Automatic adjustable lock knob bezel

A self-adjustable lock knob bezel assembly, comprising:

• a body of a polymeric material, the body including:
• an elastically flexible umbrella having a cylindrical bore extending through the umbrella;
• multiple dynamic interface members positioned within the cylindrical bore and extending away from an inner perimeter wall defined by the cylindrical bore toward a longitudinal central axis of the body;
• multiple flexible finger sets extending outwardly from the body;
• and
• multiple elastically deflecting legs positioned below the finger sets;
• a vehicle door panel having an aperture receiving the body;
• and
• a lock knob positioned within the cylindrical bore and directly contacting each of the dynamic interface members in each of a raised un-locked position and a lowered locked position,
• wherein each of the flexible finger sets includes multiple upwardly directed elastically flexible fingers each directly contacting an inner wall defined by the aperture to resist release of the body from the aperture and the inner wall is downwardly extended by an extending portion positioned below a surface of the vehicle door panel to increase a surface area for contact by each of the flexible fingers.

A method for aligning a lock knob using a self-adjustable lock knob bezel assembly, comprising:

• aligning multiple legs of a self-adjustable lock knob bezel with an aperture created in a vehicle door panel and inserting the lock knob bezel into the aperture to elastically inwardly deflect the legs;
• continuing to insert the lock knob bezel into the aperture until multiple flexible finger sets extending outwardly from a lock knob bezel body elastically deflect and directly contact in inner wall defined by the aperture;
• completing insertion of the lock knob bezel by seating an elastically flexible umbrella of the lock knob bezel against a surface of the vehicle door panel and inserting the lock knob bezel until an inflection point of each of the legs extends past an end surface of an extending portion of the aperture thereafter allowing the legs to outwardly deflect to contact the end surface;
• and
• positioning a lock knob within a cylindrical bore of the umbrella with the lock knob directly contacting each of multiple dynamic interface members extending into the cylindrical bore from an inner perimeter wall defined by the cylindrical bore.