Body side protective molding

Claim 1

A body side protective molding for attachment to the generally vertical surfaces of the sheet body for an automotive vehicle comprising, in combination: a continuous metallic generally U-shaped base carrier strip having a generally longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its transverse dimension and having spaced leg portions projecting away from a continuous generally flat bottom portion connecting said leg portions said legs forming exterior longitudinally extending lateral side members of said molding; a layer of adhesive material bonded at a first surface thereof to the flat side of said carrier strip over a substantial portion of the transverse dimension of said carrier strip and wherein the opposite surface of said layer of adhesive material provides an exposed surface for adhesive attachment to the surface portion of said body after being pressed into engagement therewith; a plastic member mounted to said carrier strip and retainingly engaged by and between said leg portions to complete said molding and to provide an ornamental surface thereof the transverse width of said plastic member being significantly less than the transverse width of said carrier strip as defined by said exterior lateral side members and wherein said plastic member projects from and on opposite sides of a plane intersecting terminal points of the free ends of said leg portions; and, wherein said carrier strip is a rolled channel section each end of which receives a plug member which extends into the open passage of said channel section, and wherein said plastic member extends along said carrier strip and includes an internal enclosed passage at each of its ends to receive an extended portion of said plug therein, said enclosed passage extending into said plastic member a distance at least equal to the length of said extended portion.