Knee restraint device for vehicles

A knee restraint device for vehicles, comprising:

• a knee protector plate movable in the direction of the knees of a vehicle occupant,
• a gas generator,
• a base plate connectable to a vehicle structure having at least one opening for connection to said gas generator,
• a wall of flexible material with a first closed rim and a second closed rim,
• said wall being folded between said base plate and said knee protector plate in a resting condition and being connected along said first closed rim to said base plate and along said second closed rim to said knee protect-or plate,
• said knee protector plate having a first edge oriented in a vehicle transverse direction and a second edge located opposite said first edge,
• said first edge being held swivable and releasable on said base plate, and
• defeatable fastening means for securing said second edge to said base plate,
• said flexible wall expanding in response to an increase in pressure upon activation of said gas generator, and
• wherein, when said flexible wall expands, said defeatable fastening means releases, such that further expansion of the flexible wall causes said knee protector plate to swivel about its first edge, whereby still further expansion causes said first edge to release from the base plate.