Roof ditch molding retainer assembly

A molding retainer adapted to lockingly engage a connection stud having an enhanced diameter head within a vehicle roof ditch and to hold an elongate molding strip having a C-section support in covering relation to the vehicle roof ditch over the connection stud, the molding retainer comprising:

• a molding engagement clip of unitary, molded polymeric construction adapted to engage an underside of the molding strip in nested relation to the C-section support, each of the lateral sides including outwardly projecting molding attachment elements adapted to lockingly engage interior surfaces of the molding strip such that the C-section support extends in arched relation between opposing lateral sides, the molding engagement clip including an acceptance opening oriented for alignment with the connection stud and a pair of window slots disposed in sunken surfaces of the molding engagement clip on opposite sides of the acceptance opening, the sunken surfaces being disposed in at least partial framing relation around the window slots and being at least partially surrounded by raised walls;
• and
• a stud engagement latch of unitary, molded polymeric construction including a raised stud containment ring adapted for insertion at least partially into the acceptance opening in the molding engagement clip, the stud containment ring including a pair of opposing, circumferentially curved snap structures, projecting radially inwardly and adapted to snap behind the enhanced diameter head upon insertion of the connection stud into the stud containment ring, the stud engagement latch further including a pair of upwardly projecting snap-in latch elements disposed on opposite sides of the stud containment ring and positioned for alignment with the window slots when the stud containment ring is inserted into the acceptance opening, each of the upwardly projecting snap-in latch elements having a catch structure at an effective height to latch behind a sunken surface adjacent a corresponding window opening upon at least partial insertion of the containment ring into the acceptance opening and wherein below the catch structure, each upwardly projecting snap-in latch element has an effective outer diameter less than the effective inner diameter of the corresponding window opening such that the snap-in latch elements each float within the corresponding window openings, and wherein either the molding engagement clip or the stud engagement latch further includes a pair of flexible, integral biasing arms angled downwardly from opposing ends, the stud engagement latch and the molding engagement clip being non-integral with one another.

A method of holding an elongate molding strip having a C-section support in covering relation to a vehicle roof ditch over a connection stud having an enhanced diameter head within the vehicle roof ditch, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a molding engagement clip adapted to engage an underside of the molding strip in nested relation to the C-section support such that the C-section support extends in arched relation between opposing lateral sides of the molding engagement clip, the molding engagement clip including an arrangement of molding attachment elements adapted to lockingly engage interior surfaces of the molding strip, the molding engagement clip including an acceptance opening oriented for alignment with the connection stud and a pair of window slots disposed on opposite sides of the acceptance opening;
• providing a stud engagement latch, non-integral with the molding engagement clip, the stud engagement latch including a raised stud containment ring adapted for insertion at least partially into the acceptance opening in the molding engagement clip, the stud containment ring including a pair of opposing snap structures projecting radially inwardly and adapted to snap behind the enhanced diameter head upon insertion of the connection stud, the stud engagement latch further including a plurality of upwardly projecting snap-in latch elements positioned for alignment with the window slots when the stud containment ring is inserted into the acceptance opening, each of the upwardly projecting snap-in latch elements having a catch structure at an effective height to latch behind a surface adjacent a corresponding window opening upon at least partial insertion of the containment ring into the acceptance opening;
• inserting the upwardly projecting snap-in latch elements through corresponding window slots to establish a latched connection between the molding engagement clip and the stud engagement latch;
• inserting the molding engagement clip in nested relation to the C-section support;
• and inserting the connection stud into the raised stud containment ring between the opposing snap structures such that the opposing snap structures are disposed beneath the enhanced diameter head.