Anchoring of connector element

Abstract

A method of anchoring a lightweight building element having a first building layer and an interlining layer distally of the first building layer, and possibly a second building layer distally of the interlining layer. For anchoring, the distal end of a connector element is inserted into a mounting hole in the lightweight building element, and also a sleeve including a thermoplastic material is inserted into the mounting hole, the sleeve enclosing the connector element. Then, a distally facing liquefaction face of the sleeve is caused to be in contact with a proximally facing support face of the connector element. Energy impinges to liquefy at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve, and the liquefaction face is pressed against the support face to cause at least a fraction of the flow portion to flow radially outward. After the flow portion has re-solidified, it anchors the connector element in the receiving object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector element anchoring kit comprising
 a connector element configured to be anchored in a receiving object being a lightweight building element with a first building layer, and an interlining layer distally of the first building layer, wherein the first building layer is thinner and has a higher density than the interlining layer,
 the connector element comprising a body with a distal end for inserting into a mounting hole of the receiving object in an insertion direction along an insertion axis, 
 the connector element comprising, distally of the proximal end, a collar extending radially, with respect to the insertion axis, from the body, the collar defining a support face, 
   the anchoring kit further comprising a sleeve comprising a thermoplastic material in a solid state,
 the sleeve being configured to receive and enclose the connector element, the sleeve having a distally facing liquefaction face, 
   wherein the sleeve near the liquefaction face has an inner cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of the collar, wherein the connector element is insertable into the sleeve to a position in which the collar axially engages with the liquefaction face of the sleeve and the liquefaction face is in physical contact with the support face,   and wherein the support face faces towards proximally and radially inwardly, whereby a groove open towards proximally and extending around the body is defined.   
     
     
         2 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a plurality of axially separated shoulder portions configured to engage with a plurality of axially separated support faces of the connector element, to liquefy the sleeve at a plurality of axially separate melting regions. 
     
     
         3 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar comprises an arrangement of tooth-like radial protrusions hat together form the collar. 
     
     
         4 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein, by the support face facing towards proximally and radially inwardly, the connector element forms an undercut with respect to radial directions, whereby, when the sleeve is pressed towards distally relative to the connector element, thermoplastic material of the sleeve may escape towards radially outwardly only when it is fully liquefied. 
     
     
         5 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the support face together with the anchoring element body defines an overall concave surface. 
     
     
         6 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sonotrode equipped to couple mechanical vibration into the sleeve for liquefying at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve in contact with the support face. 
     
     
         7 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is configured to enclose the connector element with a radially loose fit at least at all axial positions except the distal end. 
     
     
         8 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector element further comprises a distance holding portion having a height, the distance holding portion being located distally of the collar and keeping the collar at an axial distance to a structure against which the connector element abuts distally when inserted into the mounting hole. 
     
     
         9 . A connector element anchoring kit comprising
 a connector element configured to be anchored in a receiving object being a lightweight building element with a first building layer, and an interlining layer distally of the first building layer, wherein the first building layer is thinner and has a higher density than the interlining layer,
 the connector element comprising a body with a distal end for inserting into a mounting hole of the receiving object in an insertion direction along an insertion axis, 
 the connector element comprising, distally of the proximal end, a collar extending radially, with respect to the insertion axis, from the body, the collar defining a support face, 
   the anchoring kit further comprising a sleeve comprising a thermoplastic material in a solid state,
 the sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end, and being configured to receive and enclose the connector element, 
 the sleeve having a distally facing liquefaction face, 
   wherein the sleeve near the liquefaction face has an inner cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of the collar, wherein the connector element is insertable into the sleeve to a position in which the collar axially engages with the liquefaction face of the sleeve and the liquefaction face is in physical contact with the support face,   and wherein the connector element further comprises a distance holding portion having a height, the distance holding portion being located distally of the collar and keeping the collar at an axial distance to a structure against which the connector element abuts distally when inserted into the mounting hole.   
     
     
         10 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the lightweight building element has a second building layer distally of the interlining layer, wherein a height of the distance holding portion is adapted to a thickness of the interlining layer so that the support face is distally of the first building layer and, when a flow portion of thermoplastic material of the sleeve is liquefied where the sleeve contacts the support face, the flow portion flows into a region distally of the first building layer. 
     
     
         11 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 9 , further comprising a sonotrode equipped to couple mechanical vibration into the sleeve for liquefying at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve in contact with the support face. 
     
     
         12 . A connector element anchoring kit comprising
 a connector element configured to be anchored in a receiving object being a lightweight building element with a first building layer, and an interlining layer distally of the first building layer, wherein the first building layer is thinner and has a higher density than the interlining layer,
 the connector element comprising a body with a distal end for inserting into a mounting hole of the receiving object in an insertion direction along an insertion axis, 
 the connector element comprising, distally of the proximal end, a collar extending radially, with respect to the insertion axis, from the body, the collar defining a support face, 
 the anchoring kit further comprising a sleeve comprising a thermoplastic material in a solid state,
 the sleeve being configured to receive and enclose the connector element, the sleeve having a distally facing liquefaction face, 
 
 wherein the sleeve near the liquefaction face has an inner cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of the collar, wherein the connector element is insertable into the sleeve to a position in which the collar axially engages with the liquefaction face of the sleeve and the liquefaction face is in physical contact with the support face, 
   wherein the sleeve comprises a plurality of thermoplastic extensions distally of the liquefaction face,   wherein the collar has interruptions for the thermoplastic extensions, whereby, when the sleeve encloses the connector element and the liquefacton face is in physical contact with the support face, the extensions extend distally of the collar.   
     
     
         13 . The connector element anchoring kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising a sonotrode equipped to couple mechanical vibration into the sleeve for liquefying at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve in contact with the support face.