# US 8,539,664 B2 · Method of fastening first and second thermoplastic parts, and two-part assembly

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- Number: US 8,539,664 B2
- Document ID: US8539664B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/449,472
- Filed: 2008-02-14
- Published: 2010-02-18
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-15
- Assignees: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
- Applicants: David Tresse; Marc Verwaerde
- Inventors: David Tresse; Marc Verwaerde
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539664B2

## CPC

- B29C 65/567: {using a tamping or a swaging operation, i.e. at least partially deforming the edge or the rim of a first part to be joined to clamp a second part to be joined}
- B29C 65/103: {direct heating both surfaces to be joined}
- B29C 65/72: by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/41: {Joining substantially flat articles (B29C66/47 and subgroups take precedence); Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles (B29C66/51 and subgroups take precedence)}
- B29C 66/43: {Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/545: {one hollow-preform being placed inside the other}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29C 66/836: {Moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined, e.g. transversely to the displacement of the parts to be joined, e.g. using a X-Y table (B29C66/65 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/8362: {Rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined}
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/14: using wave energy {, i.e. electromagnetic radiation,} or particle radiation {(using mechanical waves B29C65/06; using ultrasonic waves B29C65/08; pressing means transparent to electromagnetic radiation B29C66/81267)}
- B29C 65/1412: {Infrared [IR] radiation}
- B29C 65/16: Laser beams
- B29C 65/606: {the rivets being integral with one of the parts to be joined, i.e. staking}
- B29C 66/863: {Robotised, e.g. mounted on a robot arm}
- B29C 2035/0822: {using IR radiation}
- B29L 2031/3044: {Bumpers}
- B29L 2031/3055: {Cars}
- Y10T 29/49908: Joining by deforming
- Y10T 29/49915: Overedge assembling of seated part
- 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)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method of fastening first and second thermoplastic parts of a motor vehicle, the first part having a protuberance projecting from a face and the second part having an engagement surface, the method consisting in bringing the second part into contact with the face of the first part, in heating the protuberance, and in plastically deforming the protuberance towards the second part so that the second part is gripped between the face of the first part and an end portion of the protuberance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Method of fastening first and second thermoplastic parts of a motor vehicle, wherein the first part has a protuberance projecting from one side and the second part has an engagement surface, the method comprising the following steps:
bringing the second part into contact with said side of the first part, the second part being designed so that the angle between a vector normal to the side of the first part and a vector normal to the engagement surface is small and so that the engagement surface is close to the protuberance, wherein the protuberance is a tongue or rib, and the protuberance is substantially perpendicular to the side of the first part,
heating the protuberance,
plastically deforming the protuberance towards the second part using a deformation means moving substantially parallel to the side of the first part, so that at least one end portion of the protuberance is in contact with the engagement surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the two vectors is substantially zero.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, comprising an additional step of pressing the end portion against the second part, to cause surface fusion of the parts of the end portion and the engagement surface in contact, and mix the melted materials.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Method according to claim 3, wherein plastic deformation and pressing of the end portion against the second part are implemented by the deformation means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Method according to claim 4, wherein the deformation means is operated by a robot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the deformation means comprises a roller, a presser, a pad or a metal block, operated by a robot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the end portion of the protuberance and the engagement surface are heated simultaneously.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the end portion of the protuberance and the engagement surface are heated simultaneously using a blast of hot air, a laser or infrared radiation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the first part is a bodywork part and the second part is a reinforcement of the bodywork part or a sensor support.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the second part comprising a through hole opening onto the engagement surface, during the step of bringing into contact, the protuberance goes through the hole, with its end portion sticking out.

### Claim 11

Assembly of first and second thermoplastic parts of a motor vehicle, wherein:
the first part comprises a protuberance projecting from one side,
the second part is in contact with the side of the first part,
an end portion of the protuberance is in contact with an engagement surface of the second part by plastically deforming the protuberance towards the second part using a deformation means moving substantially parallel to the side of the first part,
the angle between a vector normal to the engagement surface and a vector normal to the side of the first part is small, and
the end portion and the engagement surface are fastened by mixing their materials.