Monday, July 6, 2026
Legal

ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. v. Redacted Arms LLC

Case Overview

  • Case Name: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. v. Redacted Arms LLC
  • Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Allentown Division)
  • Case Number: 5:26-cv-3669
  • Filing Date: May 28, 2026
  • Plaintiffs: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc.
  • Defendant: Redacted Arms LLC
  • Nature of Action: Civil lawsuit alleging willful, contributory, and induced patent infringement with a demand for a jury trial.

Executive Summary

Plaintiffs ABC IP, LLC (the patent owner) and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. (the exclusive licensee) have filed a multi-count patent infringement lawsuit against Pennsylvania-based firearms components retailer Redacted Arms LLC. The federal complaint alleges that the Defendant is actively manufacturing, marketing, and selling unauthorized trigger assemblies and conversion kits via its digital storefront, redactedarmsllc.com. The accused items specifically focus on the “Super Safety” 3-position selector framework, which is sold as standalone hardware components, partial kits, and complete drop-in systems.

Plaintiffs contend that these custom assemblies directly replicate and infringe upon their utility patent portfolio protecting “forced reset trigger” (FRT) firearm engineering. Because the Defendant allegedly launched and promoted these conversion platforms with full technical awareness of the underlying legal protections—even publishing step-by-step setup and modification guides for consumers—the Plaintiffs are accusing them of willful infringement, opening the door for enhanced treble damages.

The Technology in Dispute

The lawsuit centers on advanced firearm trigger engineering—specifically the mechanical transition from standard semi-automatic mechanisms to patented forced reset trigger (FRT) assemblies:

  • Standard Semi-Automatic Trigger: Relies on a traditional disconnector mechanism. When a round is fired, the user must manually release rearward finger pressure on the trigger so the disconnector can hand the hammer back off to the main trigger sear before the firearm can be discharged again.
  • Forced Reset Mechanism (The Patented Invention): Eliminates the necessity of traditional disconnector dependency during accelerated sequences. Instead, it utilizes specialized locking bars, cams, or lever systems cycled directly by the firearm’s reciprocating bolt carrier. This mechanically forces the trigger forward into its set reset position during the action cycle, allowing for an accelerated, highly efficient firing sequence without converting the firearm into an automatic weapon.

Breakdown of Infringement Claims

Patent Infringement (Counts I – V)

The complaint asserts that the custom trigger kits and selector configurations distributed by the Defendant directly infringe upon five distinct U.S. Patents owned by ABC IP, LLC:

CountAsserted PatentTechnical / Mechanical Focus of ClaimAccused Device Context
Count IU.S. Patent No. 12,038,247Overarching dual-mode trigger utilizing a moving cam lobe to physically force the trigger member back into its set position.Super Safety Component Kits
Count IIU.S. Patent No. 12,031,784Extended trigger locking device featuring an upwardly extending deflectable lever arm actuated by direct contact with the cycling bolt carrier.Super Safety Component Kits
Count IIIU.S. Patent No. 12,529,538Safety mechanism for a firearm employing a multi-recess cam selector configured to transition between standard, active reset, and safe positions.Super Safety Component Kits
Count IVU.S. Patent No. 12,578,159Novel firearm mechanism for accelerating firing sequences utilizing multi-mode operations and specific internal sear surface geometries.Super Safety Component Kits
Count VU.S. Patent No. 12,636,403Structural claim focusing on the physical interaction profiles between hammer hooks, trigger members, and safety selectors.Super Safety Component Kits

Indirect, Contributory, and Willful Conduct

  • Induced Infringement: The suit highlights that the Defendant takes active steps to induce infringement by hosting an explicit “AR15 Installation” web portal. This portal features step-by-step video tutorials and dry-fire walkthroughs guiding end-users on how to modify standard triggers and install the Super Safety components to achieve active trigger-reset capabilities.
  • Contributory Infringement: Asserts that secondary components sold by Redacted Arms LLC—including individual selector cams, standalone linkage bars, and specialized reset levers—are custom-tailored solely for use in an infringing fire control configuration and possess no separate, non-infringing application.
  • Egregious and Willful Intent: Plaintiffs contend that the Defendant had full knowledge of the utility patents and the highly questionable legal nature of aftermarket active-reset setups, yet intentionally scaled up commercial distribution anyway.

Remedy & Relief Sought

The Plaintiffs claim severe, ongoing financial and market share injuries, requesting that the federal court provide the following relief:

  • Injunctions: Delivery of both preliminary and permanent injunctions to immediately stop Redacted Arms LLC, its principals, and any connected digital entities from manufacturing, importing, selling, or promoting the Super Safety conversion systems or standalone hardware.
  • Damages: Full compensatory recovery to remedy the infringement, calculated as either complete lost retail profits or a reasonable licensing royalty structure, along with pre- and post-judgment interest.
  • Punitive Multipliers: Asking the court to treble (triple) the total assessed compensatory damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 due to the deliberate, bad-faith nature of the design violations.
  • Legal Fees: A declaration finding this case to be an “exceptional case” under federal patent statute (35 U.S.C. § 285), shifting all case costs and the Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees over to the Defendant.

author avatar
Mark Slovacek
Mark Slovacek is a patent attorney who has had a life long fascination with science, electronics, firearms and archery. He finds it a rewarding experience helping others protect their intellectual property, and seeing their inventions in the marketplace. Furthermore, Mark is an avid reader, following recent trends in the sporting goods industry and the patents surrounding them. Feel free to send Mark a message here.

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