Patent ID: 7802955

Claim:
A dowel for insertion into an opening ( 12 ) of a wall ( 14 ) on a vehicle body, including a shank section ( 16 ) adapted to extend through the opening ( 12 ) in an inserted state, a radially extending flange ( 18 ) adjoined thereto, said shank section and said flange being made of a first material component, and a sealing section ( 20 ) made of a second material component, wherein said second material component is a plastic material which is unsealed with said opening ( 12 ) when in a non-expanded state and which expands at an elevated temperature and tightly closes the opening ( 12 ) in said expanded state, the opening ( 12 ) having an inner edge ( 34 ) and the wall ( 14 ) having a side ( 30 ) facing away from said flange when said shank section is in said inserted state, in said expanded state said second material component sealing only the inner edge ( 34 ) of the opening ( 12 ) and the side ( 30 ) of the wall ( 14 ) facing away from said flange ( 18 ), said second material component being spaced from a side ( 19 ) of the wall ( 14 ) facing toward said flange when in said expanded state, wherein a plurality of latching elements ( 26 ) configured as spring lugs are disposed on said shank section ( 16 ), wherein said sealing section ( 20 ) comprises at least one outer surface ( 32 ), said latching elements ( 26 ) at least partly cover said outer surface ( 32 ) of said sealing section ( 20 ).