Abstract: A knee support is arranged inside a body of the motor vehicle and exhibits a transverse frame member, which extends at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, is held at rigid, lateral body structures, and is provided with at least one deformation element. This deformation element comprises several hollow brackets, defined by bracket walls, and is covered by a support wall, facing the occupants' knees. The deformation element exhibits a first hollow bracket segment, which runs along the support wall, and a second additional hollow bracket segment, which is arranged at an angle to the first hollow bracket segment, whereby the second hollow bracket segment is attached to the transverse frame member.

Abstract: A knee support is arranged inside a body of the motor vehicle and exhibits a transverse frame member, which extends at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, is held at rigid, lateral body structures, and is provided with at least one deformation element. This deformation element comprises several hollow brackets, defined by bracket walls, and is covered by a support wall, facing the occupants' knees. The deformation element exhibits a first hollow bracket segment, which runs along the support wall, and a second additional hollow bracket segment, which is arranged at an angle to the first hollow bracket segment, whereby the second hollow bracket segment is attached to the transverse frame member.

Abstract: A passenger compartment for a passenger car has one B-column on each vehicle body side which leads into a side member situated below the B-column for increasing the transverse stiffness of the passenger compartment in the event of side impact loads. A transversely stiffening tube construction is composed of two laterally exterior upright reinforcing tubes and a tube-shaped stiffening element which extends over the width of the vehicle body. In order to achieve a more favorable introduction of force in the event of a side impact load, each upright reinforcing tube is linked to an adjoining connection plate with a lower edge area which is supported on the exterior side of the side member. An inwardly projecting supporting tube leads away from each reinforcing tube above the elevation of the side member. This supporting tube is rigidly connected in the area of the passenger compartment with one of the outer ends of the transversely extending, tube-shaped stiffening element.