Patent ID: 7698788

Claim:
A fastening clip for use within a vehicle comprising: a first fastener having a first arm; a second fastener having a second arm; a hinge joining the first and second arms, wherein when the hinge is in an open position, the first arm extends in one direction from the hinge and the second arm extends in an opposite direction from the hinge, and wherein when the hinge is in a substantially closed position, the first and second arms are positioned one over the other so that both extend in the same direction from the hinge; and at least one flexible tether having a first end attached to the first fastener and a second end attachable to the second fastener, wherein when the hinge is in the substantially closed position, the at least one flexible tether is in a non-stretched condition defining a first length between the first end and the second end, and wherein when the hinge is caused to move from the substantially closed position to a generally open position, the at least one flexible tether is in an elongated stretched condition defining a second length between the first end and the second end such that the second length is greater than the first length, and wherein the tether is configured to spring back from the generally open position to pull the first fastener and the second fastener towards each other.