Knee protection apparatus in a motor vehicle and knee air bag module for use in such knee protection apparatus

A knee protection apparatus for a motor vehicle having an instrument panel, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing disposed in a lower region of the instrument panel or in a region adjoining a lower end of the instrument panel, the housing extending from a vehicle front housing end to a vehicle rear housing end and having an outlet opening,
• an inflator, and
• a knee air bag having an outer skin, the knee air bag being received in the housing in an initial state, and in an expanded state being positioned in sections in front of the instrument panel,
• wherein the outer skin of the knee air bag forms a protective section and a fill and support section connecting the protective section to the housing,
• wherein the outer skin of the knee air bag in a fully expanded state forms a substantially L-shaped cross-section with a first leg and a second leg, in which the fill and support section forms the first leg and the protective section forms the second leg,
• wherein the protective section in the expanded state is positioned, at least in sections, in front of the instrument panel so that in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the protective section is located at least in sections behind the vehicle rear housing end, and
• wherein the fill and support section forms a vehicle front section such that with the knee air bag in the fully expanded state, the vehicle front section extends beyond the vehicle front housing end toward a vehicle front,
• wherein the protective section and a portion of the fill and support section in the initial state form a packet;
• the packet including a roll and an ejector pleat such that the ejector pleat is positioned between the inflator and the roll, and the inflator is between the vehicle front section and the packet after the vehicle front section deploys first.