Apparatus including an inflatable knee bag

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having an instrument panel by preventing a forceful impact between lower portions of legs of the occupant and the instrument panel during a vehicle collision, the apparatus comprising:

• a reaction plate attached to the instrument panel of the vehicle and including structure defining a cavity having an opening;
• an inflator in the cavity and secured to the structure of the reaction plate, the inflator being actuatable for providing inflation fluid;
• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that, in response to receiving inflation fluid, inflates from a stored condition within the cavity to an inflated condition engaging the lower portions of legs of the occupant, the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when in the stored condition, including a stack of pleated sections that extends upwardly from a rolled portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• and
• a cover for covering the opening of the cavity and the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is in the stored condition, the cover including a portion that is rupturable by the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to enable expansion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device from the stored condition to the inflated condition.