Method of securing a fastener to an object

A method of assembling a first object and a third object with each other, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the first object comprising a thermoplastic material in a solid state, the first object having a generally flat attachment face portion;
• providing the third object;
• providing a fastener with a generally flat sheet portion having an edge;
• positioning the fastener relative to the first object to provide a pre-assembly comprising at least the fastener and the first object, in which pre-assembly the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material,
• while the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material, coupling mechanical vibration and a pressing force into the pre-assembly to press the sheet portion towards the attachment face portion 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, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embeds the edge, and also anchors the fastener relative to the first object;
• and
• causing the third object to be secured to the fastener;
• whereby an assembly comprising the first object, the third object and the fastener secured to each other is generated.

A method of assembling a first object, a second object and a third object with each other, 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;
• providing the third object;
• positioning the second object and the third object relative to the first object to provide a pre-assembly comprising the first, second and third objects, in which pre-assembly the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material,
• while the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material, coupling mechanical vibration and a pressing force into the pre-assembly to press the sheet portion and the first object against each other 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, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge fixes the first and second objects to each other;
• and
• causing the third object to be secured to the first and second objects to generate an assembly of the first, second and third objects secured to each other.