Patent ID: 7160405

Claim:
A method of anchoring a joining element in a first body comprising a porous material, wherein the joining element has first and second end portions, said first end portion comprising a thermoplastic material, said method comprising the steps of: positioning the first end portion of the joining element on a surface of the first body; applying a force to the second end portion of the joining element such that the first end portion of the joining element breaks through the surface of the first body and penetrates into the porous material; and once the first end portion of the body reaches a predetermined depth in the porous material of the first body or once the force reaches a predetermined level, mechanically exciting the joining element, while still applying the force to the second end portion, whereby the mechanical excitation and the applied force to the joining element liquefies the thermoplastic material of the first end portion and hydraulically displaces the liquefied thermoplastic material into the porous material of the first body, thereby anchoring the joining element in the first body.