Integrated knee bolster / ignition switch

摘要

An occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle contains an instrument panel to the rear of which an occupant of the vehicle may be seated. A knee bolster is disposed below the instrument panel frontally of the occupant's knees and has a through-opening toward the occupant. A movable cover selectively closes and opens the through-opening. When the cover is closed, it covers a key that was inserted into the vehicle ignition switch and turned to operate the switch to turn on the engine while the cover was open. The ignition switch is disposed in a mounting that extends outward when the cover is opened to render the switch accessible for key insertion, key operation, and key removal. When the cover is closed, the mounting and switch retract within the knee bolster.