US5334809A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Particle enhanced joining of metal surfaces
Assignee: NanoPierce Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1993-02-11
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Granted: 1994-08-02
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Expires: 2013-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A temporary electrical junction includes a first electrical contact having a first metal surface; a second electrical contact having a second metal surface; and a plurality of particulate cores having a hardness greater than that of the first and second metal surfaces, the particulate cores being disposed between the first and second contacts. Force is applied to the first and second contacts such that the particulate cores cause elasto-plastic deformation of at least one of the first and second surfaces, such that the first and second contacts are temporarily joined together at least partly along their respective metal surfaces to complete the electrical junction. An alternate embodiment of the invention provides a temporary structure having a first substrate having a first metal surface; a second substrate having a second metal surface; and a plurality of particulate cores having a hardness greater than that of the first and second metal surfaces disposed between the first and second substrates such that, when force is applied to the first substrate and the second substrate, the particulate cores cause elastoplastic deformation of at least one of the first and second surfaces, such that the first and second substrates are temporarily joined together at least partly along their respective metal surfaces and wherein the first substrate is separable from the second substrate without destruction of the first substrate and the second substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis DiFrancesco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:28
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K35/00; B23K35/02; B23K20/00; B23K20/16; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/325; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/06; H05K3/328; H05K3/40; H05K3/4007; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/531; H10W72/536; H10W72/5363; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/754; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/929; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49126; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12486; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/24999
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A temporary electrical junction comprising: a first electrical contact having a first metal surface; a second electrical contact having a second metal surface; and a plurality of particulate cores having a hardness greater than that of said first and second metal surfaces, said particulate cores being disposed between said first and second contacts such that, when force is applied to said first contact and said second contact, said particulate cores cause elasto-plastic deformation of at least one of said first and second surfaces, such that said first and second contacts are temporarily joined together at least partly along their respective metal surfaces to complete said electrical junction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A temporary electrical junction comprising: a first electrical contact having a first metal surface; a second electrical contact having a second metal surface; and a plurality of particulate cores having a hardness greater than that of said first and second metal surfaces, said particulate cores being disposed between said first and second contacts such that, when force is applied to said first contact and said second contact, said particulate cores cause elasto-plastic deformation of at least one of said first and second surfaces, such that said first and second contacts are temporarily joined together at least partly along their respective metal surfaces to complete said electrical junction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are generally planar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein the metal surfaces are composed of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, platinum, titanium, tungsten, chrome, nickel, gold, silicon, iron, copper, cobalt, silver, molybdenum, lead, tin, indium, and alloys thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical junction as in claim 3, wherein the first and second contacts are composed of the same metal as their respective metal surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a material having a hardness greater than about 5.5 mohs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a material having a hardness greater than about 7 mohs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a natural mineral material selected from the group consisting of diamond, corundum (sapphire), magnetite, garnet, quartz, quartzite, silica, and tripoli.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a synthetic material selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides, and carbides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores have a mean particle size from about 1 μm to 2.5 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical junction as in claim 9, wherein the particulate cores have an irregular geometry having sharp edges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical junction as in claim 10, wherein the particulate cores are present on at least one of the first and second surfaces at a density from about 50 particles/mm 2 to 10,000 particles/mm 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical junction of claim 1 wherein said first contact can be separated from said second contact without destroying said first and second contacts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical junction as in claim 1, wherein said particulate cores comprise metallized particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical junction as in claim 13 wherein said metallized particles include a metal selected from the group including ground silicon, nickel, zinc crystals, iron crystals, and aluminum crystals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A temporary structure comprising: a first substrate having a first metal surface; a second substrate having a second metal surface; and a plurality of particulate cores having a hardness greater than that of the first and second metal surfaces disposed between said first and second substrates such that, when force is applied to said first substrate and said second substrate, said particulate cores cause elasto-plastic deformation of at least one of said first and second surfaces, such that said first and second substrates are temporarily joined together at least partly along their respective metal surfaces and wherein said first substrate is separable from said second substrate without destruction of said first substrate and said second substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
A temporary structure comprising: a first substrate having a first metal surface; a second substrate having a second metal surface; and a plurality of particulate cores having a hardness greater than that of the first and second metal surfaces disposed between said first and second substrates such that, when force is applied to said first substrate and said second substrate, said particulate cores cause elasto-plastic deformation of at least one of said first and second surfaces, such that said first and second substrates are temporarily joined together at least partly along their respective metal surfaces and wherein said first substrate is separable from said second substrate without destruction of said first substrate and said second substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 15 wherein the substrates are composed of the same metal as their respective surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 15 wherein the particulate cores are composed of a natural mineral material selected from the group consisting of diamond, corundum sapphire), magnetite, garnet, quartz, quartzite, silica, and tripoli.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 15 wherein the particulate cores are composed of a synthetic material selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides, and carbides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 15 wherein the particulate cores have a mean particle size from about 1 micrometer to 2.5 millimeters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical junction as in claim 15, wherein said particulate cores comprise metallized particles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical junction as in claim 20, wherein said metallized particles include a metal selected from the group including ground silicon, nickel, zinc crystals, iron crystals, and aluminum crystals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |