Method of joining two thermoplastic articles
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorsJames E. O'Connor, William B. Beaulieu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and fasteners are provided for joining thermoplastic articles and for connecting a single thermoplastic article to a non-thermoplastic substrate. A first thermoplastic article and a second thermoplastic article can be placed against each other, and then localized adjacent portions of the articles are heated preferably with an ultrasonic heating device. A sharpened end of a thermoplastic fastener is driven through the heated areas of the first thermoplastic article and the second thermoplastic article. Upon cooling of the heated areas of the first thermoplastic article and the second thermoplastic article, those articles are looked to the thermoplastic fastener by fusion of the contacting surfaces of the articles and fastener.
Claims26
A method of joining thermoplastic articles, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a first thermoplastic article against a second thermoplastic article thereby defining an interface between said first thermoplastic article and said second thermoplastic article;
- (b) heating adjacent portions of said first thermoplastic article and said second thermoplastic article bordering the interface such that said portions are softened;
- (c) positioning a portion of a fastener having a first end and a second end in the heated portions of said first thermoplastic article and said second thermoplastic article, said fastener extending across the interface, said heated portions softening an outer surface of said fastener;
- and
- (d) cooling the heated portions of said first thermoplastic article and said second thermoplastic article to secure said fastener to said first thermoplastic article and said second thermoplastic article.
A method of joining articles, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a first article against a second article;
- (b) providing a length of thermoplastic fastener material having a sharpened end;
- (c) heating adjacent areas of said first article and said second article;
- (d) driving the sharpened end of said length of fastener material through said first article and said second article so that the fastener material connects the first article with the second article, such that an outer surface of said fastener material is softened by heat from the heated areas of said first article and said second article;
- (e) severing said length of fastener material on a side of said first article and said second article opposite said sharpened end, to thus define a second end of a severed rivet extending through said first article and said second article;
- (f) after step (e), heating said sharpened end and said second end of said severed rivet to soften the ends of the severed rivet and then forming enlarged heads on both ends thereof;
- and
- (g) repeating steps (b)-(f) as necessary with the same or a different length of thermoplastic material to provide a plurality of thermoplastic rivets joining said first article and said second article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.