Break-away fastening system for air bag deployment doors

A break-away fastening system for securing an air bag deployment door in position closing a panel opening formed in a panel for deployment of an air bag, comprising:

• a fastener extending from said door toward engagement with an edge flange of said panel around said panel opening, said fastener including an enlarged head at an end portion directed toward said edge flange and inserted through an aperture provided in said edge flange and expanded after insertion on an opposite side of said edge flange to lock said head in place, said fastener having at least one frangible section of reduced cross-section between said door and said edge flange which is fractured upon deployment of said air bag against said door through said panel opening;
• said fastener including transverse stop means for engaging said edge flange of said panel opening for limiting the amount of insertion of said head into said aperture;
• said fastener further including a plurality of legs attached to said door at spaced apart positions, said legs angularly convergent toward one another away from said spaced apart portions in the direction extending to join said transverse stop means;
• and
• at least one of said frangible sections being provided on each leg.