Retainer clip for a mirror assembly housing bezel
First Claim
1. An exterior vehicle mirror assembly comprising:
- a housing defined by a cover with a generally annular rim extending from said cover and a plurality of retainer clip slots spaced throughout said rim;
a bezel having a generally complementary annular shape to said rim and including a rim receiving groove for receiving said rim to seat said bezel on said housing;
a retainer clip flange extending from said bezel generally adjacent said rim on an interior side of said housing when said bezel is seated on said rim for securing said bezel to said housing;
a plurality of retainer clips carried by said retainer clip flange;
said retainer clips each including a curved base plate having a first distal end adapted for attachment to said retainer clip flange, and a second distal end adapted for releasably engaging said retainer clip slots;
said second distal end of said retainer clips including a slanted bearing face for biasing against an interior side of said rim adjacent said retainer clip slots, and a securing lip disposed below said slanted bearing face that extends in a generally transverse plane from said curved base plate which is adapted for insertion into said retainer clip slots;
wherein said curved base plate biases said second distal end against said rim to insert said securing lip into said retainer clip slots when said bezel is seated on said rim and wherein attempted withdrawal of said bezel from said rim directs said slanted bearing face against said interior side of said rim to resist said securing lip from sliding out of said retainer clip slot to prevent removal of said bezel from said housing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior vehicle mirror assembly comprising a housing including at least one retainer clip slot; a bezel carried on said housing; a retainer clip flange extending from said bezel generally adjacent said retainer clip slot; at least one retainer clip carried by said retainer clip flange having a slanted bearing face engaging said housing adjacent said retainer clip slots, and a securing lip disposed below said slanted bearing face that extends into said retainer clip slot to secure said bezel to said housing; wherein said slanted bearing face bears against said housing to prevent flexing of said retainer clip from disengaging said securing lip from said retainer clip slot when a force is applied to attempt removal of said bezel from said housing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An exterior vehicle mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing defined by a cover with a generally annular rim extending from said cover and a plurality of retainer clip slots spaced throughout said rim; a bezel having a generally complementary annular shape to said rim and including a rim receiving groove for receiving said rim to seat said bezel on said housing; a retainer clip flange extending from said bezel generally adjacent said rim on an interior side of said housing when said bezel is seated on said rim for securing said bezel to said housing; a plurality of retainer clips carried by said retainer clip flange; said retainer clips each including a curved base plate having a first distal end adapted for attachment to said retainer clip flange, and a second distal end adapted for releasably engaging said retainer clip slots; said second distal end of said retainer clips including a slanted bearing face for biasing against an interior side of said rim adjacent said retainer clip slots, and a securing lip disposed below said slanted bearing face that extends in a generally transverse plane from said curved base plate which is adapted for insertion into said retainer clip slots; wherein said curved base plate biases said second distal end against said rim to insert said securing lip into said retainer clip slots when said bezel is seated on said rim and wherein attempted withdrawal of said bezel from said rim directs said slanted bearing face against said interior side of said rim to resist said securing lip from sliding out of said retainer clip slot to prevent removal of said bezel from said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A retainer clip for attaching a bezel to a housing for an exterior vehicle mirror assembly, said retainer clip comprising:
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a curved base plate having a first distal end adapted for attachment to the bezel, and a second distal end adapted for releasably engaging the housing; a generally J-shaped hook portion included in said first distal end of said curved base plate for attaching to the bezel; a slanted bearing face included in said second distal end of said curved base plate for biasing against the housing; a securing lip included in said second distal end of said curved base plate disposed below said slanted bearing face that extends in a generally transverse plane from said curved base plate for engaging the housing; wherein said curved base plate biases said slanted bearing face to bear against the housing to prevent disengagement of said securing lip from the housing once the bezel is mounted on the housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An exterior vehicle mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing including at least one retainer clip slot; a bezel carried on said housing; a retainer clip flange extending from said bezel generally adjacent said retainer clip slot; at least one retainer clip carried by said retainer clip flange having a slanted bearing face engaging said housing adjacent said retainer clip slots, and a securing lip disposed below said slanted bearing face that extends into said retainer clip slot to secure said bezel to said housing; wherein said slanted bearing face bears against said housing to prevent flexing of said retainer clip from disengaging said securing lip from said retainer clip slot when a force is applied to attempt removal of said bezel from said housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification