ABC IP, LLC et al. v. HK Parts Inc.
Case Overview
- Case Name: ABC IP, LLC et al. v. HK Parts Inc.
- Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Utah
- Case Number: 2:26-cv-90
- Filing Date: February 4, 2026
- Plaintiffs: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc.
- Defendants: HK Parts Inc.
- 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 patent infringement lawsuit against Utah-based firearms parts corporation HK Parts Inc.. The federal complaint alleges that the Defendant is actively marketing, advertising, and selling unauthorized products—specifically the AR-15 Super Safety Forced Reset Selectors (offered in single and ambidextrous lever configurations) and the HK416, MR556 ARC-Fire Trigger systems via its digital storefront at hkparts.net.
Plaintiffs contend that these products directly infringe upon their intellectual property portfolio protecting “forced reset trigger” (FRT) firearm innovations. Because the Defendant reportedly continued marketing these systems despite notice 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 – II)
The complaint asserts that HK Parts’ product offerings infringe upon two 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. |
Remedy & Relief Sought
The Plaintiffs claim severe, ongoing economic and reputational harm due to these unauthorized sales and distribution practices. They are requesting that the federal court grant the following relief:
- Injunctions: Both preliminary and permanent injunctions to immediately halt HK Parts Inc. and its agents from manufacturing, importing, advertising, or selling the Super Safety selectors, ARC-Fire triggers, or any aftermarket components embodying or infringing the Asserted Patents.
- Damages & Accounting: Full financial compensation for lost profits or reasonable royalties resulting from patent infringement, alongside an accounting of all sales and revenues.
- Punitive Multipliers: Asking the court to treble (triple) the final calculated damages due to the willful nature of the patent infringement.
- Legal Fees: A declaration that this constitutes an “exceptional case” under federal law (35 U.S.C. § 285), requiring the Defendant to pay all of the Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and associated legal expenses.
ABC IP, LLC et al. v. HK Parts Inc.
