Fraunhofer-gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.v.

Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh

Faurecia Innenraum Systeme Gmbh

Thilo Bein

Tobias Melz

Holger Hanselka

Lueder Mosler

Eric Zimmerman

Michael Matthias

Siegmar Blumentritt

Guido Fischer

Juergen Nuffer

The invention relates to an orthopedic appliance which is designed to support the weight of a patient and comprises a power supply device for an electrical consumer. The aim of the invention is to be able to convert the kinetic energy introduced into the appliance into electrical energy. To this end, the power supply device comprises a stack () of piezoelectric ceramic elements, and the force of the weight is introduced into the stack () by means of a force transmission system.

Orthopedic appliance

A belt brake is described for a safety belt for protecting occupants in a vehicle, which belt can be wound onto and unwound from a belt drum mounted rotationally about a belt shaft. A method for locking a safety belt is also described. The invention comprises at least one displaceable braking element for displacement along the belt shaft which is rotationally fixed to the belt shaft and is located between a first and a second thrust bearing. A first thrust bearing is forcibly guided along the belt shaft, thereby enabling the first thrust bearing to be transferred from a first position, in which the safety belt is wound on the belt drum with an axial distance abetween the at least one braking element and the first thrust bearing, and to a second position, in which the safety belt is at least partially unwound from the belt drum with an axial distance abetween the at least one braking element and the at least one thrust bearing where a&#x3c;1. At least one actuator element is actuated in the second position to generate a braking force which acts along the belt shaft between the first and second thrust bearings and which is orientated towards the at least one braking element.

Device and method for tightening a safety belt serving to protect occupants in a vehicle

A device and a method are described for a motor vehicle for protecting passengers during a side impact or during a collision similar to a side impact, in which an energy input acts essentially laterally on a door area of the motor vehicle, a vehicle seat being located on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, having at least one unit stabilizing the motor vehicle door against an energy input acting essentially laterally on the motor vehicle door, which provides at least one lateral impact girder traversing the motor vehicle door internally, which is operationally linked in case of collision to at least two support areas within stable vehicle body areas enclosing the motor vehicle door. The present invention is distinguished in that the side impact girder and/or the support areas within the vehicle body area enclosing the motor vehicle door provide(s) at least one actuator, which is activable through controlled supply of a form of energy independent of the energy input produced by the collision and produces the operational link between the side impact girder and the support areas in a controlled way.

Device and method for increasing occupant protection in a vehicle during a side-impact

Growing community of inventors

Darmstadt, Germany

Thilo Bein