Device for mounting an element on a support

Claim 1

A device for mounting an element on a support, which comprises the support having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface having a cavity accomodating therein the element in a manner such that the outer surface of the element substantially forms a continuation of the outer surface of the part of the support surrounding the cavity, the element including clips connected integrally with the element And adaptable to be inserted from the outside of the outer surface of the support into clip receiving means on the support, said clip receiving means being accessible only from the inner surface of the support, the clips being provided with projections for locking the element on the support an innermost portion of the element being spaced from the corresponding innermost portion of the cavity by a resilient member capable of flexing by an amount which permits the element to move until the innermost portion thereof and the innermost portion of the cavity are substantially in positive locking contact, whereby prehension of the element is prevented while resilient movement of the element into the cavity is permitted.

Claim 2

A device for mounting an element on a support, which comprises the support having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface having a cavity accomodating therein the element in a manner such that the outer surface of the element substantially forms a continuation of the outer surface of the part of the support surrounding the cavity, the element including clips connected integrally with the element And adaptable to be inserted from the outside of the outer surface of the support into clip receiving means on the support, said clip receiving means being accessible only from the inner surface of the support, the clips being provided with projections for locking the element on the support an innermost portion of the element being spaced from the corresponding innermost portion of the cavity by a resilient member capable of flexing by an amount which permits the element to move until the innermost portion thereof and the innermost portion of the cavity are substantially in positive locking contact, whereby prehension of the element is prevented while resilient movement of the element into the cavity is permitted.

Claim 6

A device for mounting an element on a support, such as an assembly of a vehicle lighting unit on the bodywork of a vehicle, comprising a cavity formed in the bodywork, said element being a lighting unit engaged in the cavity, said lighting unit having a transparent or translucent cover thereof that is flush with the surrounding bodywork, said element having resilient arms having projections thereon adapted for engagement on flanges of the cavity to retain the unit in the cavity, the projections being accessible through openings in the cavity only from the interior of the bodywork to release the unit, the said element having flexible strips integral with a housing of the unit and biasing the rear surface of the unit away from the rear of the cavity so that the rear surface and the rear of the cavity are spaced apart, the flexible strips being capable of flexing to an extent that the rear surface and the rear of the cavity can approach substantially into contact with one another.

Claim 7

A device for mounting an element on a support, such as an assembly of a vehicle lighting unit on the bodywork of a vehicle, comprising a cavity formed in the bodywork, said element being a lighting unit engaged in the cavity, said lighting unit having a transparent or translucent cover thereof that is flush with the surrounding bodywork, said element having resilient arms having projections thereon adapted for engagement on flanges of the cavity to retain the unit in the cavity, the projections being accessible through openings in the cavity only from the interior of the bodywork to release the unit, the said element having flexible strips integral with a housing of the unit and biasing the rear surface of the unit away from the rear of the cavity so that the rear surface and the rear of the cavity are spaced apart, the flexible strips being capable of flexing to an extent that the rear surface and the rear of the cavity can approach substantially into contact with one another.