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 metal threaded fastener may be already threaded into the insert at the time of bonding together of the plastics of the insert and base so that a driving of the metal fastener into the base is eliminated. A plastic fastener having protrusions thereon may be force fitted into bores in a first plastic body to be joined to the second plastic body; and a bonding agent liquifies the plastic of the protrusions and the plastic of the bore walls to cause an intermixing of the plastics which, when solidified, bond the fastener to respective plastic bodies and through the fastener to one another. The preferred plastic fastener has a force fit with the bores, and an ultrasonic device may be used to liquify the plastics and cause an intermixing thereof prior to solidification.