Break-away fastening system for air bag deployment doors

Abstract

A break-away fastener system for an air bag deployment door designed for normally closing a panel opening in the vehicle adjacent the open end of a housing containing an air bag in a folded-up, non-deployed condition in readiness for rapid inflation in an emergency to protect persons in the vehicle. The fastening system includes one or more spaced apart fastener assemblies, each including a male element and a female element extending between a portion of the door overlapping an edge flange of the vehicle panel around the opening used for air bag deployment. The male element comprises a bayonet-like member having an enlarged free end adapted to snap into a female element including a receiving spring clip, which clip permanently retains the male element even after air bag deployment occurs. A base portion of each male element is secured to the door at a central portion of a frangible section of reduced cross-section designed to fracture along a path extending around the base of the male element. A small portion of the door remains with each fastener assembly after the door is pushed to open outwardly upon air bag deployment. Only a smooth back face of the cover is presented to the expanding air bag so that no damage occurs to the rapidly inflating air bag because of cutting, ripping or tearing thereof during air bag deployment.