Patent ID: 7198424

Claim:
A connecting element with a substantially U-shaped cross-section, comprising a U shape having two opposite lateral legs with free ends and a connecting region connecting said free ends with one another, said connecting region being formed to be inserted into an undercut groove of a first part to be connected by the connecting element, the U shape further having at least one first engaging element provided and formed to releasably engage an associated edge of said undercut groove, the U shape having at least one second engaging element located near one of said free ends and provided and formed to releasably laterally engage in an associated recess of a second part to be connected by the connecting element, wherein said at least one second engaging element protrudes from an associated one of said free ends of the U shape in a direction away from the other of said free ends of the U shape, wherein said at least one first engaging element has a plurality of engaging tongs, which outwardly protrude from the U shape in a direction facing toward said free ends of the U shape, so that said two pluralities of engaging tongs are located at opposite sides of the U-shape, and each plurality of engaging tongs being associated with only one respective edge of the undercut groove of said first part for a barb-like engagement therewith, wherein at least two of said engaging tongs of each of said two pluralities of engaging tongs at each side of the U-shape have different lengths to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the undercut groove of the first part to be connected.