Patent ID: 7045189

Claim:
A molding for closing a roof ditch recess extending along joined edges of a pair of vehicle body panels, the roof ditch recess having opposed side walls divergently extending from an opening between outer surfaces of the panels, comprising: a head portion extending in a first plane and having a width sufficient to close the opening when the molding is installed in the roof ditch recess; a stem portion extending in a second plane at an angle relative to said first plane and having a width enabling said stem portion to pass through the opening, said head portion being attached at a first longitudinal edge of said stem portion, said stem portion being formed of a first predetermined hardness first plastic material; at least a first leg member formed of a second predetermined hardness second plastic material softer than said first plastic material and extending outwardly from a side of said stem portion for frictional engagement with a side wall of the roof ditch recess, said at least a first leg member being hollow having first and second spaced apart wall sections connected together at one end and attached to said stem portion at an opposite end; and a living hinge formed in said at least a first leg member whereby when said stem portion is inserted into the roof ditch recess through the opening, said living hinge bends to permit said at least a first leg member to deflect toward said stem portion to pass through the opening and spring away from said stem portion when clear of the opening to frictionally engage the side wall of the roof ditch recess to retain the molding in the roof ditch recess; wherein said second wall section has a textured outer surface for frictionally engaging the side wall of the roof ditch recess.