Weldable plastic fastener

Abstract

A bolt and nut formed from a plastic material are provided with the bolt having proximate and distal ends and the nut having an interior surface defining a bore. Raised projection members are formed integrally extending from the nut interior surface into the bore and together define a diameter slightly smaller than the shank diameter. In this manner, an interference fit is provided between the shank and projection members. With the bolt shank inserted through aligned holes in parts to be fastened, the nut can be mounted on the distal end of the bolt shank, as by a force fit, and slid thereon by exerting an axial force on the nut until the parts are clamped between the bolt head and nut. At the interface formed by the engaged projection members and the bolt shank at the areas engaged with a force fit, intermixing of the respective plastic materials of the shank and projections can occur which, when solidified, forms a bond at the interface to secure the nut in place on the shank and thereby provide a good and secure clamping force to the fastened parts. To separate the parts, a torque force sufficient to break the bond formed between the projections and shank is applied to the nut. The nut can then be removed from the shank and the shank withdrawn from the aligned part holes, thus allowing the parts to be separated in their original state without any damage thereto.