Insert of electrically conducting material, and tool and method for fitting such an insert to a supporting member

1. An insert ( 10 ) made of electrically conducting material, insertable at least partly inside a seat ( 8 ) on a first member ( 2 ), and connectable to a second member ( 1 ), so as to mechanically and electrically connect said first member ( 2 ) and said second member ( 1 );

said insert ( 10 ) comprising:

a fastening member ( 11 ) connectable electrically to a first electrically conducting area ( 4 , 7 ) on said first member ( 2 );

a supporting surface ( 17 ) connectable mechanically to said second member ( 1 );

characterized in that said supporting surface ( 17 ) is electrically connectable to a second electrically conducting area ( 9 ) of said first member ( 2 );

said insert ( 10 ) further comprising:

a first flange ( 15 ) defining said supporting ( 17 ), which cooperates with said first member ( 2 ); and

a stem ( 14 ) projecting from said supporting surface ( 17 ) and insertable inside said seat ( 8 );

said fastening member ( 11 ) being interposed between said first flange ( 15 ) and said stem ( 14 );

said fastening member ( 11 ) comprising at least one thread ( 12 ) which screws onto said first electrically conducting area ( 4 , 7 ).

2. An insert as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said first flange ( 15 ) comprises at least one opening ( 26 ) by which to pour adhesive into said insert ( 10 ) and/or for connection to a fitting tool ( 30 ).

3. An insert as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said first flange ( 15 ) comprises fastening means ( 25 ) engaged by said second member ( 1 ).

4. An assembly comprising:

said first member ( 2 );

said second member ( 1 ); and

an insert ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 ;

said first member ( 2 ) comprising a panel ( 3 ) defining at least one said seat ( 8 ); and at least one body ( 4 ) defining said first and second electrically conducting area ( 4 , 7 );

said insert ( 10 ) and said first member ( 2 ) being connected mechanically to each other by connecting means ( 25 , 35 ) made of electrically conducting material and defining a further electrically conducting area between said first and second members ( 2 , 1 ).

5. An insert as claimed in claim 1 , characterized by comprising an annular projection ( 18 ) interposed axially between said flange ( 15 ) and said stem ( 14 ).

6. An insert as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said projection ( 18 ) comprises, proceeding from said first surface ( 17 ) towards said stem ( 14 ):

a first portion ( 19 ) adjacent to said supporting surface ( 17 ) of said flange ( 15 ) and on which said fastening means ( 11 ) are formed; and

a second portion ( 20 ) interposed between said first portion ( 19 ) and said stem ( 14 ).

7. An insert as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said stem ( 14 ) comprises two parallel toothed second flanges ( 21 ) perpendicular to an axis (A) of said stem ( 14 ); one of said flanges ( 21 ) defining an axial end, opposite to said first flange ( 15 ), of said insert ( 10 ).

8. An insert as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said thread ( 12 ) is self-threading.

9. A tool ( 30 ) for fitting an insert ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 to a supporting member ( 2 ), comprising:

a first body ( 31 ) connectable to said insert ( 10 ); and

a second body ( 32 ) defining a reference surface ( 28 ) designed to cooperate, in use, with said supporting member ( 2 ) to set a first axis (A) of said insert ( 10 ) to a given position with respect to said supporting member ( 2 ) before fitting said insert ( 10 );

said first body ( 31 ) being movable along a second axis (B) with respect to said second body ( 32 ) to insert said insert ( 10 ) inside a seat ( 8 ) on said supporting member ( 2 );

characterized in that said first body ( 31 ) rotates about said second axis (B) with respect to said second body ( 32 ) to screw a thread ( 12 ) on said insert ( 10 ) to an electrically conducting area ( 4 , 7 ) of said supporting member ( 2 ).

10. A tool as claimed in claim 9 , characterized in that said first and second body ( 31 , 32 ) comprise respective meshing threads ( 36 , 40 ).

11. A method of fitting an insert ( 10 ) of electrically conducting material to a first supporting member ( 2 ), so as to mechanically and electrically connect said first supporting member ( 2 ) and a second member ( 1 ), comprising the steps of:

inserting the insert ( 10 ) at least partly inside a seat ( 8 ) formed in said first supporting member ( 2 );

mechanically connecting a supporting surface ( 17 ) of said insert ( 10 ) to said second member ( 1 );

characterized by comprising the steps of

electrically connecting a fastening member ( 11 ) of said insert ( 10 ) to a first electrically conducting area ( 4 , 7 ) of said first supporting member ( 2 );

positioning a surface ( 17 ) of said insert ( 10 ) on a second electrically conducting area ( 9 ) of said first supporting member ( 2 );

contacting said first supporting member ( 2 ) with a flange ( 15 ), which defines said supporting surface ( 17 ); and

inserting a stem ( 14 ) projecting from said supporting surface ( 17 ) inside said seat ( 8 );

said fastening member ( 11 ) being interposed between said flange ( 15 ) and said stem ( 14 );

said mechanically connecting step comprising the step of screwing a thread ( 12 ) on said insert ( 10 ) to said first electrically conducting area ( 4 , 7 ) of said first supporting member ( 2 ).

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that said inserting step comprises the step of first securing said insert ( 10 ) with respect to said first supporting member ( 2 ); and by comprising, after said connecting step, the step of gluing said insert ( 10 ) inside said seat ( 8 ) in said first supporting member ( 2 ) to fix said insert ( 10 ) definitively to said first supporting member ( 2 ).

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 , characterized by comprising the step of positioning a surface ( 28 ) of a fitting tool ( 30 ) on said first supporting member ( 2 ) to set an axis (A) of said insert ( 10 ) to a given position with respect to said first supporting member ( 2 ).