A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

An edge-banding apparatus is provided and configured to apply an edging strip having a heat activated layer to a substrate or work piece. The apparatus uses localised heat generated from a controlled flame from combustible fuel to apply heat to the edging strip to active the heat activated layer.

The apparatus comprises: a. an edging strip feeding device to feed the edging strip along a predetermined path towards the substrate or work piece; b. a source of combustible fuel; c. a fuel delivery device in fluid communication with the source of combustible fuel such that combustible fuel can be delivered to the fuel delivery device; and d. an ignition device configured to ignite the combustible fuel at or near the fuel delivery device such that a controlled flame is generated by the fuel delivery device;

The apparatus further comprises one or more controllers configured to control one or more properties of the controlled flame of combustible fuel such that the heat from the flame activates the heat activated layer of the edging strip such that the edging strip is applied to the substrate or work piece.

A method of applying an edging strip having a heat activated layer to a substrate or work piece is also provided.

A joining method for joining a first member having a hole that is opened on at least one surface, to a second member including a material of which a melting temperature is lower than that of a constituent material of the first member, includes: laminating the second member on the first member so as to cover an opening of the hole; and introducing that material of the second member which is softened or melted into the hole through the opening and curing the material of the second member.

A method of fastening an edge structure to a construction element includes providing the construction element, being a planar structure with with two cover regions and a middle region between the cover regions; providing the edge structure being continuously extended, the edge structure having contact surfaces with a thermoplastic material shaped to lie against the cover regions in an outer surface of the construction element, and, opposite the contact surfaces, a coupling-in surface for coupling energy into the edge structure; coupling energy into the edge structure and pressing the contact surfaces against the cover regions until at least a portion of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and pressed into the cover regions; and repeating or continuing the steps of coupling and pressing until the edge structure is attached to the building element at a plurality of discrete locations or over an extended region along an edge of the construction element.

A method for joining a device to an object with the aid of a combination of ultrasonic vibration energy and induction heating, wherein the device includes a portion of a thermoplastic polymer and a susceptor additive wherein this portion is at least partly liquefied or plasticized through the ultrasonic vibration energy in combination with the induction heating and wherein the joining includes establishing a connection between the device and the object which connection is at least one of a positive fit connection, a weld, a press fit connection, and an adhesive connection. The induction heating is applied for rendering the device portion suitable for absorption of ultrasonic vibration energy than other device portions by raising its temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The ultrasonic vibration energy is used for liquefying or at least plasticizing the thermoplastic polymer of the named device portion.

An adhesive aid and a method for adhering components by use of an adhesive are provided. The adhesive can be found in an adhesive gap between respective adhesive surfaces of the components. At least the first component has an opening which opens into the component adhesive surface. The adhesive aid has an insert portion, which is designed to be inserted into the opening and has an insert outer contour that correlates to an inner contour of the opening, and a displacement portion, which adjoins the insert portion in order to displace adhesive in the adhesive gap. The displacement portion has a protrusion which protrudes past the insert outer contour in the radial direction, and the displacement portion is designed to be flexible, in particular elastic, at least in the region of the protrusion.

A method of securing a first component part and a second component part together, the method comprising providing an electrically conductive member between a first surface of the first component part and a facing first surface of the second component part and securing the first and second components together by passing a current through the electrically conductive member. The electrically conductive member may comprise a first portion connectable to a source of current and a second portion electrically connected to the first portion and comprising a plurality of sub-conductive members. The electrically conductive member may be distributed across at least 50% of the surface area of the first surface of the first component part.

A method of fastening an edge structure to a construction element includes providing the construction element, being a planar structure with with two cover regions and a middle region between the cover regions; providing the edge structure being continuously extended, the edge structure having contact surfaces with a thermoplastic material shaped to lie against the cover regions in an outer surface of the construction element, and, opposite the contact surfaces, a coupling-in surface for coupling energy into the edge structure; coupling energy into the edge structure and pressing the contact surfaces against the cover regions until at least a portion of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and pressed into the cover regions; and repeating or continuing the steps of coupling and pressing until the edge structure is attached to the building element at a plurality of discrete locations or over an extended region along an edge of the construction element.

A method for forming an engagement portion in a workpiece is provided, said workpiece preferably consisting at least partially of wood, materials containing wood fibers, wood composite materials, veneer, plastics materials and combinations thereof. The method has the following steps of: providing the workpiece having a cutout, introducing a predetermined volume of a curable filling compound into the cutout and introducing an engagement element into the curable filling compound, wherein the engagement element has an engagement structure which at least partially represents a geometric counterpart to the engagement portion, the engagement portion takes up a predetermined position in the workpiece, and the engagement structure is arranged at least partially in the filling compound.

The composite tube may include a body having a longitudinal centerline axis and at least one end portion. The at least one end portion may include a plurality of segments that are angled relative to the longitudinal centerline axis and are circumferentially separated from each other by a plurality of slits. The composite tube may be implemented in a joint assembly that includes a support wedge. The support wedge may at least partially engage at least one of a radially inward surface of the at least one end portion and a radially outward surface of the at least one end portion.