A connector element is disclosed for being bonded to a substrate by pressing the connector element and the substrate together and mechanically exciting the connector element and the substrate relative to each other when being pressed together. The connector element includes a base portion having a distal surface and plural protrusions distally extending from the distal surface of the base portion. The protrusions are formed of a thermoplastic material configured to liquefy when the connector element is pressed to the substrate and mechanically excited. Link members are formed of a thermoplastic material configured to liquefy when the connector element is pressed to the substrate and mechanically excited. Each link member connects two neighboring protrusions of the protrusions.

A frictional weld joint couples first and second body portions of an article together. The frictional weld joint comprises a first bead extending from the first body portion of the article and a second bead extending from the second body portion of the article. The second bead has an interior stem and an exterior stem space from the interior stem defining a cavity therebetween. The first and second beads are placed in contact with each other with the centerline of the second bead offset from the centerline of the first bead. A force is applied to either the first or second body portions to generate friction between the first and second beads to plastically displace the first and second beads. The force is removed for fusing the first and second beads together to couple together the first and the second body portions of the article.

A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

An ultrasonic weldment assembly is provided which includes a first plastic member having a first contact surface, a second plastic member having a second contact surface, and a membrane positioned between the first and second plastic members. An energy director tongue extends outwardly from the first contact surface of the first plastic member towards the second contact surface, where the energy director tongue welds the first and second plastic members to one another. The first and second plastic members each include a membrane tensioning feature adjacent to the energy director tongue configured to tension the membrane. Methods for ultrasonically welding an assembly together are also provided.

A method of mechanically securing a first object to a second object, wherein the first object has a thermoplastic material in a solid state, the second object has a generally flat sheet portion having a second object edge. A third object is provided and arranged to provide an assembly including the first, second and third objects, in which assembly the second object edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material. Mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly by means of a vibrating tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the second object edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the second object edge to at least partially embed the second object edge in the thermoplastic material and the third object is caused to be embedded at least partially in the thermoplastic material of the first object.

A tool presses a joining element against a first object into a first opening of the first object while mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the first object and the joining element. Vibration energy and pressing force make the thermoplastic material of the distal portion of the joining element flowable and interpenetrates structures of the first object to yield, after re-solidification, an anchoring of the distal portion of the joining element in the first object. The second object is placed so that a proximal portion of the joining element is inserted into a second opening, and the first and second objects are pressed against each other while mechanical vibration energy is coupled into one of the first and second objects, until thermoplastic material of the joining element proximal portion is made flowable and interpenetrates structures of the second object to yield, after re-solidification, an anchoring in the second object.

An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.

An operation member is provided and includes a first resin member having a plate shape and formed of a material that transmits laser light; and a second resin member having a tubular shape and formed of a material that absorbs the laser light. The first resin member and the second resin member are laser-welded in an opening included in the second resin member. The second resin member includes a bonding projection provided to project from an inner circumferential surface of the opening toward an inner diameter side of the second resin member. An outer circumferential portion of the first resin member is placed over the bonding projection of the second resin member. The outer circumferential portion of the first resin member is laser-welded to the bonding projection of the second resin member.