US 12,447,690 B2
Method for securing a second object to a first object
Jörg Mayer, Niederlenz (CH); Joakim Kvist, Nidau (CH); Philipp Bernhard, Thun (CH); Laurent Torriani, Lamboing (CH); Mario Weiss, Diessbach bei Büren (CH); Antonino Lanci, Bern (CH); Martin Sigrist, Bern (CH); Hannes Merz, Olten (CH); and Samuel Malzach, Evilard (CH)
Assigned to WOODWELDING AG, Stansstad (CH)
Filed by Woodwelding AG, Stansstad (CH)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/430,210.
Application 18/430,210 is a division of application No. 17/719,603, filed on Apr. 13, 2022, granted, now 11,911,972.
Application 17/719,603 is a division of application No. 16/740,765, filed on Jan. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,331,862, issued on May 17, 2022.
Application 16/740,765 is a division of application No. 15/764,180, granted, now 10,562,233, issued on Feb. 18, 2020, previously published as PCT/EP2016/073422, filed on Sep. 30, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 01421/15 (CH), filed on Sep. 30, 2015; application No. 00509/16 (CH), filed on Apr. 18, 2016; application No. 00778/16 (CH), filed on Jun. 17, 2016; and application No. 00996/16 (CH), filed on Jul. 29, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0227312 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 65/06 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/08 (2006.01); B29C 65/56 (2006.01); B29C 65/60 (2006.01); B29C 65/64 (2006.01); B29C 65/78 (2006.01); B29L 1/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
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)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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 a second object edge;
providing a third object;
positioning the first object, the second object and the third object to provide an assembly comprising the first, second and third objects, in which assembly the second object edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first object;
while the second object edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first object, coupling mechanical vibration energy into the assembly by means of a vibrating tool until:
a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object due to friction heat generated between the second object edge and the thermoplastic material of the first object becomes flowable and flows around the second object edge to at least partially embed the second object edge in the thermoplastic material of the first object; and
the third object is caused to be embedded at least partially in the thermoplastic material of the first object,
stopping mechanical vibration and causing the thermoplastic material of the first object to re-solidify, whereby re-solidified thermoplastic material of the first object at least partially embedding the second object edge anchors the first object to the second object and whereby re-solidified thermoplastic material anchors the third object to the first object.