Abstract:
A trim attachment structure includes a door frame, trim and a clip. The door frame has an attachment part, which is formed by a single plate, and a fitting hole. The fitting hole has a square shape in which the diagonals thereof are aligned with specific directions. The trim has a pair of ribs which extend towards the inner side in the width direction of the vehicle, respectively facing a pair of end parts of the fitting hole. The clip is installed in the fitting hole. The clip includes a head part, a tube part and a latching hook. The tube part has a tip end part which projects from the fitting hole to the outer side of the attachment part in the width direction of the vehicle. Angled parts of the tip end part are held between the ribs. The latching hook is latched at the peripheral edge of the fitting hole on the outer side of the attachment part in the width direction of the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a garnish coupling structure that couples a garnish, which covers a door frame forming a window sash of a vehicle door, to the door frame. 
         [0002]    Published Japanese application No. 2004-338522 discloses one example of a garnish coupling structure.  FIG. 5  is a side view showing an upper portion of a vehicle door, to which such a garnish coupling structure of the prior art is applied, from an outer side of the vehicle in a widthwise direction.  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0003]      FIG. 5  shows a door frame  91 , which forms a window sash of a vehicle door. The door frame  91  includes a frame portion  92 , which is located toward the rear of the vehicle. A garnish  93  covers the frame portion  92  from the outer side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. 
         [0004]    The frame portion  92  is formed, for example, by roll-molding a metal plate that has a generally uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the frame portion  92  includes a plate-shaped coupling portion  92   a,  which forms the rear edge of the frame portion  92 , and a fitting hole  92   b,  which extends through the coupling portion  92   a  in the thickness-wise direction (the vertical direction of  FIG. 6 ). The garnish  93  includes a rib  93   a,  which extends toward the coupling portion  92   a  so as to be fitted into the fitting hole  92   b.  The rib  93   a  is fitted to the fitting hole  92   b  to couple the garnish  93  to the frame portion  92 . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The fitting hole  92   b,  into which the rib  93   a  of the garnish  93  is fitted, is formed in the plate-shaped coupling portion  92   a . Thus, rust and the like formed in a region near the coupling location (rib  93   a  and the like) are exposed to the inner side of the vehicle in the widthwise direction (inner side of vehicle door). This adversely affects the aesthetic appearance. To prevent the aesthetic appeal from being deteriorated, a clip  94  may be attached to the rib  93   a  to cover the rib  93   a  and the surrounding of the rib  93   a.  However, the rib  93   a  is projected out of the fitting hole  92   b  toward the inner side of the vehicle in the widthwise direction by a sufficient projection amount so that the rib  93   a  does not separate from the fitting hole  92   b.  Accordingly, when the clip  94  is overlapped with the rib  93   a  from the inner side of the vehicle in the widthwise direction, a large layout space would be required in the longitudinal direction of the rib  93   a.  This would result in the clip  94  and an opposing portion  95  (side member) of the vehicle body being spaced by a distance W 1  that is null or subtle. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a garnish coupling structure that improves the aesthetic appearance while increasing the layout space. 
         [0007]    To solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention provides a coupling structure including a door frame, a garnish, and a clip. The door frame is adapted to form a window sash of a vehicle door. The door frame includes a coupling portion and a fitting hole. The coupling portion is formed by a single plate. The fitting hole extends through the coupling portion in a thickness-wise direction of the coupling portion. The fitting hole has a square shape and includes a diagonal extending in a predetermined direction. The garnish faces toward the coupling portion of the door frame and covers the door frame from an outer side in a widthwise direction of the vehicle. The garnish includes two ribs. The two ribs extend inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle and respectively face two ends of the fitting hole that lie along the diagonal. The two ribs are arranged parallel to each other and separated by a distance in the predetermined direction. The clip is attached to the fitting hole. The clip includes a head, a tube, which has a square cross-section, and an engagement hook. The head is bonded to a rim of the fitting hole at an inner side of the coupling portion in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. The tube projects from the head and is fitted into the fitting hole. The engagement hook is arranged on a side surface of the tube. The tube includes a distal portion projecting through the fitting hole and outward from the coupling portion in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. The two ribs hold two corners of the distal portion lying along the predetermined direction. The engagement hook is engaged with the rim of the fitting hole at the outer side of the coupling portion in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. 
         [0008]    In this structure, the clip is engaged with the rim of the fitting hole at the outer side of the vehicle. This prevents separation of the clip from the fitting hole (coupling portion). The two ribs hold the two corners in the predetermined direction of the distal portion of the tube that project outward of the vehicle from the fitting hole to couple the garnish to the door frame with the clip. In this case, the head, which is bonded to the rim of the fitting hole toward the inner side of the vehicle, covers the fitting hole. Thus, the fitting hole and rust formed around the fitting hole are not exposed inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle (inner side of the vehicle door  1 ). This improves the aesthetic appeal. Further, the head is bonded to the rim of the fitting hole in the coupling portion at the inner side of the vehicle. Thus, the projection length of the clip from the coupling portion inward in the vehicle is within the thickness range of the head. This prevents the layout space from being increased at the inner side of the vehicle. Further, the two ribs hold the two corners of the tube lying in the predetermined direction and are arranged so that the distance between the two is longest. Accordingly, the engagement hooks are arranged in the space formed between the two ribs and tube. Even when, for example, the engagement hooks are arranged on only some of the four side surfaces of the tube, interference between the engagement hooks and the two ribs does not occur as long as the tube is located at any one of angular positions located every 90 at which the tube can be fitted to the fitting hole. Accordingly, restrictions are reduced on the angular position of the tube (clip). This improves the coupling efficiency. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1(   a ) is a cross-sectional showing a garnish coupling structure according to one embodiment of the present invention taken along line  1   a - 1   a  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1(   b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  1   b - 1   b  in  FIG. 1(   a ); 
           [0011]      FIG. 2(   a ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2   a - 2   a  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2(   b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2   b - 2   b  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2(   c ) is a perspective view showing a portion to which a clip is attached and which is arranged on an inner surface of a garnish; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a clip of the present embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view showing an upper portion of a vehicle door in the present embodiment from an upper side of the vehicle in a widthwise direction; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a garnish coupling structure of the prior art; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a garnish coupling structure of the prior art; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a further example of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a further example of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure of  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a clip used in the coupling structure of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view showing a garnish coupling structure according to one embodiment of the present invention applied to an upper portion of a vehicle door from an outer side of a vehicle in a widthwise direction. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a vehicle door  1  includes a lower portion formed by a door body  2 . The door body  2  is a hollow structural body obtained by joining an outer door panel, which forms an outer door plate, and an inner door panel (not shown), which forms an inner door plate. A door window glass DW, which moves into and out of an upper opening in the door body  2 , is arranged in the door body  2 . 
         [0024]    The vehicle door  1  includes a door frame  5 , which is arranged on a top portion of the door body  2 . The door frame  5  forms a window sash, that is, a sash that holds the rim of the door window glass DW. The door frame  5  is molded to be tetragonal and is open in a downward direction. The door frame  5  includes a front frame portion  5   a  and rear frame portion  5   b,  which extend in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and an upper frame portion  5   c,  which is, for example, welded and fixed to the top ends of the front frame portion  5   a  and rear frame portion  5   b  to extend between the top ends of the front frame portion  5   a  and rear frame portion  5   b.  The front frame portion  5   a  includes a bottom portion fixed to a front top portion of the door body  2  (e.g., inner door panel). The rear frame portion  5   b  includes a bottom portion fixed to a rear top portion of the door body  2  (e.g., inner door panel). The front frame portion  5   a,  the rear frame portion  5   b,  and the upper frame portion  5   c  are formed, for example, by roll-molding a metal plate and have a generally uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0025]    The vehicle door  1  of the present embodiment is a rear door arranged rearward in the vehicle from a front door. The front frame portion  5   a  and the rear frame portion  5   b  are arranged in correspondence with a B pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle body. A garnish  6 , which is formed by a synthetic resin plate that covers the front frame portion  5   a  from the outer side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, is attached to the front frame portion  5   a.  Further, a garnish  7 , which is formed by a synthetic resin plate that covers the rear frame portion  5   b  from the outer side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle (vehicle outer side), is attached to the rear frame portion  5   b.    
         [0026]      FIG. 1(   a ) is a cross-sectional taken along line  1   a - 1   a  in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 1(   b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  1   b - 1   b  in  FIG. 1(   a ).  FIG. 2(   a ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2   a - 2   a  in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 2(   b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2   b - 2   b  in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 2(   c ) is a perspective view showing the garnish  7  from an inner side of the vehicle in the widthwise direction (rear side). 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), the rear frame portion  5   b  includes a coupling portion  11 , which faces toward the garnish  7 . The coupling portion  11  is a single metal plate free from folded and overlapping parts. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a fitting hole  12  and bonding hole  13  extend through the coupling portion  11  in the thickness-wise direction. The fitting hole  12  is formed in a lower part of the rear frame portion  5   b  (coupling portion  11 ). The fitting hole  12  has a square cross-section, with one of its two diagonals extending in the forward/rearward direction (predetermined direction) of the vehicle. The bonding hole  13  is formed in an upper part of the rear frame portion  5   b  (coupling portion  11 ). 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), the garnish  7  includes two ribs  21 , which are plate-shaped and extend inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle (vehicle inner side). The ribs  21  are separated from each other by a distance corresponding to the width of the fitting hole  12  in the forward/rearward direction (predetermined direction) of the vehicle. The ribs  21  face toward the front and rear ends of the fitting hole  12  in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle (two peaks of the square fitting hole  12 ). 
         [0029]    A clip  30  is attached to the fitting hole  12 . The clip  30  is formed from, for example, synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS.  1 ( b ) and  3 , the clip  20  includes a disk-shaped head  31  and a tube  32 , which has a square cross-section. The tube  32  extends from the head  31  and is fitted to the fitting hole  12 . The head  31  is bonded to the coupling portion  11  near the fitting hole  12 . An annular seal SE is arranged around the fitting hole  12  so that the gap between the head  31  and the coupling portion  11  is liquid tight. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), the tube  32  includes four round corners R. Specifically, the corners R extend along a circumferential surface R that lies along the axis O of the tube  32 . The tube  32  of the clip  30  attached to the fitting hole  12  may be displaced relatively about the axis O from its angular position relative to the two ribs  21  of the garnish  7 . Even in such a case, as long as the displaced amount is within a certain range (specifically, within a range of a center angle of an arc forming the circumferential surface R), the dimension between the two corners of the tube  32  lying in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle remain the same. 
         [0031]    Further, in the clip  30 , two engagement hooks  33  are respectively formed on two of the four side surfaces of the tube  32  (the upper left surface and lower right surface in  FIG. 1(   b )). As shown in  FIG. 3 , each engagement hook  33  extends from a basal end to a distal end of the tube  32  in a hole formed in the side surface of the tube  32 . A projection projects outward of the tube  32  from the distal portion of each engagement hook  33 . Each engagement hook  33  is resiliently deformable about its basal end, which is connected to the tube  32 . When the tube  32  is inserted into the fitting hole  12 , the projections of the engagement hooks  33  are pressed by the inner walls of the fitting hole  12 . This resiliently deforms the engagement hooks  33  as the tube  32  advances in the fitting hole  12 . As the projections of the engagement hooks  33  pass by the fitting hole  12 , the engagement hooks  33  resiliently return to their original forms and engage with the coupling portion  11  around the fitting hole  12 . This prevents separation of the clip  30  from the fitting hole  12  (coupling portion  11 ). That is, the engagement force of the engagement hooks  33  fastens the clip to the fitting hole  12 . Further, the seal SE, which is held between the head  31  and the coupling portion  11 , is compressed thereby obtaining a sealing capability. 
         [0032]    The two ribs  21  of the garnish  7  hold the distal portion of the tube  32 , which projects outward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle from the fitting hole  12 , in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle. As shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), the ribs  21  hold the tube  32  at two of its corners. This attaches the lower portion of the garnish  7  to the rear frame portion  5   b  (lower part of the coupling portion  11 ). 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 2(   a ) to  2 ( c ), the garnish  7  includes two plate-shaped side walls  22 , which extend inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and a support wall  23 , which connects the distal ends of the two side walls  22 . The support wall  23  is formed at a position facing toward the bonding hole  13 . The support wall  23  includes a mushroom-shaped engagement groove  24 , which opens toward the lower side. The support wall  23  includes two extension pieces  23   a,  which extend diagonally upward toward each other from the lower end of the support wall  23 . The engagement groove  24  includes a guide hole  24   a,  which gradually narrows upward between the two extension pieces  23   a.    
         [0034]    The garnish  7  further includes two engagement walls  25 , which extend inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle from the support wall  23  continuously with and along the side walls  22 . Two engagement projections  26  extend inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle from the two sides of the engagement groove (guide hole  24   a ). As shown in  FIG. 2(   b ), the engagement projections  26  respectively include guide surfaces  26   a,  which are inclined upward away from the garnish  7  (inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle). The support wall  23 , the two engagement walls  25 , and the two engagement projections  26  form a tetragonal fitting recess  27 , which opens upward. 
         [0035]    A bonding clip  40  is attached to the engagement groove  24 . The bonding clip  40  is formed from, for example, synthetic resin. The bonding clip  40  includes a first head  41 , which is arranged at the outer side of the support wall  23  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and a second head  42 , which is arranged at the inner side of the support wall  23  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. The first and second heads  41  and  42  hold the support wall  23  around the engagement groove  24 . The second head  42  is tetragonal thereby allowing for fitting in the fitting recess  27 . 
         [0036]    A neck  43 , which is inserted into the engagement groove  24 , connects the first and second heads  41  and  42 . The neck  43  has an outer diameter that is smaller than the open width of the lower end of the guide hole  24   a  and larger than the open width of the upper end of the guide hole  24   a.  Accordingly, when the neck  43  is inserted into the engagement groove  24  from the guide hole  24   a,  the neck  43  pushes and resiliently deforms the two extension pieces  23   a.  As a result, the neck  43  moves into the upper portion of the engagement groove  24 . Then, the two extension pieces  23   a,  which are released from the force applied by the neck  43 , are resiliently returned to their original forms. At the same time, the second head  42 , which is guided by the guide surfaces  26   a  of the two engagement projection  26 , moves over the engagement projections  26  and enters the fitting recess  27  thereby engaging the two engagement walls  25  and two engagement projections  26 . This prevents separation of the neck  43  from the engagement groove  24  with the two extension pieces  23   a . Further, the bonding clip  40  is attached to the engagement groove  24  in a state in which the fitting recess  27  prevents separation and rotation of the second head  42 . 
         [0037]    Further, the bonding clip  40  includes an umbrella-shaped separation prevention portion  44 , which extends from the second head  42  opposite to the first head  41 . The separation prevention portion  44  is inserted through the bonding hole  13  to project inward from the coupling portion  11  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle and engage with the coupling portion  11  around the bonding hole  13 . This couples the upper part of the garnish  7  to the rear frame portion  5   b  (upper part of the coupling portion  11 ) with the bonding clip  40 . 
         [0038]    A method for coupling the garnish  7  to the rear frame portion  5   b  will now be described. Before coupling the garnish  7  to the rear frame portion  5   b,  the clip  30  is attached to the fitting hole  12  of the rear frame portion  5   b  (coupling portion  11 ), and the bonding clip  40  is attached to the engagement groove  24  of the garnish  7 . In this state, the separation prevention portion  44  of the bonding clip  40  is aligned with the bonding hole  13  to position the garnish  7  relative to the rear frame portion  5   b  in the vertical direction and forward/rearward direction of the vehicle. Further, the two ribs  21  are aligned with the tube  32  of the clip  30  to position the garnish  7  relative to the rear frame portion  5   b  in the forward/rearward direction of the garnish  7 . 
         [0039]    Then, the garnish  7  is pushed toward the rear frame portion  5   b  inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. This deforms and inserts the separation prevention portion  44  of the bonding clip  40  into the bonding hole  13 . Subsequently, as the separation prevention portion  44  resiliently returns to its original form, the separation prevention portion  44  is engaged with the coupling portion  11  and prevented from being separated from the bonding hole  13  (coupling portion  11 ) at the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. The two ribs  21  of the garnish  7  hold the distal portion of the tube  32  that projects from the fitting hole  12  outward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. In this manner, the garnish  7  is supported and fixed to the rear frame portion  5   b.    
         [0040]    The present embodiment has the advantages described below. 
         [0041]    (1) In the present embodiment, the engagement hooks  33  are engaged with the rim of the fitting hole  12  to prevent separation from the fitting hole  12  (coupling portion  11 ). The garnish  7  holds the distal portion of the tube  32 , which projects outward from the fitting hole  12  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, with the two ribs  21 . In this manner, the clip  30  couples the garnish  7  to the rear frame portion  5   b.  In this case, the head  31  covers the fitting hole  12 . Thus, the fitting hole  12  and rust formed around the fitting hole  12  are not exposed inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle (inner side of the vehicle door  1 ). This improves the aesthetic appeal. 
         [0042]    Further, the head  31  is bonded to the rim of the fitting hole  12  at the inner side of the coupling portion  11  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. Thus, the projection length of the clip from the coupling portion  11  inward in the widthwise direction of the vehicle is within the thickness range of the head  31 . This prevents the layout space for the clip  30  from being increased at the inner side of the coupling portion in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. In other words, the portion of the tube  32  that may be held by the two ribs  21  is located outward from the coupling portion  11  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. This saves space at the inner side of the coupling portion  11  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. 
         [0043]    The two ribs  21  hold the two corners of the tube  32  lying in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle. Thus, the ribs  21  are arranged so that the distance between the two is longest. Accordingly, the engagement hooks  33  are arranged in the space formed between the two ribs  21  and tube  32 . Even when the engagement hooks  33  are arranged on only some of the four side surfaces of the tube  32  (two side surfaces facing toward each other), interference does not occur between the engagement hooks  33  and the two ribs  21  as long as the tube  32  is located at any one of angular positions located every 90 degrees about the axis O of the tube  32  at which the tube  32  can be fitted to the fitting hole  12 . Accordingly, restrictions are reduced on the angular position of the tube  32  (clip  30 ). This improves the coupling efficiency. 
         [0044]    (2) In the present embodiment, the four corners of the tube  32  lie along the circumferential surface R, which is a circle of which the center coincides with the axis O of the tube  32 . Accordingly, even when the tube  32  of the clip  30  is displaced from its original angular position relative to the two ribs  21  of the garnish  7  due to, for example, product variations or coupling variations, as long as the displacement amount is within a certain range, the dimension between the two corners of the tube  32  lying along the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle remains the same. This prevents a decrease in the holding force of the tube  32  with the two ribs  21 , that is, the fastening force of the rear frame portion  5   b  (door frame  5 ) and the garnish  7  produced by the clip  30 . 
         [0045]    (3) In the present embodiment, the separation prevention portion  44  of the bonding clip  40 , which is attached to the engagement groove  24  (support wall  23 ), is engaged with the rim of the bonding hole  13  at the inner side of the coupling portion  11  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. This couples the garnish  7  to the coupling portion  11  (door frame  5 ) positioned in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle in addition to a different direction (the vertical direction of the vehicle). Here, the second head  42  is fitted to the two engagement walls  25  and the two engagement projections to prevent rotation of the bonding clip  40 . Further, the engagement projections  26  are arranged at the lower end of the support wall  23  that is located at the open side of the engagement groove  24 . This prevents the bonding clip  40  from falling down from the engagement groove  24 . 
         [0046]    (4) In the present embodiment, the second head  42  is guided along the guide surfaces  26   a  of the two engagement projections  26 . This smoothly moves the second head  42  toward the fitting recess  27 , and smoothly attaches the bonding clip  40  to the engagement groove  24 . 
         [0047]    (5) In the present embodiment, the two extension pieces  23   a  restrict downward movement of the neck  43 . This further ensures that the bonding clip  40  is prevented from falling down from the engagement groove  24 . 
         [0048]    (6) In the present embodiment, the seal SE is arranged between the coupling portion  11  and the head  31  of the clip  30 . This prevents rusting of the fitting hole  12  and the like. 
         [0049]    The above embodiment may be modified as described below. 
         [0050]    An engagement piece  51  such as that shown in  FIG. 7  may be arranged in the clip  30 . The engagement piece  51  extends from the distal end to the basal end of the tube  32  in a hole formed in the side wall of the tube  32 . Further, the engagement piece  51  is resiliently deformable about its basal end, which is connected to a distal portion of the tube  32 . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , a clip  60  formed from, for example, synthetic resin, may be fitted to an oblong fitting hole H formed in the coupling portion  11 . More specifically, the clip  60  includes an oblong head  61  and a tube  62 , which has an oblong cross-section. The head  61  is bonded to the rim of the fitting hole H at the inner side of the coupling portion  11  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. The tube  62  projects from the head  61  and is shaped in conformance with the fitting hole H. Two engagement hooks  63  are respectively formed on two side surfaces of the tube  62 . Each engagement hook  63  has substantially the same structure as the engagement hook  51  shown in  FIG. 7 . The engagement hooks  63  are engaged with the rim of the fitting hole H at the outer side of the coupling portion  11  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. This prevents the clip  60  from falling out of the fitting hole H (coupling portion  11 ). 
         [0052]    Further, the garnish  7  includes a plate-shaped boss  66 , which is press-fitted to the tube  62 . The boss  66  is held between opposing walls in the lateral direction of the tube  62 , which has an oblong cross-section. In this case, the boss  66  is press-fitted into the tube  62 . This couples the lower part of the garnish  7  to the rear frame portion  5   b  (lower part of the coupling portion  11 ) with the clip  60 . In particular, the tube  62  of the clip  60  and the fitting hole H are each oblong. This absorbs thermal contraction of the garnish  7 . 
         [0053]    The engagement hook  33  of the clip  30  need only be arranged on one or more of the four side surfaces of the tube  32 . 
         [0054]    In  FIG. 1(   b ), the two corners of the tube  32  lying along the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle are held between the two ribs  21  spaced apart in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle. However, the orientation and location of the fitting hole  12 , into which the tube  32  is fitted, and the ribs  21  may be changed so that the two corners arranged along the vertical direction of the vehicle are held by, for example, two ribs spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle. 
         [0055]    The present invention may be applied between the front frame portion  5   a  and the garnish  6 . Further, the present invention maybe applied to, for example a front door that serves as a vehicle door.