Patent ID: 6543976
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B29C,F16B,Y10S

Abstract:
A fastening device for promoting the assembly and adherence of associated pieces by exposure to electromagnetic energy, comprising:(a) an electromagnetically absorptive component comprising an electromagnetically absorptive target material; (b) an expansive component adapted to be expansive in at least one direction from at least one of a metastable state, a physical change, and a chemical reaction; (c) a matrix material component comprising a matrix material, said matrix material being adhesively activatable by heat energy, said matrix material being disposed on an outer surface of at least one of said electromagnetically absorptive and said expansive components, said matrix material further adapted to be electromagnetically activatable to one of a semi-solid and a liquid state, wherein said matrix material component is disposed on an outer surface of said fastening device; and (d) a stiffening component, said stiffening component comprising part of at least one of said electromagnetically absorptive target material, said expansive component, and said matrix material component, said stiffening component further providing additional structural rigidity to said fastening device, wherein said stiffening component is disposed within said expansive component and wherein said stiffening component includes one or more annular depressions, said annular depressions being adapted to receive correspondent annular rings of said expansive component; wherein said electromagnetically absorptive component is disposed on at least one of an outer surface of said expansive component, within said expansive component, on an outer surface of said stiffening component, within said stiffening component, and within said matrix material component; and whereby when said fastening device is positioned within said associated pieces and is exposed to electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetically absorptive component provides heat energy to activate said expansive and said matrix material components, thereby causing said matrix material to either soften or liquefy, thereby further allowing the expansive component to expand in at least one direction causing contact of said matrix material and said associated pieces, thereby effecting a joining or bonding relationship upon cooling of said matrix component.