Mounting arrangement for vehicle door handle

A handle assembly adapted for mounting on a vehicle panel aperture, said handle assembly comprising:

• a handle housing having a central body portion formed with a terminal flange presenting a backside thereof, the panel having an aperture formed with a flanged border, said housing adapted for mounting within the panel aperture with said flange backside adapted to seat on the panel flanged border;
• fastener means on said housing adapted for securing an upper portion of said housing terminal flange on the panel aperture flanged border;
• said housing body portion having central clip support means projecting inboard therefrom adapted to guide a retaining clip thereon between a first pre-installed position, a second installation induced elevated position and a third gravity induced installed position;
• said clip having a generally L-shaped configuration in vertical section comprising an upstanding head panel and a base panel extending outboard toward a lower portion of said terminal flange, screw fastener means cooperating with said housing support means having an initial clip setting attaching said clip on said housing in said first position;
• said housing, upon being partially inserted in the panel aperture, establishing an installation pivot with the panel enabling said housing to be rocked about the pivot along a predetermined swingline whereby said backside of said housing terminal flange is seated on said flanged border;
• cam means on said clip base panel adapted to slidably contact a lower free edge of the panel aperture flanged border during insertion of said housing therein causing said clip to be raised in a predetermined manner whereby tab means on said clip base panel clear the aperture lower edge;
• said cam means being configured such that just prior to said housing terminal flange backside being seated on the aperture flanged border said cam means being disengaged therefrom permitting said clip tab means to clear the aperture lower edge during installation;
• ramp means on said housing operative to move said clip inboard as said clip is being raised such that, upon the gravity induced travel .of said clip to its third position, said tab means are located juxtaposed interior surface portions of said flanged border;
• whereby upon said first mentioned fastener means being secured and said screw fastener means being tightened to a final setting resulting in said tab means being clamped against said flanged border interior surface releasably locking said handle assembly in the panel aperture.