Patent ID: 7748937

Claim:
A method for connecting a first member to a second member, the first member having a first aperture and the second member having a second aperture, the method comprising the steps of: providing a shell having a hollow configuration so as to define a hollow chamber, the shell being formed from a flexible and resilient material, the shell including a first head, a second head, and a shank that extends between the first head and the second head; providing a reinforcement member in the form of a flexible frame having voids; positioning the reinforcement member within the hollow chamber; positioning the shell such that the first head and the second head are positioned at opposite sides of an assembly comprising the first member and the second member and the shank at least extends into both the first aperture and the second aperture; supplying filler material into the hollow chamber such that the filler material entirely fills the hollow chamber; and allowing the filler material to harden into a rigid filler material to thereby form a fastener extending at least into both the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the shell is deformed such that the shell conforms to the first aperture and the second aperture, and wherein the shell and the filler material therein completely fill the first and second apertures, and wherein said step of positioning the shell comprises the steps of: inserting the first head through the first aperture and the second aperture; causing said first head to collapse during said step of inserting the first head through the first aperture and the second aperture; and allowing the first head to expand after the first head has passed through the first aperture and the second aperture.