# US 12,191,589 B2 · Solder coated rivet electrical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,589 B2 - Document ID: US12191589B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/243,944 - Filed: 2021-04-29 - Published: 2022-01-13 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-09 - Assignees: Aptiv Technologies AG - Applicants: Aptiv Technologies AG - Inventors: William Falk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191589B2 ## CPC - H01R 12/69: deformable terminals, e.g. crimping terminals - H01R 4/06: Riveted connections (by explosion H01R4/08) - H01R 12/592: {connections to contact elements} - H01R 43/048: Crimping apparatus or processes (H01R43/042 takes precedence) - H01R 43/16: for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending - H01R 43/205: {with a panel or printed circuit board} - H01R 43/24: Assembling by moulding on contact members - H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits - H05K 3/363: {by soldering} - B23K 35/26: with the principal constituent melting at less than 400°C - B23K 2101/36: Electric or electronic devices - B23K 2103/12: Copper or alloys thereof - H05K 1/147: {at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit (H05K1/148 takes precedence)} - H05K 3/34: by soldering - H05K 3/368: {parallel to each other (H05K3/361 takes precedence)} - H05K 2201/10295: Metallic connector elements partly mounted in a hole of the PCB - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract An electrical device includes a flat electrical conductor defining an aperture and an electrically conductive rivet with a body having a layer of a solder composition disposed on a first side and a tubular shaft extending from a second side of the body opposite the first side. A free end of the tubular shaft is flared such that the free end has a diameter larger than a diameter of the aperture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical device, comprising: a flat electrical conductor defining an aperture; and an electrically conductive rivet with an annular planar body having a layer of a solder composition disposed on a first side and a tubular shaft extending from a second side of the body opposite the first side, wherein the tubular shaft defines a plurality of tubular sections separated by slits axially extending from the body to free ends of the plurality of tubular sections and wherein the free ends of the plurality of tubular sections are flared such that a distance between the free ends of the plurality of tubular sections is greater than a diameter of the aperture, and wherein the free ends of the plurality of tubular sections engage the electrical conductor to provide an electrical and mechanical connection between the electrically conductive rivet and the electrical conductor, wherein the body and the tubular shaft are integrally formed from a copper-based alloy and wherein the solder composition is a lead-free solder alloy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the lead-free solder alloy contains indium. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the first side of the body is substantially parallel to the second side of the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrical device according to claim 3, wherein an outer diameter of the body is greater than an outer diameter of the tubular shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the flared tubular sections have sharp corners that engage the electrical conductor to provide an enhanced electrical and mechanical connection between the electrically conductive rivet and the electrical conductor. ### Claim 6 An electrical device, comprising: a flat electrical conductor defining an aperture; and an electrically conductive rivet with an annular planar body having a layer of a solder composition disposed on a first side and a tubular shaft extending from a second side of the body opposite the first side, wherein the tubular shaft defines a plurality of tubular sections separated by slits axially extending from the body to free ends of the plurality of tubular sections and wherein the free ends of the plurality of tubular sections are flared such that a distance between the free ends of the plurality of tubular sections is greater than a diameter of the aperture, and wherein the free ends of the plurality of tubular sections engage the electrical conductor to provide an electrical and mechanical connection between the electrically conductive rivet and the electrical conductor; and a dielectric housing encasing at least the flared free ends of the tubular shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrical device according to claim 6, wherein the solder composition comprises indium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The electrical device according to claim 6, wherein the first side of the body is substantially parallel to the second side of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electrical device according to claim 8, wherein an outer diameter of the body is greater than an outer diameter of the tubular shaft.