Low insertion effort u-base retainer

A U-shaped fastener adapted to be removably mounted within a mounting aperture of a panel comprising:

• a body defining a pair of side members coupled by a curved end member, at least one of said pair of side members comprising a first and second pair of finger members configured to slidably accept a coupling flange;
• and
• a pair of abutting flanges defining an exterior concave surface and an exterior convex surface adjacent the concave surface, the concave and convex surfaces extending a width of each said abutting flange and configured to engage an inner surface of the mounting aperture when the fastener is inserted into the mounting aperture, said convex portion extending into an opening in at least one said two opposing top flanges;
• wherein said body defines a centerline and said first pairs of finger members cross the centerline and define a surface oriented at an angle between about 15° and 25° of said centerline.

A fastener for removably mounting a coupling flange in a panel aperture, the fastener comprising:

• a base portion;
• two opposing side walls integrally connected to said base portion and forming a substantially U-shaped body, each said side wall having an outwardly extending top flange member;
• a pair of elastic abutting flanges integrally formed with and outwardly extending from said base portion and into an aperture in each said top flange member;
• a first pair of spaced apart finger members integrally formed with each said top flange member;
• and
• a second pair of spaced apart finger members integrally formed with each said side wall, and wherein the base portion and opposed sidewalls define a centerline and wherein said finger members cross said centerline, and
• wherein said pairs of finger members inwardly extend into said body of the fastener and are configured to grippingly engage the coupling flange.