Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for attaching structures. One system includes: a device having a first structure attached to a second structure; a first polymer coupled to the first structure, wherein the first polymer has a first temperature profile and a first shape; and a second polymer coupled to the second structure. The second polymer has a second temperature profile and a second shape. The second shape interlocks the first shape. The first polymer and the second polymer secure the first structure to the second structure in response to the first polymer and the second polymer being in a first temperature range. The first polymer and the second polymer release the first structure from the second structure in response to the first polymer and the second polymer being in a second temperature range different from the first temperature range.

A thermoplastic plastic nut includes a nut main section having a second thread to screw a first thread of a bolt; and a thin wall section weldable to the first thread and disposed to protrude upwardly from the nut main section. A material of the nut main section contains a thermoplastic resin and a material of the thin wall section contains the thermoplastic resin. Thus, a thermoplastic plastic nut, a nut welding device and a nut welding method are provided to make it possible to easily prevent the loosening of the nut.

A medical device includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen. A variable diameter sheath with a central portion that prevents expansion of the stent when the balloon is pressurized and larger diameter ends is disposed over the crimped stent-balloon assembly. The balloon is pressurized and the larger diameter ends of the sheath allow the balloon beyond the ends of the stent to expand. The balloon is then depressurized.

A method includes a rotation locking step during which the rotation of the threaded hub about the central axis is blocked by heating a portion of the plug to soften, then by forcing the softened thermoplastic material to penetrate into, and then solidify in, a female cavity hollowed in the wall of the orifice to constitute a male member which fits into the female cavity. The female cavity forms, against the action of the male member, a guiding end stop preventing the male member, and therefore the hub, from rotating about the central axis to oppose any rotary screwing/unscrewing of the plug and maintaining a degree of freedom in axial translation along the central axis of the male member within the female cavity, so as not to impede a sliding of the hub and of its screw thread along the central axis against the wall.

A wheel includes a rim and a wheel center with several spokes with at least one butt strap. The at least one butt strap protrudes from a radially outer end of the spokes. The rim includes at least one opening arranged corresponding to the at least one butt strap. The at least one butt strap extends across the related opening in the rim and is attached to the outside of the rim.

A method of manufacturing a toothbrush includes steps of providing a carrier having at least a first through hole extending from a front side to a backside of the carrier and at least a first wall element integral with the carrier and extending from the back side in a vicinity of the through hole; introducing a first cleaning element into the first through hole such that an end portion of the first cleaning element is exposed on the backside of the carrier; treating the end portion of the first cleaning element such that it deforms and becomes wider than the first through hole; and deforming the first wall element until it at least partially extends over the deformed end portion of the first cleaning element such that the first cleaning element is effectively retained in its axial position. A brush having structural features resulting from the manufacturing method.

According to a method or an apparatus for fastening bristles in a bristle carrier (10) without using an anchor a heating (39) is provided in a tool part configured to transport the bristles. After inserting the bristles into anchoring openings (12) in the bristle carrier (10), the anchoring openings are closed by applying pressure.

The invention relates to a plastics connecting seam for the fluid-tight connection of at least two plastics surfaces. The plastics connecting seam is in the form of a plastics connecting seam that supports strength under a load in such a way that a load acting in a standard load direction increases the connection strength of the seam.

A medical device includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen. A variable diameter sheath with a central portion that prevents expansion of the stent when the balloon is pressurized and larger diameter ends is disposed over the crimped stent-balloon assembly. The balloon is pressurized and the larger diameter ends of the sheath allow the balloon beyond the ends of the stent to expand. The balloon is then depressurized.

A method for forming a joint between a fiber reinforced composite component and a metallic component and a joint are provided. The metallic component and the composite component each define a joint surface for mating with the joint surface of the other to join the two components together and the composite component defines a free surface opposed to the joint surface thereof. The joint surface of the metallic component defines an array of pins extending therefrom with each pin defining a pin head at an end distal from the joint surface. The method includes the steps of pressing together the joint surfaces of the two components whereby to cause the array of pins to penetrate through the fiber reinforcing material, and modifying the effective cross sectional shape of the pin heads whereby to increase the constraint applied to the composite component against peeling of the composite component from the joint surface of the metallic component.