CPC B29C 65/06 (2013.01) [B29C 65/08 (2013.01); B29C 65/564 (2013.01); B29C 65/606 (2013.01); B29C 65/608 (2013.01); B29C 65/645 (2013.01); B29C 65/7811 (2013.01); B29C 66/1122 (2013.01); B29C 66/21 (2013.01); B29C 66/30221 (2013.01); B29C 66/30223 (2013.01); B29C 66/43 (2013.01); B29C 66/474 (2013.01); B29C 66/7392 (2013.01); B29C 66/742 (2013.01); B29C 66/7422 (2013.01); B29C 66/74283 (2013.01); B29C 66/8322 (2013.01); B29C 66/92921 (2013.01); B29C 65/0627 (2013.01); B29C 66/0242 (2013.01); B29C 66/30321 (2013.01); B29C 66/472 (2013.01); B29C 66/71 (2013.01); B29C 66/7212 (2013.01); B29C 66/73112 (2013.01); B29C 66/73117 (2013.01); B29C 66/929 (2013.01); B29C 2793/0045 (2013.01); B29C 2793/0081 (2013.01); B29L 2001/00 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3002 (2013.01); B29L 2031/737 (2013.01)] | 4 Claims |
1. A method of mechanically securing a first object to a second object, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the first object comprising a thermoplastic material in a solid state;
providing the second object with a generally flat sheet portion having an edge;
positioning the first object relative to the second object to provide an assembly comprising the first object and the second object, in which assembly the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material;
while the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material, coupling mechanical vibration energy into the assembly until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material;
stopping the mechanical vibration and causing the thermoplastic material to re-solidify thereby establishing a re-solidified thermoplastic material, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object,
wherein the first object comprises a contact side that comprises the thermoplastic material,
wherein in the step of positioning, in the assembly the edge is in contact with the contact side,
wherein the contact side is structured and comprises protrusions and/or indentations, and
wherein the sheet portion of the second object establishes a sheet plane and has a protruding section projecting away from the sheet plane towards the contact side and comprising the edge, and wherein a depth of the indentations is smaller than a height of the protruding section.
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