Abstract: A reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly includes a rigid support structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a flexible covering sealingly engaged with the rigid support structure to define an inflatable interior region; a gas source in fluid communication with the at least one inlet; an inlet control valve positioned intermediate the gas source and the at least one inlet; and an actively controlled pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least one outlet. The inlet control valve and the pressure relief valve are adapted to provide a response suitable for use in vehicle impact management.

Abstract: A glove box airbag system is disclosed that may be used to protect the knees and/or legs of a vehicle occupant during a crash. The airbag assembly includes a glove box and a housing that encases a knee airbag. The housing is positioned below the glove box. The entirety of the housing may be positioned below the entirety of the glove box. The airbag assembly also has a front member that covers the glove box and the housing. The front member may include a glove box door that covers the glove box and an airbag door that covers the housing. Alternatively, the front member may be a glove box door that covers both the housing and the glove box. Further, the front member may include a glove box door that covers the glove box and an aperture that is positioned in front of the housing. A hinge and/or a latch mechanism that allow the glove box door to move between a closed position and an open position may also be added.

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicular shock absorbing body which absorbs a shock by a grid-like rib formed on a support plate portion and can inhibit a load point at an initial stage and a terminal stage, in a load—displacement (F-S) curve of the vehicular shock absorbing body. A shock absorbing body (40) used for absorbing a shock in a vehicle and made of a synthetic resin, is provided with a support plate portion (42), and a shock absorbing portion (45) formed in a grid shape on the support plate portion (42) by a plurality of thin ribs (44, 44), and plastically deforming at a time of applying a shock load so as to be absorbable a shock energy.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant knee protection apparatus for protecting the knees of an occupant when collision energy acts on a vehicle. The occupant knee protection apparatus comprises a knee protection member, a contact force detector, a controller, and a drive unit. The knee protection member is disposed in an opposable position to knees of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. The contact force detector detects the contact force of the knees on the knee protection member. The controller performs control that reduces the contact force to a force control target value and that maintains the reduced value. The drive unit moves the knee protection member in the front/rear direction of the vehicle on the basis of an output signal from the controller.

Abstract: A first airbag apparatus of the present invention has an airbag module, which includes an airbag and an inflator, and a displacement mechanism, which displaces the airbag module. The displacement mechanism displaces the airbag module from an original position to a predetermined position when a collision of the vehicle is predicted and displaces the airbag module from the predetermined position to the original position when the predicted collision is avoided. A second airbag apparatus of the present invention has the airbag module and the displacement mechanism, which displaces a support member. The support member displaces the airbag from the original position to the predetermined position before the airbag is deployed. The deployed airbag is supported between the support body that is displaced to the predetermined position and an occupant.

Abstract: A knee protection airbag apparatus of this invention has an airbag having a construction in which folded and accommodated below the area in front of the knees of a passenger who is seated, and inflates upward toward the rear of the vehicle so as to be capable of protecting the knees of the passenger, when an inflating gas is inserted. The airbag includes a knee protection inflation portion which is disposed on the upper side of the airbag after completion of inflation and which is capable of protecting both knees of the passenger, and a shin facing portion disposed below the knee protection inflation portion after completion of inflation, in an area extending substantially vertically so as to be at the position of both shins of the passenger.

Abstract: A knee-protecting airbag device is located below a steering column in front of a driver and, at a lower side of a key cylinder into which an ignition key with accessories is inserted. The airbag device includes a housing located below the steering column for housing an airbag and an airbag. The airbag is folded and housed in the housing in undeployed condition, and upon inflow of inflation gas, protrudes rearward from the housing to deploy upward to protect knees of the driver. The airbag is provided in its upper edge in completely deployed condition with a cover portion for covering vehicle's rearward of an area proximate to the key cylinder. The airbag is further provided with a flexible reinforcing cloth to be located in a part of the cover portion to contact the key accessories as the key is inserted into the key cylinder. The airbag is protected by the reinforcing cloth even if it contacts with the key accessories upon deployment.

Abstract: An occupant leg protection apparatus includes an airbag arranged in front of a vehicle seat, and a gas generator for inflating the airbag. An instrument panel in front of the vehicle seat has an outer layer movable toward an occupant and a base member behind the outer layer. The airbag is disposed between the outer layer and the base member so that the airbag pushes the outer layer to move toward the occupant when the airbag is inflated.

Abstract: The kinetic energy of the driver's knees is properly absorbed by a plurality of simply configured shock absorbing mechanisms, contributing to a minimization of injury to the driver's knees. A knee bolster of a vehicle comprises an upper member whose front end is secured to a cowl cross member. A lower member is in a bent plate shape configuration that is consecutively formed with a front portion, a center portion, a rear portion and a knee supporting portion. Shear pins fix a portion between the upper member and the rear portion of the lower member. A damping hole is formed on the upper member and tapers off toward the front of the vehicle. A damping protrusion is inserted into the damping hole at the rear side of the vehicle and protrudes out from the rear portion of the lower member.

Abstract: In the occupant protection device according to the present invention, a restraint body joined with a driving mechanism is located near a target area of a seated occupant while being surrounded by an interior decoration member. Upon predicting a collision of the vehicle, the driving mechanism is actuated to protrude the restraint body from an opening in the interior decoration member for restraining the movement of the target area upon collision by its side facing the occupant, and when the collision is avoided, the driving mechanism returns the protruded restraint body in the opening of the interior decoration member. The restraint body is provided in the vicinity of its outer periphery with a retaining hole, a clip to be inserted in and retained by the retaining hole, and a guide surface for guiding the clip into the retaining hole for helping the restraint body to return in the opening of the interior decoration member.

Abstract: An occupant restraint mechanism is disposed between a rigid member and an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle. The occupant restraint mechanism includes first and second brackets each extending between proximal ends fixedly secured to the rigid member and distal ends coupled to the instrument panel. One of the first and second brackets has at least one notch formed therein. The notch has a predetermined size to allow a predetermined amount of deformation of the first and second brackets during contact of an occupant with the instrument panel during a sudden deceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a knee-protecting airbag device according to the present invention, an airbag folded and housed in undeployed condition protrudes rearward from a housing case to deploy upward and protects knees of a driver upon inflow of inflation gas. The airbag includes a cover portion for covering a vehicle's rear side of an area proximate to the key cylinder upon completion of deployment, and a general portion in the upper edge side of the airbag except the cover portion. Kinetic energy of the cover portion as deployed in a position of complete deployment is restrained compared with a kinetic energy of the general portion as deployed in a position of complete deployment. This restraint is achieved by reducing amount of inflation gas flowing into the cover portion. The knee-protecting airbag device of the present invention prevents the inflating airbag from contacting with key accessories hung down from an ignition key inserted into the key cylinder in a manner to cause gas leakage.

Abstract: Energy-absorbing bolsters for an automotive instrument panel assembly are provided wherein each of the bolsters includes a network of thermoplastic cells having a plurality of interconnected sides for absorbing energy of an impact with a front panel by a passenger of the vehicle in an energy absorption area of the front panel. Each bolster includes a thermoplastic cover section including the front panel having a front outer surface and a rear inner surface. A thermoplastic rib structure lays immediately behind the rear inner surface of the front panel in the energy absorption area. A thermoplastic backing section includes a back panel having a rear outer surface and an inner surface and is secured to the cover section in containing relationship to the rib structure to form a hollow compartment for the rib structure in the energy absorption area.

Abstract: A knee bolster structure includes an upper shock-absorbing member adapted for absorbing input force of knees of an occupant who has an average physical constitution and a lower shock-absorbing member adapted for absorbing input force of knees of an occupant who is small in stature, and a difference in strength between the upper shock-absorbing member and the lower shock-absorbing member is provided such that receiving strength of the upper shock-absorbing member is larger and receiving strength of the lower shock-absorbing member is smaller.

Abstract: An occupant protection device of the present invention includes a knee-protecting airbag device and a container box. The airbag device includes an airbag for protecting knees of an occupant seated in front passenger's seat, an inflator, and a case opened rearward for housing the airbag and the inflator. The container box includes a box body and a lid. Before being mounted on the vehicle, the knee-protecting airbag device and the container box are integrally assembled into a mounting module. By mounting the module on the vehicle, the knee-protecting airbag device and the container box are mounted on the vehicle. The occupant protection device of the present invention contributes to reduce tact time per vehicle even if the knee-protecting airbag device and the container box are both mounted in front of front passenger's seat.

Abstract: This set of equipment for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable structure, an element acting as a support for the inflatable structure, an element forming a load-spreading plate and at least one frangible member for fixing the load-spreading plate to the support. The set includes a sheath, an open first end which is fixed to the support and an open second end which is fixed to the load-spreading plate to form the inflatable structure. The frangible member includes a thin web, a peripheral region which is fixed to a first element, either the load-spreading plate or the support, and a central region which is fixed to the other of these elements.

Abstract: An energy absorbing knee bolster for use in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed. An energy absorbing support structure is configured to support an instrument panel within a vehicle. The energy absorbing structure has a deployable tubular mechanism for absorbing occupant impact energy and an impact plate coupled to the tubular mechanism for absorbing occupant energy. An energy absorbing locking mechanism is disposed between the impact plate and the support structure. The locking mechanism is configured to encourage the collapse of the tubular means for absorbing energy in a telescopic fashion.

Abstract: A knee bolster installation for an automotive vehicle includes a bridge plate extending across a space receiving a steering column in front of the driver's knee and having a knee impact absorber structure attached behind each end of the bridge plate. Each knee impact absorber structure has diverging front and back walls having a curve top wall and a curved intermediate web extending between the front and back walls, and a curved bottom connecting the lower end of front and back walls together. A horizontal stabilizer web connects the top wall and intermediate web together to restrain bulging when crushed to avoid horizontal collapse thereof during deformation. Offset openings in each of the top wall, intermediate web, and bottom wall form wider curved strips at the inside adjacent the steering column space so that the front of the outside ends of the knee installation absorber structures are inclined away from the steering column space when deformed by knee impact.

Abstract: A knee bolster for a vehicle has an air bag and an air bag inflator. The air bag has an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The air bag is attached to the knee bolster, which is moveable with the air bag. The knee bolster may move from an unactuated position when the air bag is in the deflated condition to an actuated position when the air bag is inflated. A guide structure, which is attached to the knee bolster directs the bolster along a linear path from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

Abstract: In an automobile instrument panel structure, an upper meter provided in an upper front part of an instrument panel main body is disposed so as to correspond to an upper side of an upper half of a steering wheel, and a lower meter provided in a lower rear part of the instrument panel main body is disposed so as to correspond to a lower side of the upper half of the steering wheel. It is thus possible to reliably view the upper meter and the lower meter without being obstructed by the steering wheel. Further, since an upper edge of a panel in which the upper meter is disposed has a shape substantially conforming to the upper half of the steering wheel, there is no disagreeable sensation even when the upper meter, which has conventionally been disposed in a laterally central part of the instrument panel main body, is disposed in front of the driver.

Abstract: A device for the protection of the legs of a vehicle occupant in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle. In the leg area, cuff plates (2) are arranged on a central tube (1) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The cuff plates carry a load distributor (3) at their free end, and absorb the impact energy of the legs of the vehicle occupants in the event of the frontal impact. Load distributor 3 transfers the impact energy present to cuff plates 2, which then roll away and thus remove energy.

Abstract: An occupant leg protection system is arranged below a steering column as a protection system for an automobile. The protection system includes an inflatable airbag; a casing for housing the airbag; and a gas generator for inflating the airbag. A recessed section facing the steering column is provided at a backside of the casing.

Abstract: A main chamber is formed of a front panel and a rear panel connected together, and the interior thereof is partitioned into small chambers by partition panels. A surface panel is sewn to the front side of the front panel to form an auxiliary chamber in between. When a gas generator is actuated to generate a gas, the gas flows to the auxiliary chamber through the small chambers, and the auxiliary chamber is inflated while the surface panel bulges out toward an occupant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible support (1) for absorbing energy during an impact, particularly to a support for an automobile knee bolster (50). The collapsible support (1) has the form of a tubular body with closed ends. The body extends along a longitudinal axis (3) along which it will collapse during an impact. The support (1) has two opposing end walls (4,10) substantially perpendicular to the axis (3). The two end walls (4,10) are connected by four similar stepped side walls (8) of rectangular plan form that substantially enclose the longitudinal axis (3) such that the side and end walls (8,4,10) of the collapsible support (1) substantially enclose an internal volume. The tubular body is adapted to deform so that sections (31-35) of side walls 8 collapse with one section moving inside another adjacent section upon the application of a compressive force applied to said body along said axis 3.

Abstract: A vehicle storage box mounting structure is configured to reduce the discomfort felt by the passenger when the passenger's knees hit the storage box during a front collision without significantly reducing the strength and rigidity of the slide rails overall. The vehicle storage box mounting structure serves to mount a storage box to a vehicle in such a manner that the storage box can be moved between two positions, a stored position and a pulled out position, by slide rails provided on both sides of the storage box. The vehicle storage box mounting structure is configured such that at least a portion of the slide rails can be made to swing in response to an input force to the storage box from a passenger during a front collision.

Abstract: An inflatable rigid knee airbag system for assisting in positioning and decelerating a vehicle occupant is disclosed. The system includes an inflatable knee airbag having a front panel, an annular, accordion-folded bellows panel, and a rear panel having an inflation orifice and mounting brackets; and a pyrotechnic inflator. The system helps to improve the kinematics of a vehicle occupant in relation to a primary airbag cushion by bolstering the knees of the occupant. The system of the invention may be mounted in a vehicle in a panel under the steering column, in the door of a glove box, or in the lower section of the instrument panel of the vehicle directly in front of the occupant's lower legs.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an instrument panel assembly (10) includes an elongate beam structure (14) and a plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers (16) coupled to the beam structure. The instrument panel assembly also includes at least one knee bolster (116) positioned adjacent the plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers and an instrument panel (90).

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: The airbag system for a motor vehicle extends below a dashboard and exhibits a generator housing, which is aligned in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle and which forms a blast channel for an airbag between integrated walls and adjoining separate face-sided walls. In load position at least one integrated wall of the blast channel can be displaced in the downward direction. In a first integrated channel wall of the generator housing a head impact element can be swiveled unilaterally in bearings; and in a starting position the head impact element can be suspended by means of a compression connection in the second integrated channel wall of the housing and can be disconnected in a load position. The connections can comprise semi-form-fit connections or springy connections.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) includes a knee bolster (20). An energy absorbing device (80) is interposed between the knee bolster (20) and the vehicle (12). The device (80) includes a field responsive fluid (84) having a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The device (80) also includes at least one passage (134) through which the fluid (84) flows upon movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12). The device (80) further includes means (150) for varying the viscosity of the fluid (84) to vary the flow rate through the at least one passage (134) and thereby vary the resistance to movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12).

Abstract: An energy absorbing knee bolster for use in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed. The knee bolster is configured to absorb energy from the vehicle's occupants during a crash. The knee bolster is formed of a collapsible cylinder which is welded to an impact plate on its first end and to a vehicle's cross-car beam at its second end. A coupling flange is disposed between the impact plate and a medial portion of the collapsible cylinder. The collapsible cylinder is configured to axially collapse at a predetermined force when impacted by a moving occupant.

Abstract: An energy management system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention has a substrate and a crash pad that are vibration welded together. A method for vibration welding first and second parts made of materials that are incompatible with being vibration welded includes prior to vibration welding the first and second parts, adhering to a surface of at least the first part a layer of material that is compatible with being vibration welded to the second part.

Abstract: A knee support is arranged in the area of a control panel inside a passenger compartment of a body of a motor vehicle and exhibits a transverse frame member, which is provided with at least one deformation element. The deformation element, covered at least in areas in relation to the passenger compartment by a support wall of the control panel, includes a first bracket segment, which is in alignment with the knee impact areas, and a second bracket segment, which is connected to the transverse frame member, in such a manner that the first bracket segment absorbs energy primarily by flection; the second bracket segment, as a function of the load by compression and/or flection; and optionally the transverse frame member absorbs energy as a function of the load by flection and/or by torsion.

Abstract: In a vehicle glove box including a main body provided movably to an instrument panel, a lid portion provided to the main body on the interior side and forming a closed section with a surface of the main body on the interior side, and a reinforcing member of a substantially plate-like shape extending across the closed section in the width direction of the main body, a plurality of support portions provided to the main body on the interior side in the form of protrusions which extend toward the interior. These support portions support a peripheral surface of the reinforcing member, so that the reinforcing member can be thus provided to the main body to form an integral structure. In this way, it is possible to provide the glove box which can be assembled through a simple and easy assembling process and thereby reduce the burden to an operator.

Abstract: An actuator of an active knee bolster is provided with a drive force generation device and a one way lock mechanism that is disposed in a vicinity of an operation end of the drive force generation device. The one way lock mechanism is configured such that, if attempted movement of a piston member in an inward insertion direction occurs, respective engagement portions are moved to a taper portion by urging force of a spring, whereby the engagement portions are abutted against an external periphery surface of the piston member such that the piston member and the engagement portions are fixed. Accordingly, as a result of the one way lock mechanism, a main body of the active knee bolster that has been moved to a restraining position cannot return in a vehicle forward direction, and thus it is possible to generate a substantial lower limb restraining force that restrains a lower limb of an occupant.

Abstract: A passenger restraint includes a knee bolster having receptacles for receiving knee blockers. The knee blockers are multi-celled elements that absorb kinetic energy attributed to collisions of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus has a panel which constitutes part of a passenger compartment side surface of an instrument panel and which is separatable from the instrument panel to move when at least a knee load of an occupant is inputted, and a plurality of support members which face transverse end portions of the panel 2a, respectively, and which have a rigidity higher than that of the panel. An impact load applied to the knees of an occupant who faces the instrument panel can be absorbed effectively.

Abstract: A panel structure is mountable in a vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof in concealing relation to a secondary restraint system. The novel panel structure of this invention includes a layered composite structure and a reinforcing substrate having a door structure movable through the layered composite structure upon the operation of the secondary restraint system. The layered composite structure includes an outer layer and an inner layer adhered to the outer layer, the inner layer including a seam-defining structure. In one embodiment, the seam-defining structure is a narrow elongated structure configured to define an exteriorly invisible tear seam generally corresponding with portions of an outline of the door structure, and the inner layer has a reduced thickness portion along the exteriorly invisible tear seam by virtue of the presence of the narrow elongated structure.

Abstract: A leg protection system includes an airbag that deploys in front of a leg of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. The airbag first deploys in front of an ankle or an instep of the leg, and then deploys upwardly along the leg. An airbag may include an ankle bag that deploys only in front of the ankle or the instep, and a knee bag that deploys only in front of the knee. A vehicle may further include a closing panel for blocking a space between a lower end of an instrument panel and a dash panel.

Abstract: Device for protecting the lower limbs of an occupant of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an energy absorbing structure having two energy absorbing elements which elements become deformed substantially according to the principal direction of application of the force and cooperating with one front support element which extends transversely to the principal direction of application of the force, the front support element having, or cooperating with, a bulge which is convex towards the occupant, at least in the absence of exerted force, the bulge being located between the two energy absorbing elements, in order to cause the occupant's lower limbs to have a minimum distance between them when the energy absorbing structure becomes deformed.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat portion, a seat pan integrated in the seat portion, and a viscous mass arranged within the seat pan, wherein the viscous mass is actuatable to form a ramp.

Abstract: A passenger restraint includes a knee bolster having receptacles for receiving knee blockers. The knee blockers are multi-celled elements that absorb kinetic energy attributed to collisions of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular impact resistant barrier system for mounting in an interior passenger compartment a vehicle. The interior passenger compartment of the vehicle is defined by a plurality of doors, a firewall, a floor wall, a roof wall, and a rear wall. The vehicular impact resistant barrier system includes a plurality of protective sheets that are mountable in the interior passenger compartment of the vehicle. Each of the protective sheets comprises a plurality of woven fibers.

Abstract: An inflatable rigid knee airbag system for assisting in positioning and decelerating a vehicle occupant is disclosed. The system may include a front and a rear rigid panel, which may be made from sheet metal. The front and rear rigid panels define at least a portion of an inflatable chamber. The inflatable chamber is in fluid communication with an inflator that injects inflatable gas into the inflatable chamber when accident conditions exist. A support core positioned between the front and rear panels dampens vibrations of the front and rear panels and minimizes unsightly denting of the front panel when the inflatable rigid knee airbag system is in a pre-deployment state. The support core may be made from foam.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an instrument panel assembly (10) includes an elongate beam structure (14) and a plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers (16) coupled to the beam structure. The instrument panel assembly also includes at least one knee bolster (116) positioned adjacent the plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers and an instrument panel (90).

Abstract: An air-conditioning duct structure is included in a vehicular dash beam member. Material for the duct is made of a heat insulating and sound absorbing material and is adhered onto the surface of a sheet material for the beam member which is then bent into a semi-tubular shape so that the material for the duct is positioned inside thereby forming beam member bodies. Beam member bodies are combined by joining their joining surfaces that face each other to thereby form a tubular closed sectional shape. Achieving vibration attenuation, noise absorption and the heat insulating functions with an inner surface sheet member of an air conditioning duct is achievable. An air conditioning duct extending across a vehicle's width is formed by joining a metal reinforcing member and a resin cover. The sheet member is put between the reinforcing member and the cover.

Abstract: An impact absorbing member includes a plurality of synthetic resin foams arranged in a stack, the foams being formed from a hard skin layer and a foamed layer formed within the skin layer, thereby enhancing the productivity in manufacture of the impact absorbing member for a vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) includes a knee bolster (20). An energy absorbing device (80) is interposed between the knee bolster (20) and the vehicle (12). The device (80) includes a field responsive fluid (84) having a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The device (80) also includes at least one passage (134) through which the fluid (84) flows upon movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12). The device (80) further includes means (150) for varying the viscosity of the fluid (84) to vary the flow rate through the at least one passage (134) and thereby vary the resistance to movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12).

Abstract: A knee bolster for absorbing the impact to the knees of the occupant of a car involved in crash and controlling the posture of the occupant by receiving the knee load includes a pair of left and right panels (1) disposed to oppose to the knees, upper stays (2) provided to each of the panels (1), each upper stay having its rear portion fixed to the upper area of the corresponding panel (1), lower stays (3) provided to each of the panels (1), each lower stay having its lower portion fixed to the lower area of the corresponding panel (1) and its upper portion fixed to the front end of the corresponding upper stay (2), and a connecting member (4) for connecting the resulting pair of deltoid bodies. The bodies are disposed side by side and spaced apart when connected to the connecting member (4). Preferably, the upper and lower stays (2, 3) are arced, and the curvature radius of the lower stays (3) is smaller than that of the upper stays (2).

Abstract: A device for the protection of the legs of a vehicle occupant in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle. In the leg area, cuff plates (2) are arranged on a central tube (1) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The cuff plates carry a load distributor (3) at their free end, and absorb the impact energy of the legs of the vehicle occupants in the event of the frontal impact. Load distributor 3 transfers the impact energy present to cuff plates 2, which then roll away and thus remove energy.