Method and insert for connecting components to plastic members

Abstract

Disclosed is an insert comprising a tubular plastic body having a hollow, axially extending threaded interior, and a plurality of interlocking portions preferably in the form of integrally formed plastic protrusions extending outward from the plastic body. The insert is maintained by force-fit engagement within a corresponding recess in a plastic base. Thereafter, the plastics of the body, protrusions and base are brought to a flowable condition at their interface to integrally bond the insert to the base and/or to interlock portions of the base and insert. The threaded interior of the insert remains intact during this insert bonding procedure to then accept and threadably engage with a threaded member, which may be metal or any other material. The insert may include slots therethrough at its lower end through which the plastics migrate, when the plastics are in their flowable condition, into the threaded interior of the insert and into contact with a threaded member screwed in the insert to secure the threaded member and prevent its further rotation. The plastic insert may also include a filler material which is compatible with the plastics and interacts with the plastics when they are brought to a flowable state to increase the bonding strength between the insert and the base. The metal threaded fastener may be already threaded into the insert at the time of bonding together the plastics of the insert and base so that a driving of the metal fastener into the base is eliminated.