Patent ID: 8250725

Claim:
A method of attaching a shape memory polymer workpiece to a second workpiece where the workpieces have facing surfaces for the attachment, the method comprising: forming an attachment hole in the facing surface of the second workpiece; placing the facing surface of the polymer workpiece overlying the attachment hole of the second workpiece, the facing surface of the polymer workpiece having no preformed protuberance for entry into the attachment hole, the facing surface of the second workpiece being in non-deforming contact with the facing surface of the shape memory polymer workpiece; activating at least a facing surface region of the shape memory polymer workpiece to a softened condition; applying a force to push and deform softened shape memory material from the surface region of the shape memory polymer workpiece into the attachment hole; retaining the force against the softened shape memory material while the deformed softened shape memory material extending into or through the hole flows, in an attempt to recover its original facing surface shape, to form a mechanical attachment with the second workpiece; and cooling the softened material, while maintaining an external force on it, to strengthen the mechanical attachment between the polymer workpiece and the second workpiece, the shape of such attachment being reversible by activating at least the deformed shape memory material extending through the hole.