Patent ID: 7328916
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A knee protection system for protecting the knees of an occupant of a vehicle which move forward when the vehicle is in collision, comprising: a knee protection panel for restraining the knees from moving forward; an interior member disposed so as to surround the knee protection panel; a drive mechanism for driving the knee protection panel from a standby position surrounded by the interior member to the vehicle rear side, at a protecting position situated in front of the knees of the occupant when the vehicle is in collision; a holding portion provided on the drive mechanism for holding the knee protection panel so that the knee protection panel can be moved rearward; and engagement portions disposed, respectively, on the holding portion of the drive mechanism and another separate engagement portion disposed on the knee protection panel, and being adapted to be brought into engagement with each other when the engagement portion located on the drive mechanism is moved rearward due to the activation of the drive mechanism, so as to prevent the displacement of the knee protection panel relative to the holding portion, the knee protection panel being displaceable in the vertical and horizontal direction with respect to the drive mechanism before activation of the drive mechanism and is alternatively not displaceable in the vertical and horizontal direction with respect to the drive mechanism after activation of the drive mechanism, once the engagement portions disposed, respectively, on the holding portion of the drive mechanism and the separate engagement portion disposed on the knee protection panel are brought into engagement with each other following activation of the drive mechanism.