| abstract |
A port (20) is formed in a thermoplastic container wall (22) by slitting the wall (22), inserting a thermoplastic tube (26) through the slit (24), placing a mandrel (34) in the tube, placing opposed dies (30, 32) defining a bore over the sheet (22) and tube (26), and dielectrically heating the thermoplastic to fuse the tube (26) and sheet (22). Preferably the bore defined by the dies (30, 32) is of a diameter slightly less than that of the tube (26), and has an enlarged central area which forms a thickened section (40) of material over the slit (24). |