Abstract: A method of bonding a first object to a second object includes the steps of: providing the first object including thermoplastic material in a solid state, providing the second object including a proximal surface, applying a mechanical pressing force and a mechanical excitation capable to liquefy the thermoplastic material until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates into structures of the second object, and stopping the mechanical excitation and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and the second object. The second object has a region of low density, wherein the protrusion penetrates the region of low density at least partly before the thermoplastic material is made flowable, and wherein the first object includes a protruding portion after the step of letting the thermoplastic material resolidify, the protruding portion at least partly penetrates the region of low density.

Abstract: A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

Abstract: A method of bonding a first object to a second object includes the steps of: providing the first object including thermoplastic material in a solid state, providing the second object including a proximal surface, applying a mechanical pressing force and a mechanical excitation capable to liquefy the thermoplastic material until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates into structures of the second object, and stopping the mechanical excitation and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and the second object. The second object has a region of low density, wherein the protrusion penetrates the region of low density at least partly before the thermoplastic material is made flowable, and wherein the first object includes a protruding portion after the step of letting the thermoplastic material resolidify, the protruding portion at least partly penetrates the region of low density.

Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector in a first object, wherein the first object is a lightweight building element having a first outer building layer and an interlining layer, and wherein the connector includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes: bringing a coupling surface portion of the connector into contact with an attachment location of the first outer building layer; displacing a portion of the first outer building layer at the attachment location with respect to the interlining layer by applying a first pressing force to the first outer building layer and thereby piercing the first outer building layer; applying a second pressing force to the connector and transferring energy to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material has liquefied and flown to interpenetrate structures of the interlining layer; and stopping the energy transfer and allowing the flow portion to re-solidify.

Abstract: A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

Abstract: The relates to a method of mechanically securing a first object to a second object and includes the steps of: providing the first object including 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 and bringing the first object and the second object to a relative movement to each other. The relative movement includes a rotational movement, such that a melting zone including flowable thermoplastic material is formed and such that thermoplastic material of the melting zone flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. The invention further concerns a connector that is suitable for being used in a method according to the invention.

Abstract: A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

Abstract: A method of attaching an object to a substrate with a fastener, and an associated fastener. The object is tensible and has an engagement portion. The fastener has a protrusion, which includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes applying a mechanical pressing force and a mechanical excitation capable to cause a movement of the fastener in a distal direction so that the protrusion penetrates into the substrate and liquefies the thermoplastic material until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates into structures of the substrate. The engagement portion is moved in the distal direction by the movement of the fastener, wherein the movement of the engagement portion in the distal direction causes a tensioning force in the object, and wherein the fastener has a protruding portion extending at least partly into the substrate after the thermoplastic material resolidifies.

Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector in a first object includes providing the connector, the connector having a liquefiable material that is liquefiable by mechanical vibration, such as a thermoplastic material, bringing the connector into contact with low density layer that has an arrangement of discrete elements and gas-filled (empty) spaces between the discrete elements, pressing the connector against the low density layer and coupling mechanical vibration energy into the connector to cause the connector to penetrate into the low density layer to deform the discrete elements, until a flow portion of the liquefiable material becomes flowable and is caused to interpenetrate spaces between the deformed discrete elements so that an intertwined structure of the liquefiable material and the deformed discrete elements results, and stopping the mechanical vibration energy and causing the flow portion to re-solidify to anchor the connector in the low density layer.

Abstract: A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

Abstract: The relates to a method of mechanically securing a first object to a second object and includes the steps of: providing the first object including 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 and bringing the first object and the second object to a relative movement to each other. The relative movement includes a rotational movement, such that a melting zone including flowable thermoplastic material is formed and such that thermoplastic material of the melting zone flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. The invention further concerns a connector that is suitable for being used in a method according to the invention.

Abstract: A method of bonding a first object to a second object includes the steps of: providing the first object including thermoplastic material in a solid state, providing the second object including a proximal surface, applying a mechanical pressing force and a mechanical excitation capable to liquefy the thermoplastic material until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates into structures of the second object, and stopping the mechanical excitation and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and the second object. The second object has a region of low density, wherein the protrusion penetrates the region of low density at least partly before the thermoplastic material is made flowable, and wherein the first object includes a protruding portion after the step of letting the thermoplastic material resolidify, the protruding portion at least partly penetrates the region of low density.

Abstract: A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector in a first object includes providing the connector, the connector having a liquefiable material that is liquefiable by mechanical vibration, such as a thermoplastic material, bringing the connector into contact with low density layer that has an arrangement of discrete elements and gas-filled (empty) spaces between the discrete elements, pressing the connector against the low density layer and coupling mechanical vibration energy into the connector to cause the connector to penetrate into the low density layer to deform the discrete elements, until a flow portion of the liquefiable material becomes flowable and is caused to interpenetrate spaces between the deformed discrete elements so that an intertwined structure of the liquefiable material and the deformed discrete elements results, and stopping the mechanical vibration energy and causing the flow portion to re-solidify to anchor the connector in the low density layer.

Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector in a first object, wherein the first object is a lightweight building element having a first outer building layer and an interlining layer, and wherein the connector includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes: bringing a coupling surface portion of the connector into contact with an attachment location of the first outer building layer; displacing a portion of the first outer building layer at the attachment location with respect to the interlining layer by applying a first pressing force to the first outer building layer and thereby piercing the first outer building layer; applying a second pressing force to the connector and transferring energy to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material has liquefied and flown to interpenetrate structures of the interlining layer; and stopping the energy transfer and allowing the flow portion to re-solidify.