History & Prior Art
A detailed look at the evolution of semiautomatic trigger mechanisms — from early 20th-century sear systems to modern forced-reset concepts. This record demonstrates decades of mechanical development underlying today’s designs.
A Century of Mechanical Refinement
– Early semiautomatic firearms introduced positive trigger resets to ensure consistent shot-to-shot control.
– Post-WWII patents refined the interaction between hammer, disconnector, and sear for safety and speed.
– By the 2000s, inventors incorporated carrier-driven reset forces — the same principle underlying current FRTs.
– These historical filings prove that the concept of an “assisted reset” is long-standing, not novel or illegal by default.
– Post-WWII patents refined the interaction between hammer, disconnector, and sear for safety and speed.
– By the 2000s, inventors incorporated carrier-driven reset forces — the same principle underlying current FRTs.
– These historical filings prove that the concept of an “assisted reset” is long-standing, not novel or illegal by default.
Patent Lineage Overview
[3/1/34 US2056975 – C. J. Michal JR] │ ▼ [9/23/36 US2139691 – C. J. Michal JR] │ ▼ [8/5/86 H000107 – Kevin T. Bauer] │ ▼ [7/15/2008 US7398723 – Brian A. Blakley] │ ▼ [5/5/15 US9021732 – Julian Eric Johnson] │ ▼ [2/23/16 US9267751 – Addison M. Ruiz] │ ▼ [12/13/16 US9518793 – Michael A. Stakes] │ ▼ [3/30/17 US2017/0089655A1 – William H. Geissele] │ ▼ [11/14/17 US9816772 – Thomas Allen Graves] │ ▼ [11/28/17 US9829263 – James Dillon Bonner] │ ▼ [4/10/18 US9939221 – Thomas Allen Graves] │ ▼ [12/24/19 US10514223 – Jeffrey Cooper Rounds] │ ▼ [7/22/2021 US2021/0222974A1 – Thomas Allen Graves] │ ▼ [5/31/2022 US11346627 – Lawrence DeMonico] │ ▼ [8/15/2023 US11724003 – Mladen Thomas Strbac] │ ▼ [3/14/2024 US2024/0085136A1 – Brian Blakley] │ ▼ [7/9/2024 US12031784 – Lawrence DeMonico] │ ▼ [7/16/2024 US12036336 – Mladen Thomas Strbac] │ ▼ [7/16/2024 US12038247 – Brian A. Blakley] │ ▼ [10/29/2024 US12130105 – John Kyle Byrd] │ ▼ [12/17/2024 US12169105 – Nicholas George Barry] │ ▼ [4/15/2025 US12274807 – Mladen Thomas Strbac]
US 9,518,793 B1
Trigger Mechanism (Tac-Con)
Issued 2016. Describes an assisted-reset trigger system using an internal reset lever to drive the trigger
forward quickly after each shot. Frequently referenced in later forced-reset trigger disputes as early
commercial proof of rapid-reset semiautomatic fire control.
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US 9,816,772 B2
Flex-Fire Trigger Assembly (Graves)
Issued 2017. Details a trigger/bolt carrier interaction marketed for extremely fast split times while
remaining semiautomatic. Often cited in modern FRT discussions as a predecessor to forced-reset concepts.
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US 9,829,263 B2
Rapid Reset Trigger (Bonner)
Issued 2017. Describes temporarily redirecting spring force to shove the trigger forward into a fast reset.
This concept — “drive the trigger forward and make the shooter pull again” — shows up repeatedly in modern
forced-reset trigger arguments.
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US 9,939,221 B2
Trigger Reset Refinement (Graves)
Issued 2018. Further refines rapid reset behavior, including how the trigger is mechanically urged forward
and controlled between shots. Frequently cited as background in later FRT patent applications and defenses.
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US 7,398,723 B2
Semi-Automatic Fire Control System
Issued 2008. Describes timing and lockwork intended to manage hammer release and reset behavior in a
semiautomatic firearm. This patent shows that controlled, assisted reset concepts predate modern FRT
products by more than a decade.
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US 2,056,975
Early Semi-Auto Sear System
Issued 1936. An early semiautomatic fire-control design addressing how the sear and hammer interact to
control follow-up shots. Commonly cited as extremely old prior art to prove that rapid reset
and controlled follow-through are not new inventions.
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US 2,139,691
Multi-Stage Fire Control / Selector
Issued 1938. Documents early multi-position fire control logic, including staged trigger/safety behavior.
This is often referenced to show that multi-mode selector concepts existed long before any modern forced-reset
trigger products.
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Legal Significance of Prior Art
– Prior-art patents establish that assisted-reset mechanisms, carrier-linked triggers, and timed lockwork
pre-date any recent FRT designs by decades.
– These filings weaken “novelty” and “machine-gun by definition” arguments in enforcement contexts.
– Collectively, they demonstrate continuous public disclosure of the relevant principles and refute claims
of secrecy or sudden invention.
Explore Full Patent Documents
Access every prior-art patent, filing, and related correspondence in the complete Legal Library.
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