Serviceable aligning and self-retaining elastic arrangement for mated components and method

An elastic retaining assembly for instrument panel trim assembly of a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

• a first trim component having a tubular protrusion extending therefrom, the tubular protrusion having a retaining rib circumferentially extending about an outer surface of the tubular protrusion;
• a second trim component having a first elastically deformable beam and a second elastically deformable beam;
• and
• an aperture defined by the first and second elastically deformable beams, the aperture configured to receive the tubular protrusion, wherein at least one of the first and second elastically deformable beams is elastically deformed in an engaged condition of the tubular protrusion with the first and second elastically deformable beams.

A method of retaining mated components of an instrument panel trim assembly, the method comprising:

• inserting a tubular protrusion extending from a first trim component into an aperture of a second component, the aperture defined by a first elastically deformable beam and a second elastically deformable beam;
• engaging the tubular protrusion with the first and second elastically deformable beam upon insertion of the tubular protrusion into the aperture;
• and
• elastically deforming at least one of the first and second elastically deformable beams upon insertion of the tubular protrusion to a fully engaged condition.