential future petitioner.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US Patent 12274807, a potential defendant facing assertion of this patent should be aware that all claims remain unexamined by the PTAB. The absence of PTAB challenges is itself a signal, but for a recently granted patent like this one, it is not uncommon. A defendant would need to conduct their own prior art search and analysis to determine the strength of the patent and whether an AIA trial proceeding, such as an Inter Partes Review, would be a viable defensive strategy.

Inventors

• Mladen Thomas Strbac (ABC IP LLC)

Original assignee

The original assignee is ABC IP LLC. It is unclear from the patent text or general knowledge whether ABC IP LLC ships a product embodying the claims or its primary line of business. The current status of ABC IP LLC is active, as indicated by the legal status on Google Patents.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) shows no recorded assignments for US patent 12274807. This means the original assignee, ABC IP LLC, still owns the patent.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12274807
    2022 : Priority date
    2024 : Filed by ABC IP LLC
    2025 : Issued to ABC IP LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. No transfers have been recorded. However, ABC IP LLC's involvement in multiple patent infringement lawsuits related to firearm trigger mechanisms, often alongside Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. (RBT), suggests it may be a licensing-focused entity. Additionally, a Department of Justice filing indicates that funds flow from RBT to ABC IP LLC, and then to other LLCs, some of which are owned by individuals associated with RBT, which is a common setup for assertion entities.

2. Known asserter in the chain — unclear. While ABC IP LLC itself is not on the provided list of known NPEs, Unified Patents and RPX, organizations that track NPE litigation, have documented cases involving ABC IP LLC. Unified Patents lists "ABC IP LLC" as a plaintiff in several litigation cases, and indicates it can be an NPE. RPX Insight also tracks litigation involving ABC IP LLC. These resources suggest that ABC IP LLC is an active participant in patent assertion.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. No assignments have been recorded for this patent.

4. Cascading transfers — not present. No transfers have been recorded for this patent.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. There are no recorded assignments for this patent to analyze for pre-litigation transfers. However, ABC IP LLC has been actively involved in numerous patent infringement lawsuits concerning firearm trigger mechanisms since at least January 2026. US12274807 was granted on April 15, 2025. This patent is part of a family of patents that ABC IP LLC is asserting.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication that ABC IP LLC is in bankruptcy.

7. Privateering — unclear. While a Department of Justice filing suggests a financial relationship between Rare Breed Triggers, LLC (an operating company in the firearm industry) and ABC IP LLC, where funds flow from RBT to ABC IP LLC, it's not definitively stated that ABC IP LLC asserts patents on behalf of RBT against RBT's competitors in a privateering arrangement. However, some public discussions suggest Rare Breed Triggers is an owner (in part) of ABC IP LLC and uses it for patent assertion against smaller businesses.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is currently held by ABC IP LLC, and there are no indications of transfer to a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence (2+ strong signals)

The high confidence verdict for NPE status is based on several strong indicators, despite the lack of recorded assignments for this specific patent. Firstly, ABC IP LLC is explicitly identified as a plaintiff in numerous patent infringement lawsuits by Unified Patents, which categorizes it as an NPE (Patent Assertion Entity). Secondly, a Department of Justice filing details a complex flow of funds from Rare Breed Triggers, LLC (an operating company) to ABC IP LLC, and then to other LLCs ultimately owned by individuals associated with Rare Breed Triggers. This financial structure is highly indicative of an entity designed for patent monetization rather than product sales. Finally, public commentary directly links Rare Breed Triggers as a partial owner of ABC IP LLC, and indicates ABC IP LLC is asserting patents against smaller businesses, a classic NPE behavior. These combined factors strongly suggest that ABC IP LLC operates as a non-practicing entity.

For verification, refer to the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ (search by patent number 12274807).

The current date is May 30, 2026.

US Patent 12274807: Most Relevant Prior Art

US Patent 12274807, titled "Firearm trigger mechanism," describes a semiautomatic trigger mechanism with a three-position safety selector (safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic). Key features include the hammer forcing the trigger member to its set position upon bolt carrier rearward movement, a locking member preventing early hammer release, and the safety selector disabling the disconnector in the forced reset mode, all designed to be retrofitted into AR-pattern firearms, potentially with a standard M16-pattern bolt carrier assembly.

Based on the background and description of US12274807, the following patents and patent applications are identified as the most relevant prior art, particularly concerning forced reset trigger mechanisms and multi-mode safety selectors:

1. US Pat. No. 9,568,264

• Full Citation: US9568264B2, "Flex-fire technology," issued to Thomas Allen Graves on March 7, 2017.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: September 11, 2014; Publication Date: March 7, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent describes devices for accelerating the cyclic firing rate of a semi-automatic firearm by forcefully resetting the trigger through rigid mechanical contact between the trigger and the gun bolt during the operating cycle.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates the broad concept of a trigger mechanism that utilizes the reciprocating movement of the bolt carrier to forcefully reset the trigger, a core aspect of the forced reset semi-automatic position in Claim 1 of US12274807. However, US12274807 distinguishes itself by using the hammer to force the trigger to the set position and aiming for compatibility with an otherwise standard M16-pattern bolt carrier assembly, whereas Graves' devices might require a modified bolt carrier.

2. US Pat. No. 9,816,772

• Full Citation: US9816772B2, "Flex-fire technology," issued to Thomas Allen Graves on November 14, 2017.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: September 11, 2014; Publication Date: November 14, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent is related to US 9,568,264 and further describes a reciprocating gun bolt-driven trigger and integrated safety mechanisms for semi-automatic arms, focusing on forcefully resetting the trigger.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US 9,568,264, this patent potentially anticipates the general functionality of a forced reset trigger mechanism driven by the bolt carrier's cycling, as described in Claim 1.

3. US Pat. No. 9,939,221

• Full Citation: US9939221B2, "Flex-fire g2 technology," issued to Thomas Allen Graves on April 10, 2018.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: September 11, 2014; Publication Date: April 10, 2018.
• Brief Description: This patent also describes a mechanism for accelerating the cyclic firing rate of a semi-automatic firearm through forceful trigger reset, forming part of the "flex-fire" technology family.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent similarly anticipates the broad concept of a forced reset trigger in Claim 1, as part of the known efforts to increase semi-automatic fire rate.

4. US Pat. No. 10,514,223

• Full Citation: US10514223B1, "Firearm trigger mechanism," issued to Wolf Tactical Llc on December 24, 2019.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: September 29, 2017; Publication Date: December 24, 2019.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a trigger mechanism where the hammer forces the trigger to the set position, and a locking bar prevents early hammer release. It also mentions a drop-in solution for AR-pattern firearms.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant and potentially anticipates several key features of Claim 1 of US12274807, specifically:
  • The trigger member having a surface contacted by the hammer during its rearward pivoting to force the trigger member to the set position.
  • The inclusion of a locking member that mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to the released position and is moved against its spring bias by contact from the bolt carrier when it reaches a substantially in-battery position.
    The primary distinguishing feature of US12274807 remains the explicit three-position safety selector and its specific mechanism for preventing the disconnector from catching the hammer hook in the forced reset mode.

5. US Pat. No. 11,346,627

• Full Citation: US11346627B1, "Forced reset semiautomatic trigger with sliding blocking bar," issued to ABC IP, LLC on May 31, 2022.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: January 6, 2022; Publication Date: May 31, 2022.
• Brief Description: This patent, from the same assignee as US12274807, describes a forced reset semi-automatic trigger mechanism where the hammer forces the trigger to the set position and employs a "sliding blocking bar" (a type of locking member) to prevent early hammer release. It also claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/296,951 filed Jan. 6, 2022.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Due to its close relation and shared assignee, this patent is exceptionally relevant. It potentially anticipates the elements of Claim 1 related to:
  • The hammer forcing the trigger member to the set position.
  • The locking member (sliding blocking bar) mechanically blocking the trigger member and its release by the bolt carrier upon returning to battery.
    While the locking member is described as "sliding" compared to the "pivotable" in US12274807, the functional similarities in forced reset and safety against early release are substantial. The three-position safety selector and its specific interaction with the disconnector in US12274807 would be key distinguishing features.

6. US Pat. No. 7,398,723

• Full Citation: US7398723B1, "Trigger forward displacement system and method," issued to Brian A. Blakley on July 15, 2008.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: April 25, 2003; Publication Date: July 15, 2008.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for accelerating the firing cycle of a semi-automatic firearm where a pivoting cam, contacted by the rearwardly traveling bolt carrier, presses on a trigger-extension to force the trigger forward into a ready-to-fire position.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates the broad concept within Claim 1 of the trigger member being forced to the set position by interaction with the bolt carrier's movement. However, the specific mechanism for resetting the trigger (a pivoting cam acting on a trigger extension) differs from US12274807's use of the hammer contacting the trigger member. It does not appear to teach the specific locking member or the three-position safety selector detailed in US12274807.

7. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941

• Full Citation: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/374,941, "Pivoting cam arrangement," filed by Brian A. Blakley on September 8, 2022.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filing Date: September 8, 2022.
• Brief Description: This provisional application describes a pivoting cam arrangement that integrates a three-position safety selector and associated structure to provide safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This provisional application is highly relevant as it explicitly discloses a "three-position safety selector" with "safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic modes," which is a central feature of Claim 1 of US12274807. Depending on its specific disclosure, it could also potentially anticipate Claim 2 (safety selector preventing disconnector engagement) and Claim 5 (pivotably mounted safety selector). While the mechanism for forced reset (pivoting cam) differs from US12274807, the multi-mode functionality of the safety selector and the concept of a forced reset mode are directly anticipated.

To analyze the obviousness of US patent 12274807 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, we will identify combinations of prior art references that would render the claims obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) at the time of the invention (priority date January 10, 2022).

The core inventive concept of US12274807, as articulated in Claim 1, combines:

1. A hammer-forced trigger reset.
2. A locking member that prevents early hammer release (e.g., "hammer follow").
3. A three-position safety selector (safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic), where in the "forced reset semi-automatic" position, the safety selector prevents the disconnector from catching the hammer, allowing the user to fire without manually releasing the trigger after each shot.

Identified Prior Art Combinations and Obviousness Rationale:

A combination of US Patent No. 10,514,223 to Graves (Wolf Tactical Llc) and US Patent No. 8,112,928 to Keough would render the claims of US12274807 obvious.

1. Primary Reference: US Patent No. 10,514,223 (Graves / Wolf Tactical Llc)

• Priority Date: September 29, 2017 (prior art to US12274807's priority date of January 10, 2022).
• Disclosure: The background section of US12274807 explicitly states that US Pat. Nos. 10,514,223 and 11,346,627 describe devices where "the hammer forces the trigger to the set position, and a locking bar prevents early hammer release."
  • This directly teaches:
    • A hammer having a sear catch and a hook, adapted to be pivoted rearward by a bolt carrier (standard fire control component, also implicitly part of the hammer-forced reset).
    • A trigger member having a sear, with a surface positioned to be contacted by the hammer during rearward pivoting, causing the trigger member to be forced to its set position.
    • The engagement and disengagement of the sear and sear catch. (Standard fire control operation).
    • A disconnector with a hook for engaging the hammer hook (standard for semi-automatic firearms to prevent full-auto fire).
    • A locking member (described as a "locking bar") that prevents early hammer release and is activated/deactivated by the bolt carrier's movement, specifically disengaging when the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position.
• Remaining elements for Claim 1: What is not explicitly covered by US10514223B1 (or US11346627B1) is the three-position safety selector and its specific function of preventing the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook in the "forced reset semi-automatic" mode. These references describe a mechanism for a forced reset and anti-hammer-follow, but within the context of standard semi-automatic fire where the user must release the trigger to reset the disconnector.

2. Secondary Reference: US Patent No. 8,112,928 (Keough)

• Priority Date: July 5, 2007 (prior art to US12274807's priority date of January 10, 2022).
• Disclosure: Keough describes a "Trigger-controlled select fire for M-16 rifle." M-16 rifles are well-known AR-pattern firearms equipped with a safety selector that includes "Safe," "Semi-Automatic," and "Full-Automatic" positions. In the full-automatic mode of an M-16, the disconnector is bypassed or otherwise disabled, allowing the hammer to follow the bolt carrier and achieve continuous fire as long as the trigger is held. This demonstrates a multi-position selector capable of controlling the disconnector's function to achieve different firing rates.

Motivation for a Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSA) to Combine:

A POSA in firearm trigger mechanisms, understanding the desire to increase the rate of fire in a semi-automatic weapon (as noted in the background of US12274807 regarding "bump firing" and other devices), would be motivated to combine the teachings of Graves and Keough.

The Graves patent provides a robust mechanism for a forced trigger reset and prevents dangerous out-of-battery firing via a locking member. However, for a higher rate of fire on a continuous trigger pull (mimicking the feel of "bump firing" but through an internal mechanism), the disconnector, which is designed to prevent multiple shots per pull, must be bypassed or disabled. The Keough patent, by demonstrating a safety selector in an AR-pattern firearm (M-16) that disables the disconnector in its "full-automatic" mode, provides a clear teaching and motivation for how to implement such a disconnector-disabling feature.

A POSA would readily understand that integrating a three-position safety selector (Safe, Standard Semi-Automatic, and a "rapid semi-automatic" or "forced reset semi-automatic" position) into the Graves-type forced reset trigger would allow the user to select between conventional semi-automatic operation (where the disconnector functions and requires manual trigger release) and a rapid-fire mode. In this rapid-fire mode, the safety selector would be configured to prevent the disconnector from catching the hammer (similar to how an M-16's full-auto selector disables its disconnector), thereby enabling the hammer-forced trigger reset mechanism to function continuously without requiring the user to manually release the trigger, achieving a higher rate of fire. This combination addresses the "further improvement in forced reset triggers" desired by the inventors of US12274807.

Obviousness of Dependent Claims:

• Claim 2: This claim specifies that the safety selector contacts the disconnector to prevent it from catching the hammer hook. This is a common and obvious mechanical implementation for disabling a disconnector in selectable fire mechanisms, as seen in various prior art designs, including those of M-16 type firearms.
• Claim 3: This claim adds a spring biasing the trigger member towards the set position. The description of US12274807 itself notes that the "trigger member 38 is spring biased by a compression spring 59" This is a conventional component in trigger mechanisms to ensure reliable return and would be an obvious design choice for a POSA.
• Claim 4: This claim states that the trigger member pivot axis and the disconnector pivot axis are the same. This is a common arrangement in AR-pattern firearm trigger groups, as acknowledged in the detailed description of US12274807 where "A disconnector 60 is pivoted on the hollow transverse pin 32 upon which the trigger member 38 pivots."
• Claim 5: This claim specifies that the safety selector is pivotably mounted. Pivotable safety selectors are standard in AR-pattern firearms, as exemplified by US Patent No. 5,760,328 to Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc., which describes a "Four position firearm fire control selector" that pivots.
• Claim 6: This claim states that the locking member is pivotably mounted. While the locking member could be slidably mounted, a pivotable mounting is a common and obvious mechanical design choice for a lever-type blocking mechanism, consistent with the functionality described in Graves.
• Claims 7 and 8: These claims describe a housing with transversely aligned openings for pivot pins (for the hammer, trigger member, and locking member). The concept of a "drop-in" trigger module with its own housing and internal components retained by pins, designed to fit into a receiver, is well-established in the prior art (e.g., US Pat. No. 6,722,072 to McCormick and US Pat. No. 7,421,937 to Gangl). Adapting the combined mechanism into such a modular housing would be a routine engineering task for a POSA.

Therefore, the combination of US Pat. No. 10,514,223 (Graves) for the forced reset and locking member features, with the known principle of disconnector disabling in multi-position safety selectors as taught by US Pat. No. 8,112,928 (Keough), would render the claimed invention of US12274807 obvious to a POSA.