Patent ID: 7325831

Claim:
An active impact protection system for a knee area and/or lower leg area of a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle having an impact element which is extensible by means of a driving device ( 4 ) out of a passive position into an active position in a rearward direction of the vehicle and is formed by an impact lid ( 2 ) of a passenger-side glove compartment ( 3 ), characterized in that the glove compartment ( 3 ) has a stowage container ( 7 ) which is movable by means of the driving device ( 4 ) together with the impact lid ( 2 ) between a retracted closed position in which the impact lid ( 2 ) is in its passive position and an extended open position, in which the stowage container ( 7 ) is accessible, in operation of the glove compartment, the driving device ( 4 ) moves the impact lid ( 2 ) together with the stowage container ( 7 ), for activation of the impact lid ( 2 ), the driving device ( 4 ) extends the impact lid independently of the stowage container ( 7 ).