Patent ID: 7448822

Claim:
A retaining component coupling a first element to a second element, wherein the second element has a first opening and a second opening spaced apart from one another, the retaining component comprising: a main body including a base portion; said main body including a pair of flexible flanges extending from said base portion and comprising opposing inner walls defining a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of said main body therebetween; said base portion including: a generally planar surface including at least one engaging tab projecting therefrom opposite said channel for engaging within said first opening in said second element, and a flexible portion formed from a pair of longitudinally extending slits in said generally planar surface at an end of said channel longitudinally spaced from said engaging tab, said flexible portion having a locking tab adapted to flex inwardly into said channel to enable said engaging tab to engage within said first opening, and then allow said locking tab to snappingly engage within said second opening in said second element as said main body is slid longitudinally along said second element; wherein outer walls of said flexible flanges flex inwardly toward each other to enable a portion of said first element to be secured on an outer surface of said main body along said longitudinal axis thereto; and wherein said flexible portion, said locking tab and said engaging tab are all formed to extend in alignment with said longitudinal axis.