Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Anton J Bering

Julien P Mourou

Amit A Wavde

William V Hildebrandt

Keith D Alvord

Jason L Bowman

Jimmie C Wilkins

A vehicle ditch molding for insertion and retention in a recess, such as a roof ditch, formed between a first vehicle body panel and a second vehicle body panel is disclosed. The vehicle ditch molding may include a head extending outward from a ditch molding centerline and configured to cover an opening to the recess, and a stem extending from the head along the ditch molding centerline and configured to be narrower than the opening to the recess. Also, the vehicle ditch molding may include a pair of wings extending outward from the stem, with each of the wings having an upper surface facing the head and a lower surface, with each having a wing lower notch extending into the wing lower surface defining an inner living hinge extending between the respective wing lower notch and the corresponding upper surface.

Vehicle ditch molding

A molding retention clip assembly has a molded plastic base having a planar bottom surface adapted to rest upon the painted surface of the vehicle body and a keyhole slot adapted to fit over a head stud welded to the vehicle body. The headed stud retains the base on the body but permits rotation of the base. A stamped metal spring clip has a base wall overlying the plastic base and attached thereto. First and second retaining clips are integral with the base wall and positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of the keyhole slot of the plastic base. Installation of the molding into the first and second clips causes the clip assembly to rotate so that the first and second clips obtain effective grip of the molding to retain the molding on the vehicle body and the molding in turn retains the clip assembly against rotation. The spring clip is preferably attached to the plastic base by integral projections of the plastic base which extend into aligned apertures of the spring clip base wall for heat staked attachment.

Molding retention clip assembly

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Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

Anton J Bering