Patent ID: 8616558

Claim:
An overlay component for mounting to an elongated vehicle structure after assembly of the vehicle structure onto a vehicle such that it has no open accessible end, wherein the vehicle structure is subject to environmental conditions during or after assembly to the vehicle that would destroy the overlay component so that the overlay component cannot be mounted to the vehicle structure prior to its assemble onto the vehicle, the overlay component comprising: a first body section; and a second body section; wherein the first body section is comprised of a resilient material and has a first structure receiving portion and a first interlocking portion, wherein the first structure receiving portion is shaped to contain at least a portion of the elongated vehicle structure, wherein the first interlocking portion has a first projection extending along a first axis and a first receptacle extending along a second axis, wherein the first projection has a first cross-sectional profile perpendicular with the first axis which is greater at a distal end toward the second body section than at a proximal end, wherein the first receptacle has a second cross-sectional profile perpendicular with the second axis which is lesser at a distal end toward the second body section than at a proximal end, and wherein the first projection has a fifth cross-sectional profile parallel to the first axis that increases from one longitudinal side of the first projection to the other longitudinal side; wherein the second body section is comprised of a resilient material and has a second interlocking portion, the second interlocking portion having a second projection extending along the second axis and a second receptacle extending along the first axis, wherein the second projection has a third cross-sectional profile perpendicular with the second axis which is complementary with the second cross-sectional profile of the first receptacle, wherein the second receptacle has a fourth cross-sectional profile perpendicular with the first axis which is complementary with the first cross-sectional profile of the first projection, and wherein the second receptacle is complementary with the fifth cross-sectional profile; and wherein the first and second projections resiliently deform for insertion into the second and first receptacles, respectively, thereby closing the first structure receiving portion in a manner adapted to retain the overlay component on the elongated vehicle structure without adhesives or fasteners.