ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. v. Southern KY Outdoorsman LLC and Ashley Carrier
Case Overview
- Case Name: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. v. Southern KY Outdoorsman LLC and Ashley Carrier
- Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky (London Division)
- Case Number: 6:26-CV-218-KKC
- Filing Date: July 16, 2026
- Plaintiffs: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc.
- Defendants: Southern KY Outdoorsman LLC and Ashley Carrier
- Nature of Action: Civil lawsuit alleging willful 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 comprehensive multi-count lawsuit against Kentucky-based firearms components retailer Southern KY Outdoorsman LLC and its corporate principal, Ashley Carrier. The federal complaint alleges that the Defendants are actively marketing, advertising, and selling unauthorized products—specifically the “Mid-Tier Defense Super Safety Ar-15-d2 Curved Super Safety Kit.”
Plaintiffs contend that these products directly infringe upon their extensive intellectual property portfolio protecting “forced reset trigger” (FRT) firearm innovations. Because the Defendants reportedly continued marketing these systems despite documented access to libraries of the relevant legal protections, the Plaintiffs are accusing them of willful infringement, opening the door for enhanced 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 Southern KY Outdoorsman’s product offerings (sold via its commercial storefront and Facebook page) infringe upon five distinct U.S. Patents owned by ABC IP, LLC:
| Count | Asserted Patent | Technical / Mechanical Focus of Claim |
| Count I | U.S. Patent No. 12,038,247 | Overarching dual-mode trigger utilizing a moving cam lobe to physically force the trigger member back into its set position. |
| Count II | U.S. Patent No. 12,031,784 | Extended trigger locking device featuring an upwardly extending deflectable lever arm actuated by direct contact with the cycling bolt carrier. |
| Count III | U.S. Patent No. 12,529,538 | Safety mechanism for a firearm employing a multi-recess cam selector configured to transition between standard, active reset, and safe positions. |
| Count IV | U.S. Patent No. 12,578,159 | Novel firearm mechanism for accelerating firing sequences utilizing multi-mode operations and specific internal sear surface geometries. |
| Count V | U.S. Patent No. 12,636,403 | Structural claim focusing on the physical interaction profiles between hammer hooks, trigger members, and safety selectors. |
Remedy & Relief Sought
The Plaintiffs claim severe, ongoing economic and reputational harm due to these unauthorized retail sales practices. They are requesting that the federal court grant the following relief:
- Injunctions: Both preliminary and permanent injunctions to immediately halt Southern KY Outdoorsman and its principals from manufacturing, importing, advertising, or selling the accused curved selector hardware kits or matching firearm component setups.
- Damages: Full financial compensation for lost retail profits or reasonable royalties resulting from patent infringement, alongside pre- and post-judgment interest.
- Punitive Multipliers: Asking the court to treble (triple) the final calculated damages due to the “egregious and willful” nature of the patent infringement.
- Legal Fees: A declaration that this constitutes an “exceptional case” under federal law, requiring the Defendants to pay all of the Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, corrective advertising costs, and associated legal expenses.
