Patent ID: 7614755

Claim:
An exterior vehicle mirror assembly comprising: a housing defined by a cover with a generally annular rim extending from said cover and a plurality of retainer clip slots spaced throughout said rim; a bezel having a generally complementary annular shape to said rim and including a rim receiving groove for receiving said rim to seat said bezel on said housing; a retainer clip flange extending from said bezel generally adjacent said rim on an interior side of said housing when said bezel is seated on said rim for securing said bezel to said housing; a plurality of retainer clips carried by said retainer clip flange; said retainer clips each including a curved base plate having a first distal end adapted for attachment to said retainer clip flange, and a second distal end adapted for releasably engaging said retainer clip slots; said second distal end of said retainer clips including a slanted bearing face for biasing against an interior side of said rim adjacent said retainer clip slots, and a securing lip disposed below said slanted bearing face that extends in a generally transverse plane from said curved base plate which is adapted for insertion into said retainer clip slots; wherein said curved base plate biases said second distal end against said rim to insert said securing lip into said retainer clip slots when said bezel is seated on said rim and wherein attempted withdrawal of said bezel from said rim directs said slanted bearing face against said interior side of said rim to resist said securing lip from sliding out of said retainer clip slot to prevent removal of said bezel from said housing.