# US 11,027,497 B2 · Anchoring in a lightweight building element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,497 B2 - Document ID: US11027497B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/740,887 - Filed: 2020-01-13 - Published: 2020-05-14 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-11 - Assignees: Multimaterial-Welding AG - Applicants: MultiMaterial-Welding AG - Inventors: Jörg Mayer; Joakim Kvist; Mario Lehmann; Patricia Poschner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027497B2 ## CPC - B29C 65/603: {the rivets being pushed in blind holes} - B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} - B29C 65/606: {the rivets being integral with one of the parts to be joined, i.e. staking} - B29C 65/608: {the integral rivets being pushed in blind holes} - B29C 65/645: {using friction or ultrasonic vibrations} - B29C 65/7437: {the tool being a perforating tool (perforating as mechanical pre-treatment B29C66/02242)} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding} - B29C 66/30325: {making use of cavities belonging to at least one of the parts to be joined} - B29C 66/30326: {in the form of porosity} - B29C 66/472: {said single elements being substantially flat} - B29C 66/474: {said single elements being substantially non-flat} - B29C 66/524: {Joining profiled elements} - B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)} - B29C 66/72525: {comprising honeycomb cores} - B29C 66/727: {being porous, e.g. foam} - B29C 66/7392: {characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic} - B29C 66/742: {to metals or their alloys} - B29C 66/8242: {Pneumatic or hydraulic drives (using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266)} - B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis} - B29C 66/9221: {by measuring the pressure, the force or the mechanical power} - B29C 66/9231: {by measuring the displacement of the joining tools} - B29C 66/9241: {by controlling or regulating the pressure, the force or the mechanical power} - B29C 66/92445: {by steps} - B29C 66/9292: {in explicit relation to another variable, e.g. pressure diagrams} - B29C 66/92921: {in specific relation to time, e.g. pressure-time diagrams} - B29C 66/951: {by measuring or controlling the vibration frequency and/or the vibration amplitude of vibrating joining tools, e.g. of ultrasonic welding tools} - E04B 1/388: {Separate connecting elements (Connecting devices specially adapted for embedding in concrete E04B1/41; Dowels, i.e. members adapted to penetrate the surfaces of two parts and to take the shear stresses E04B1/48)} - F16B 5/01: by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels - F16B 5/08: by means of welds or the like (welding B23K) - B29C 2793/0045: Perforating - B29L 2031/10: Building elements, e.g. bricks, blocks, tiles, panels, posts, beams {(frameless domes B29L2025/00, doors B29L2031/724)} - F16B 5/04: by means of riveting (rivets F16B19/04) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A method of anchoring a connector in a heterogeneous first object that includes a first building layer and, distally of the first building layer, an interlining layer. The method includes providing the first object and the connector, which includes thermoplastic material in a solid state; contacting the connector with the first building layer; applying a first mechanical pressing force to the connector until the first building layer is pierced by the connector and a distal portion of the connector reaches into the interlining layer; applying a second mechanical pressing force and mechanical vibration to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates structures of the first object, and a distally facing abutment face of the head portion abuts against the metal profile in a region next to the opening; and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of anchoring a connector in a heterogeneous first object comprising a first building layer and, distally of the first building layer, an interlining layer, wherein the interlining layer has a density substantially lower than a density of the first building layer and/or a mechanical stability substantially lower than a mechanical stability of the first building layer, the method comprising the steps of providing the first object; providing the connector that comprises thermoplastic material in a solid state and extends between a proximal end and a distal end; bringing the connector into physical contact with the first building layer; applying a first mechanical pressing force and mechanical vibration to the connector until the first building layer is pierced by the connector in a vibration assisted manner, and a distal portion of the connector reaches into the interlining layer; applying a second mechanical pressing force and mechanical vibration to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates structures of the first object, and stopping the second mechanical vibration and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the connector and the first object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical vibration applied while the first mechanical pressing force is applied is different from the mechanical vibration applied while the second mechanical pressing force is applied, in amplitude or frequency or in amplitude and frequency. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of applying the first pressing force and vibration and thereafter, the first building layer is only pierced and remains a coherent, contiguous layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein as a result of application of the first pressing force and the vibration portions of the first building layer around a piercing location are deformed by being bent towards distally. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a vibration power P of the mechanical vibration applied to the connector is subject to a first peak while the first pressing force is applied. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical vibration applied to the connector acts continuously during application of the first and second pressing forces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second pressing force is maintained after the mechanical vibration is stopped until the flow portion has re-solidified at least to some extent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first mechanical pressing force is larger than the second mechanical pressing force. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second pressing force is applied by a sonotrode that presses the connector against the first object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first object is a sandwich board comprising the first building layer, a second building layer, and the interlining layer sandwiched between the first and second building layers, with a density of the interlining layer being substantially lower than densities of the first and second building layers, and wherein applying the second mechanical pressing force comprises causing the connector to advance through the interlining layer until an advancing movement of the connector is impeded by the second building layer, without the second building layer being disrupted. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein in the step of applying the second mechanical pressing force and the mechanical vibration to the connector, the flow portion of the thermoplastic material is made flowable at an interface between the connector and the second building layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the interlining layer comprises gas-filled spaces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the gas-filled spaces take up at least 50% of a volume of the interlining layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the density of the interlining layer is smaller than the densities of the first building layer and of the second building layer by at least a factor 5. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, and comprising controlling the pressing force on the connector so that it reaches a first level during the step of piercing the first building layer, follows a second profile during movement through the interlining layer, and reaches a third level when a the advancing movement is impeded by the second building layer, wherein the first level and the third level are above an average pressure value during the second profile. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a portion of a non-liquefiable material in addition to a thermoplastic portion, which non-liquefiable portion forms a distal piercing structure initially, but which portion is displaced relative to the thermoplastic material towards a proximal direction by the effect of the (second) pressing force as soon as the thermoplastic material becomes sufficiently soft due to the impact of the vibration energy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a proximal piercing or cutting shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a proximal head. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out the step of bringing the connector into contact with the first object for a plurality of connectors simultaneously. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out the step of causing mechanical vibration energy to impinge on the first object while the object and the connector are pressed against each other for a plurality of connectors simultaneously. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the connectors are held by a common second object. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, and further comprising providing a second object, and fastening the second object to the first object by the connector. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the second object comprise a sheet portion that after anchoring lies against a proximal attachment face of the first object. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the sheet portion is clamped between the attachment face and a distally facing abutment face of a head portion of the connector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the second object comprises a metal profile. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the connector comprises a proximal head portion with a distally facing abutment face, wherein the second object comprises a through opening, the method comprising the step of positioning the first object, the second object and the connector relative to one another so that the second object rests against the first object and the connector extends through the opening, with a distal end of the connector being in the physical contact with the first building layer, and wherein the step of applying the second mechanical pressing force and the mechanical vibration to the connector comprises applying the second mechanical pressing force until a distally facing abutment face of the head portion abuts against the metal profile in a region next to the opening.