An insert for the attachment of objects to composite or plastic panels consists of two parts, a retainer and an insert. The retainer has a through-hole and knurls on its perimeter for gripping the walls of a receiving hole in the composite or plastic panel. The insert has multiple self-clinching features at increasing diameters which when inserted into the retainer rigidly attach it to the retainer. The panel is rigidly clamped between opposite sides of the panel by an enlarged head of the retainer and an opposing flange on the insert. The self-clinching features of different diameter permit the device to be used with panels of different thickness and allow a large tolerance range. A plain or threaded stud can be substituted for the threaded hole of the insert. Both the retainer and the insert can be metallic.

The invention relates to an anchor for arrangement in lightweight building boards, wherein a lightweight building board has a first covering layer and a second covering layer made from compact material that is stiff in compression, and a core layer, which is arranged between the covering layers and is made from material with a low density in comparison with the covering layers, in particular paper honeycomb, foam or solid wood of low density, having a first anchor part and a second anchor part, wherein the first and the second anchor part are designed to be movable relative to one another, in which a travel between a first end position and a second end position is limited, wherein the first end position is defined by means of first stop means on the first and the second anchor part, and the second end position is defined by means of second stop means on the first and the second anchor part.

A lightweight fastener includes a threaded body with at least one torque support, a housing, which receives the threaded body at least in part, and a counter support for at least one torque support. In accordance with the invention a wire nut or threaded wire nut is used as thread body. A lightweight fastener of this type is used in clips or inserts, i.e. fastening elements that are used in particular in the interior design of vehicles and aircraft.

A marine deck member with enhanced surface traction and the process for forming the same. The marine deck member comprises a sandwich-type composite panel made by a compression molding process. In such a process, the panel is made by subjecting a heated stack of layers of material to cold-pressing in a mold. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, each of the cells having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces, and extending in the space between the layers or skins, with end faces open to the respective layers or skins. The surface traction of this type of composite panel can be enhanced for marine deck applications by controlled debossing, or embossing, of the first skin while it cools in the compression mold. The debossing effect can be effected by applying pressurized gas, e.g., pressurized air, onto the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold. The embossing can be effected by applying vacuum pressure on the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold.

A marine deck member with enhanced surface traction and the process for forming the same. The marine deck member comprises a sandwich-type composite panel made by a compression molding process. In such a process, the panel is made by subjecting a heated stack of layers of material to cold-pressing in a mold. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, each of the cells having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces, and extending in the space between the layers or skins, with end faces open to the respective layers or skins. The surface traction of this type of composite panel can be enhanced for marine deck applications by controlled debossing, or embossing, of the first skin while it cools in the compression mold. The debossing effect can be effected by applying pressurized gas, e.g., pressurized air, onto the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold. The embossing can be effected by applying vacuum pressure on the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold.

A marine deck member and the process for forming the same are provided. The marine deck member comprises a sandwich-type composite panel made by a compression molding process. In such a process, the panel is made by subjecting a heated stack of layers of material to cold pressing in a mold. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, with end faces open to the respective layers or skins. The surface traction of this type of composite panel can be enhanced for marine deck applications by controlled debossing, or embossing, of the first skin while it cools in the compression mold. The debossing effect can be affected by applying pressurized gas, e.g., pressurized air, onto the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold. The embossing can be affected by applying vacuum pressure on the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold.

In implementations of a pressure lock retention fastener, the fastener assembly includes an insert sized for insertion into a fastener hole in a first panel. The fastener assembly has a threaded collet sized to slide in the insert and has expandable flanges that extend below the insert. The expandable flanges are sized for insertion into an aligned hole in a second panel. The fastener assembly also includes a screw installable through the insert to engage the threaded collet. The screw exerts a force that pushes the expandable flanges outward as screw rotation drives the screw into the threaded collet, and ridge locks of the expandable flanges seat up against the second panel effective to fasten the panels together. In implementations, a plate is installable between the panels with slotted holes having anti-rotation tabs that prevent a fastener assembly from spinning in the panel holes.

A retaining device for attachment of objects to a wall surface includes a main body, a fastening arrangement, and a cover lockable to the main body that arches over the fastening arrangement. The main body has a bottom side, that faces the wall during mounting, and a top side, that faces away and includes a retaining ring. The fastening arrangement includes a fastener and a centering cap which fixes the fastener. The bottom side of the main body has a circular-ring-shaped surface, on inner and outer edges of which, in each case, one closed encircling web is provided which faces away from the bottom side. Two passage openings are provided in the circular-ring surface between the top and bottom sides. When attached, the main body is pressed onto the wall and an adhesive is injected through one of the passage openings until it emerges again at the other passage opening.

A method of bonding a first object to a second object includes the steps of: providing the first object including thermoplastic material in a solid state, providing the second object including a proximal surface, applying a mechanical pressing force and a mechanical excitation capable to liquefy the thermoplastic material until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates into structures of the second object, and stopping the mechanical excitation and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and the second object. The second object has a region of low density, wherein the protrusion penetrates the region of low density at least partly before the thermoplastic material is made flowable, and wherein the first object includes a protruding portion after the step of letting the thermoplastic material resolidify, the protruding portion at least partly penetrates the region of low density.

A marine deck member and the process for forming the same. The marine deck member comprises a sandwich-type composite panel made by a compression molding process. In such a process, the panel is made by subjecting a heated stack of layers of material to cold-pressing in a mold. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, with end faces open to the respective layers or skins. The surface traction of this type of composite panel can be enhanced for marine deck applications by controlled debossing, or embossing, of the first skin while it cools in the compression mold. The debossing effect can be affected by applying pressurized gas, e.g., pressurized air, onto the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold. The embossing can be affected by applying vacuum pressure on the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold.