Prior art

U.S. Patent 10,514,223, titled "Firearm trigger mechanism," was issued on December 24, 2019, from an application filed on September 27, 2018. The patent describes a semi-automatic trigger that is mechanically reset by the movement of the hammer when the hammer is reset by the bolt carrier. The mechanism also includes a locking bar that prevents the trigger from being pulled until the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position.

The patent cites several prior art references, which are detailed below along with their potential relevance to the independent claims (Claim 1 and Claim 4) of US10514223.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US10514223:

1. US6101918A

   • Full Citation: US6101918A, "Method and apparatus for accelerating the cyclic firing rate of a semi-automatic firearm," issued to Akins, William on August 15, 2000.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 12, 1998, issued August 15, 2000.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a method and apparatus to accelerate the cyclic firing rate of a semi-automatic firearm, often referred to as the Akins Accelerator™. It allowed the receiver and action of the firearm to move longitudinally relative to the butt stock and used a spring to assist forward return movement.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US6101918A aims to increase the rate of fire in semi-automatic firearms, it achieves this through a movable receiver/stock assembly and spring assistance, rather than the internal trigger reset and locking bar mechanism of US10514223. Therefore, it is unlikely to directly anticipate the specific structural and functional elements of Claim 1 or Claim 4 related to the hammer-forced trigger reset and the bolt carrier-actuated locking bar. However, it represents prior art demonstrating a desire for increased semi-automatic firing rates.

2. US8127658B1

   • Full Citation: US8127658B1, "Method of shooting a semi-automatic firearm," issued to Slide Fire Solutions, Inc. on March 6, 2012.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 18, 2009, issued March 6, 2012.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a replacement stock and handgrip assembly that facilitates bump firing to achieve rapid semiautomatic fire, but without spring assistance.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6101918A, this patent focuses on external modifications (stock and handgrip) to facilitate bump firing. It does not disclose the internal trigger mechanism elements of US10514223, such as the hammer-forced trigger reset or the bolt carrier-actuated locking bar. Thus, it is unlikely to anticipate Claim 1 or Claim 4.

3. US8820211B1

   • Full Citation: US8820211B1, "Selectable dual mode trigger for semiautomatic firearms," issued to Hawbaker, Peter Jonathan on September 2, 2014.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed December 14, 2012, issued September 2, 2014.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a pull/release trigger mechanism that causes one round to be fired when the trigger is pulled and a second round to be fired when the trigger is released.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent describes a method for increasing the rate of fire through a pull/release mechanism, it differs significantly from US10514223's hammer-forced reset and locking bar system. The dual-mode firing on pull and release is a distinct operation from the continuous firing enabled by US10514223's forced reset upon bolt carrier cycling. Therefore, it is unlikely to directly anticipate Claim 1 or Claim 4.

4. US9568264B2, US9816772B2, US9939221B2 (Thomas Allen Graves patents)

   • Full Citation: US9568264B2, "Flex-fire technology," issued to Graves, Thomas Allen on February 14, 2017. US9816772B2, "Flex-fire technology," issued to Graves, Thomas Allen on November 14, 2017. US9939221B2, "Flex-fire G2 technology," issued to Graves, Thomas Allen on April 10, 2018.
   • Publication/Filing Date: US9568264B2 filed September 11, 2014; US9816772B2 filed September 11, 2014; US9939221B2 filed September 11, 2014.
   • Brief Description: These patents disclose devices that forcefully reset the trigger with rigid mechanical contact between the trigger member and the bolt as the action cycles. However, US10514223 states that Graves's invention does not provide a "drop-in" solution for existing popular firearm platforms and would require a modified bolt carrier in addition to a modified fire control mechanism to adapt it to an AR-pattern firearm.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The Graves patents show a trigger forcefully reset by the bolt. This is a key element of Claim 1 and Claim 4 of US10514223 (specifically, "the trigger member having a surface positioned to be contacted by the hammer when the hammer is displaced by cycling of the bolt carrier, the contact causing the trigger member to be forced to the set position"). The primary distinction highlighted by US10514223 itself is the "drop-in" nature and compatibility with an otherwise standard M16-pattern bolt carrier assembly. If the Graves patents disclose a trigger mechanism where the hammer (as displaced by the bolt carrier) forces the trigger to the set position, and a locking mechanism prevents firing until the bolt is in battery, then they could potentially anticipate elements of Claim 1 and Claim 4, particularly concerning the forced reset mechanism. The "drop-in" and standard bolt carrier aspects would be a point of novelty for US10514223, but not necessarily enough to overcome anticipation of the core functional elements of forced reset and bolt-in-battery lockout. Further detailed comparison of the specific mechanical interactions described in the Graves patents with the exact wording of claims 1 and 4 would be necessary to definitively determine anticipation.

5. US5704153A

   • Full Citation: US5704153A, "Firearm battery and control module," issued to Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc. on January 6, 1998.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed July 23, 1996, issued January 6, 1998.
   • Brief Description: This patent is broadly related to firearm mechanisms. Specific details on its trigger mechanism are not provided in the abstract.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without a detailed description of the trigger mechanism in US5704153A, it is difficult to assess its potential to anticipate the claims of US10514223. A comprehensive review of the full patent document would be required.

6. US20170219307A1

   • Full Citation: US20170219307A1, "Trigger-Locking Apparatus, System, and Method for Semiautomatic Firearms," published by Fostech Mfg Llc on August 3, 2017.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed January 28, 2016, published August 3, 2017.
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a trigger-locking apparatus for semi-automatic firearms. US10514223 mentions the ECHO TRIGGER™ offered by FosTecH Outdoors, LLC as a pull/release trigger mechanism.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While related to trigger mechanisms and potentially aiming for an increased rate of fire, if this reference primarily focuses on a pull/release mechanism (like the ECHO TRIGGER™ mentioned in US10514223's background), it may not anticipate the specific hammer-forced reset and bolt carrier-actuated locking bar of US10514223. However, if the "trigger-locking apparatus" includes a mechanism where a locking bar prevents trigger movement until the bolt is in battery, it could potentially anticipate that specific element of Claim 1 and Claim 4. A full review of this publication would be necessary.