Protective device for a compartment section of a motor vehicle

A protective device for a compartment section of a motor vehicle, with a flexible sheet-like structure movable between a compactly stored position and at least one at least partially extended functional position, the sheet-like structure being provided, on an end region thereof towards a front in an extension direction, with a substantially rigid extension profile, the extension profile having retaining profile sections at respective opposite ends thereof that are mounted so as to be displaceable telescopically to a limited extent in the extension profile and that are each acted upon outwardly in a longitudinal direction of the extension profile by a first spring arrangement, and a second spring arrangement acts on each retaining profile section inwardly in an opposite direction to the first spring arrangement, each retaining profile section, in an unloaded non-operational position, being held on the extension profile in a central position, and each retaining profile section being shiftable inward or outward in opposite longitudinal directions relative to the extension profile.