US Patent 7584995 Actuatable knee bolster

An actuatable knee bolster provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle to protect lower legs of an occupant seated in a front seat of the vehicle. The actuatable knee bolster includes: an opposing section opposed to the lower legs of the occupant; a driving section driving the opposing section to move toward and away from the occupant; and a shock absorbing section configured to be plastically deformed when making contact with the lower legs of the occupant. In the actuatable knee bolster, the driving section is disposed inside the shock absorbing section.