Patent ID: 7128342

Claim:
A collapsible knee bolster assembly comprising: a stationary mounting bracket for attachment to a vehicle support structure; a knee bolster; a knee bolster guide system connecting said knee bolster and said mounting bracket and supporting said knee bolster for guided sliding movement along a predetermined collapse path in response to application of a predetermined collapse force to said knee bolster; wherein said knee bolster guide system includes a plurality of bolster guide rods arranged about a common collapse axis extending parallel to said predetermined collapse path and interconnecting said mounting bracket and said knee bolster for supporting guided sliding movement of said knee bolster along the predetermined collapse path; and a plurality of bolster shear elements, said plurality of bolster shear elements coaxially enveloping said bolster guide rods, said plurality of bolster shear elements interconnecting said bolster guide rods and said mounting bracket for preventing movement of said knee bolster relative to said mounting bracket and shearable in response to application of the predetermined collapse force to said knee bolster for allowing said bolster guide rods and said knee bolster to move relative to the mounting bracket.