Alignment and retention system for laterally slideably engageable mating components

An elastically averaged alignment system, comprising:

• a first component comprising at least one first alignment feature fixedly disposed with respect to the first component, and at least one second alignment feature fixedly disposed with respect to the first component;
• a second component comprising at least one first elastically deformable alignment element fixedly disposed with respect to the second component, and at least one second elastically deformable alignment element fixedly disposed with respect to the second component;
• wherein the first and second components are laterally slidably engageable with each other;
• wherein the first elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the first alignment feature;
• wherein the second elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the second alignment feature;
• wherein portions of the first and second elastically deformable alignment elements when engaged with respective ones of the first and second alignment features elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the first component relative to the second component in six orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the portions of the first and second elastically deformable alignment elements;
• wherein the first elastically deformable alignment element comprises a curved projection having a curved cross section that extends from of a first side of a third wall;
• and
• wherein the second elastically deformable alignment element comprises a distal projection that extends from a second side of the third wall at a distal end of the third wall, the second side of the third wall facing away from the first side of the third wall.