Patent ID: 8607524

Claim:
An anchoring device, comprising: an anchoring element suitable for being anchored in an object of construction material with the aid of mechanical vibrations, wherein: the anchoring element extends along an axis, the anchoring element comprises a thermoplastic material that forms at least a part of a radially outer surface of the anchoring element, and, the anchoring element has an axially-extending opening, the axially-extending opening having a first cross section, the anchoring device further comprising a tool with a proximal portion and broadening portion distal of the proximal portion, wherein: the broadening portion has an outer second cross-section, the second cross section being larger than the first cross section but being adapted to the first cross section so that the tool can be moved with respect to the anchoring element while the broadening portion is in the axially-extending opening and locally expands the anchoring element while thermoplastic material of the anchoring element that surrounds the broadening portion is in a solid state, the proximal portion of the tool being equipped for being coupled to a vibration source, whereby the anchoring element is capable of being anchored in the object by mechanical vibrations coupled into the tool while the tool is moved relative to the anchoring element, and, by the effect of the broadening portion expanding the anchoring element, a radially-outer surface of the anchoring element is pressed against a wall of a bore of the object, whereby by the common impact of the vibrations and the expansion at least a part of the thermoplastic material of the anchoring element is liquefied and pressed into structures of the object to form, after re-solidification, a form-fit connection with the object.