Patent ID: 7828372

Claim:
A vehicle cladding mounting arrangement, comprising: a plastic body cladding having a main panel portion and an integrally molded cladding clip structure extending from said main panel portion; a plastic support bracket having a body portion for overlaying said main panel portion of said body cladding and an integrally formed bracket clip structure extending from said body portion; and a vehicle body defining a mounting aperture that receives said integrally molded bracket clip structure therein and further receives said integrally formed cladding clip structure therein for securing said body cladding to said vehicle body, wherein said support bracket defines a receiving cavity that extends through said body portion and into said bracket clip structure, said cladding clip structure received in said receiving cavity when said cladding clip structure is received in said mounting aperture of said vehicle body; wherein said bracket clip structure includes an aperture having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said receiving cavity wherein said aperture connects to said receiving cavity to allow forced removal of said cladding clip structure from said receiving cavity, said aperture being aligned with said cladding clip structure to allow an associated removal tool to be inserted through said aperture to apply a removal force directly on said cladding clip structure received in said receiving cavity and force said cladding clip structure out of said receiving cavity; wherein said bracket clip structure includes a cylindrical sleeve portion extending from said body portion and at least partially defining said receiving cavity; and an annular grommet radially disposed between said cylindrical sleeve portion and said vehicle body defining said mounting aperture to seal therebetween, wherein said body portion of said support bracket includes an annular recess formed in an interior surface surrounding said cylindrical sleeve portion and receiving said grommet such than the interior surface of said body portion contacts an exterior surface of said vehicle body.