FASTENING A PART TO AN OBJECT IN AN ADJUSTED POSITION

Abstract

An adaptor for anchoring a second object with respect to a first object includes an anchoring part and an adjustment part. The anchoring part includes a distally facing anchoring surface and a proximally facing first control surface, and the adjustment part includes a distally facing second control surface positioned to abut against the first control surface. The anchoring part and the adjustment part define a common axis, and the first control surface or the second control surface or both is/are helical with respect to the axis, whereby a relative z position of the adjustment part with respect to the anchoring part is adjustable by rotating the adjustment part relative to the anchoring part around the axis while the second control surface abuts against the first control surface.

Claims

1. An adaptor for anchoring a second object with respect to a first object, the adaptor comprising: an anchoring part; and an adjustment part; wherein the anchoring part comprises a distally facing anchoring surface and a proximally facing first control surface; wherein the adjustment part comprises a distally facing second control surface positioned to abut against the first control surface; wherein the anchoring part and the adjustment part define a common axis, and wherein the first control surface or the second control surface or both is/are helical with respect to the axis, whereby a relative z position of the adjustment part with respect to the anchoring part is adjustable by rotating the adjustment part relative to the anchoring part around the axis while the second control surface abuts against the first control surface; the adaptor further comprising an engagement structure for fixing the adjustment part relative to the anchoring part with respect to axial directions while the first and second control surfaces abut against each other.

2. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the first control surface and the second control surface are both helical with a same helix angle.

3. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring part comprises a solid thermoplastic material liquefiable by mechanical vibration at least on the anchoring surface.

4. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the engagement structure comprises a plurality of prongs of the adjustment part, the prongs clasping the anchoring part and having an engagement protrusion engaging with an indentation of the anchoring part.

5. The adaptor according to claim 4, wherein the indentation is helical with respect to the axis.

6. The adaptor according to claim 4, wherein the prongs have an inwardly tapered distal end.

7. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the engagement structure comprises a first engagement element of the anchoring part and a second engagement element of the adjustment part, and wherein the first engagement element and/or the second engagement element runs helically with respect to the axis.

8. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the engagement structure comprises an inner thread of the adjustment part, wherein the anchoring part comprises an axially running through hole, and wherein the engagement structure further comprises a screw shaped to be inserted from the distal side through the through hole and to engage with the inner thread.

9. The adaptor according to claim 8, further comprising a sealing portion having a sealing lip.

10. The adaptor according to claim 9, comprising a sealing element constituting the sealing portion and being shaped to be placed in a sealing element receiving indentation of the anchoring part.

11. The adaptor according to claim 8, wherein the adjustment part comprises a thermoplastic first material and comprises an adjustment part insert element of a material different from the thermoplastic first material, wherein the insert element comprises the inner thread.

12. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the engagement structure comprises an inner thread of the anchoring part, wherein the adjustment part comprises an axially running through hole, and wherein the engagement structure further comprises a screw shaped to be inserted from the proximal side through the through hole and to engage with the inner thread.

13. The adaptor according to claim 12, wherein the anchoring part has an extension portion protruding distally from a plane defined by the anchoring surface, wherein the inner thread extends into an interior of the extension portion.

14. The adaptor according to claim 13, wherein the extension portion has a closed distal end, whereby the inner thread extends from a proximal mouth into a blind hole distally closed off by the closed distal end.

15. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring part comprises a thermoplastic first material and comprises an anchoring part insert element of a material different from the thermoplastic first material, wherein the insert element comprises the inner thread.

16. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment part comprises a slot nut for securing a second object to the first object.

17. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring part has an anchoring part body and at least one peripheral portion protruding radially from the anchoring part body, wherein the first control surface is formed by a proximally facing surface portion of the at least one peripheral portion, and wherein a radially outer surface portion of the anchoring part body proximally of the first control surface is inclined with respect to the axis.

18. A method of fastening a second object to a first object in an adjusted position, comprising the steps of providing the first object comprising a generally flat sheet portion having an edge; providing an adaptor, the adaptor comprising: an anchoring part; and an adjustment part; wherein the anchoring part comprises a distally facing anchoring surface and a proximally facing first control surface; wherein the adjustment part comprises a distally facing second control surface positioned to abut against the first control surface; wherein the anchoring part and the adjustment part define a common axis, and wherein the first control surface or the second control surface or both is/are helical with respect to the axis, whereby a relative z position of the adjustment part with respect to the anchoring part is adjustable by rotating the adjustment part relative to the anchoring part around the axis while the second control surface abuts against the first control surface; the adaptor further comprising an engagement structure for fixing the adjustment part relative to the anchoring part with respect to axial directions while the first and second control surfaces abut against each other; positioning the anchoring part relative to the first object to so that the anchoring surface is in physical contact with the edge; fastening the anchoring surface to the edge; Positioning the adjustment part relative to the anchoring part in an adjusted orientation with respect to the axis; and Securing the second object to the adjustment part.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of fastening the anchoring surface to the edge comprises the sub-steps of: pressing the anchoring part and the first object against each other and coupling mechanical vibration energy into the first object until a flow portion of thermoplastic material of the anchoring part due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material; and Stopping the mechanical vibration and causing the thermoplastic material to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the anchoring part with respect to the first object.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] In the following, ways to carry out the invention and embodiments are described referring to drawings. In the drawings, same reference numerals refer to same or analogous elements. The drawings show:

[0051] FIG. 1 schematically, in vertical section, an arrangement of an anchoring part, a first object and a sonotrode;

[0052] FIG. 2 schematically, the anchoring part of FIG. 1 anchored with respect to the first object and assembled with the adjustment part;

[0053] FIGS. 3 and 4 views of an embodiment of an adjustment part;

[0054] FIGS. 5 and 6 views of an embodiment of an anchoring part for constituting an adaptor together with the adjustment part of FIGS. 3 and 4;

[0055] FIG. 7 an assembly of an anchoring part and an adjustment part;

[0056] FIG. 8 schematically, an assembly of an alternative adaptor anchored with respect to a first object;

[0057] FIGS. 9 and 10 views of a further embodiment of an adjustment part;

[0058] FIGS. 11 and 12 views of an embodiment of an anchoring part for constituting an adaptor together with the adjustment part of FIGS. 9 and 10;

[0059] FIG. 13 schematically, a further assembly of an alternative adaptor anchored with respect to a first object;

[0060] FIGS. 14 and 15 views of an even further embodiment of an adjustment part;

[0061] FIGS. 16 and 17 views of an embodiment of an anchoring part for constituting an adaptor together with the adjustment part of FIGS. 14 and 15; and

[0062] FIG. 18 an embodiment of an adaptor the anchoring part of which is configured to be attached by an adhesive connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0063] FIG. 1 illustrates, in section, an anchoring part 10 with a metal sheet being an example of a first object 1. The metal sheet includes an opening 20, for example made by a punching tool, and around the opening the metal sheet is deformed to be bent away from a metal sheet plane towards proximally (upwardly in FIG. 1). Around the perforation, the metal sheet forms an edge that in the anchoring step has the function of an energy director.

[0064] The anchoring part 10 includes thermoplastic material. In the depicted embodiment, the anchoring part is illustrated to consist of the thermoplastic material. It defines a distally facing anchoring surface 11 that, for anchoring, is brought into contact with the deformed section of the first object 1.

[0065] For anchoring the anchoring part 10 with respect to the first object 1, a vibrating sonotrode 6 presses the anchoring part 10 against the first object 1 in a vicinity of the opening. Mechanical vibration energy thereby coupled into the anchoring part 10 propagates via the anchoring part 10 and is absorbed at the places where the anchoring part is in contact with the edge that thereby serves as an energy director. As a consequence, the thermoplastic material around the edge is heated and becomes flowable, allowing the deformed section of the sheet material to be pressed into the body of the anchoring part.

[0066] After re-solidification, this leads to an anchoring of the anchoring part with respect to the first object and thereby to a mechanical positive-fit connection between the anchoring part and the second object.

[0067] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the assembly with the first object 1, the anchoring part 10 and an adjustment part 20 after the anchoring process. Parts of a flow portion 8 of the thermoplastic material have flown to underneath the first object and thereby cause the mentioned anchoring.

[0068] FIG. 2 illustrates the adjustment part 20 secured to the anchoring part 10 by way of an engagement protrusion 27 engaging in a corresponding indentation 16 of the anchoring part. The adjustment part 20 can be brought into different angular positions relative to the anchoring part with respect to the common axis 5 of the anchoring part and the adjustment part, whereby a z position is adjustable (z).

[0069] FIGS. 3 and 4 show views of an embodiment of an adjustment part 20.

[0070] The adjustment part 20 includes a generally disk-shaped main body. Towards distally, two control surface protrusions 23 project from the main body, each control surface protrusion 23 ending distally in a helical second control surface 24.

[0071] Also towards distally, two prongs 26 project from the main body. Each prong 26 has an inwardly projecting engagement protrusion 27. The distal end forms an inward taper 28.

[0072] Towards proximally, a slot nut 29 projects from the main body. The slot nut is shaped to engage with a corresponding slot of the second object to secure the second object to the adjustment part and thereby, if the adjustment part is secured to the anchored anchoring part 10, to the first object.

[0073] A corresponding anchoring part 10 shaped to cooperate with the adjustment part of FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The anchoring part has the mentioned anchoring surface 11 that in the depicted embodiment includes a plurality of radial grooves 13, the function of which is described in PCT/EP2016/073422. An anchoring part body 12 has a slightly conical shape defining a radially outer surface portion 19 that is inclined with respect to the common axis 5. The first control surface 14 is defined by a proximally facing surface portion of a peripheral portion 15 protruding radially from the anchoring part body 12.

[0074] The indentation 16 has two portions each distally of a respective portion of the first control surface. The indentation portions run parallel to the first control surface 14 helically around the main body, i.e. the helix angle of the indentation is the same as the helix angle of the first control surface 14. Thereby, the engagement protrusions 27 of the prongs 26 may snap into the indentation 16 when the second control surface 24 abuts against the first control surface 14 independent of the relative orientation.

[0075] FIG. 7 shows a variant of the adjustment part 20 assembled with a variant of the anchoring part 10.

[0076] FIG. 8 shows an alternative assembly after the anchoring process. The adjustment part 20 is secured to the anchoring part 10 (which is anchored with respect to the first object 1) by a screw 31 that presses the second control surface (not visible in FIG. 8) against the first control surface, wherein the relative z position depends on the relative orientation of the adjustment part and the anchoring part.

[0077] The screw is inserted from distally through a through opening 17 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) of the anchoring part 10 and engages with an inner thread of the adjustment part, whereby a screw head 32 is pressed against a distally facing surface portion of the anchoring part when the screw 31 is tightened.

[0078] The anchoring part 10 has a sealing element 41 of an elastically deformable material, for example of an elastomer. The sealing element 41 is fastened to the main body of the anchoring part in a sealing element receiving indentation 18 (see FIG. 11 described hereinafter). The sealing element forms an inwardly projecting sealing lip 42 being pressed against the screw to seal the distal side of the first object 1 from the proximal side.

[0079] As an alternative to an initially separate elastically deformable sealing element 41, an elastomeric sealing lip 42 may also be formed by two-component injection molding together with the main body of the anchoring part.

[0080] As an even further alternative, a sealing lip 42 may be formed by one-component injection molding, i.e. be of a same material as the main body. This alternative is especially suited for situations in which a liquid pressure against which the sealing lip should seal is small, for example if the sealing is merely to withstand a splash test, for example withstand the pressure of a 50 mm water column for 24 hours.

[0081] Yet another alternative is to leave, when manufacturing the anchoring part, a thin membrane closing off the through opening 17, which membrane may be broken through when the screw is placed and seals off thereafter due to the plastic-elastic deformation it undergoes when the screw breaks through it.

[0082] FIGS. 9 and 10 show views of an embodiment of an adjustment part suitable for an assembly that implements the principle of FIG. 8. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 it includes a through opening with an inner thread 30. To this end, it may include an adjustment part insert element 35 of a different material than other sections of the adjustment part. Especially, the insert element may for example be of a metal.

[0083] FIGS. 11 and 12 show an according anchoring part. The main differences to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 are the mentioned through opening 17 and the mentioned sealing element receiving indentation 18. Also, the anchoring part does not necessarily have an indentation at the periphery.

[0084] FIG. 13 shows an even further assembly after the anchoring process. Like in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the adjustment part 20 is secured to the anchoring part 10 (which is anchored with respect to the first object 1) by a screw 31 that presses the second control surface (not visible in FIG. 13) against the first control surface, wherein the relative z position depends on the relative orientation of the adjustment part and the anchoring part.

[0085] The screw is inserted from proximally through an opening 36 (see FIG. 14) of the adjustment part 20 and engages with an inner thread 30 of the anchoring part. The bore in the anchoring part that has the inner thread is closed off towards distally (closed end 48 of extension portion 47), whereby when the connection between the anchoring part and the first object 1 is sealed, whereby a seal between the distal and the proximal sides of the first object is formed.

[0086] FIGS. 14 and 15 show views of an according adjustment part 20. A main difference to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is the through opening 36.

[0087] FIGS. 16 and 17 depict view of a suitable anchoring part 10. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 the anchoring part has the extension portion 47 that in the assembled state projects towards distally into the opening of the first object. The borebeing a blind bore in the embodiments illustrated hereinthat has the inner thread 30 extends into this extension portion 47; due to the extension portion it has a sufficient depth.

[0088] In the embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17, the extension portion 47 with the inner thread 30 and the closed end 48 is formed by an anchoring part insert element 45 of a material that is different from a main body of the anchoring element, for example metallic.

[0089] In the embodiment of FIG. 18, the anchoring surface 11 of the anchoring part is equipped for the anchoring part 10 to be fastened to a first object by an adhesive connection. To this end, the anchoring part at the anchoring surface forms a glue pot 51 for receiving and accommodating a portion of an adhesive (not shown). In the depicted embodiment, the glue pot includes a plurality of radial ribs for ensuring torque stability of the adhesive connection.

[0090] The adhesive connection may be combined with a positive-fit connection of the hereinbefore discussed kind, for example in that an anchoring part having the structure shown in FIG. 18 is made of a thermoplastic material.

[0091] In the embodiment of FIG. 18, the anchoring part has an optional extension portion 47 through which further parts may be guided, which further parts are not essential for the present invention and are not described in any detail here.

[0092] Anchoring of the anchoring part by and adhesive instead of or in addition to a positive fit connection as described hereinbefore may be an option, for example, for revision purposes, i.e. if anchoring of the adaptor loosens after some time and if the person carrying out the revision does not have the equipment for the described fastening process, which equipment may have to include ultrasonic device. At may also serve as an alternative to the fastening process. As yet another alternative, gluing and said fastening process may be used in combination, wherein the fastening process secures a quick anchoring, so that while the adhesive hardens, the assembly including the anchor may already be subject to transport and/or further manufacturing steps.