A manipulation device has a manipulation body operated by the manipulator in a manipulation direction, a support body freely supporting the operation of the manipulation body, and a movable load imparting mechanism imparting a load to the manipulation body. The movable load imparting mechanism has a movable member engaged with the movable axis of the manipulation body, a magnetism generating mechanism having a coil that generates a magnetic field and a first yoke provided so as to enclose the coil, and a magnetic viscous fluid, its viscosity changing according to the strength of a magnetic field. The magnetic viscous fluid is filled in a first gap between the first yoke and the movable member. In the gap, a first buffering layer not harder than the movable member is provided on at least one of the opposing plane of the first yoke and the opposing plane of the movable member.

A foot pedal assembly and method of moving a wheel assembly from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration is provided. The foot pedal assembly can be moved to a locked configuration, thereby securing the wheel assembly in a deployed configuration, by allowing a foot pedal of the foot pedal assembly to move away from a second position after moving the foot pedal from a first position to the second position. When in the locked configuration, the foot pedal assembly can be moved to an unlocked configuration by moving the foot pedal assembly back to the second position, thereby allowing the foot pedal assembly and the wheel assembly to move towards the first configuration and the stowed configuration, respectively. A pin extending from a cam assembly into a raceway of a raceway body travels through the raceway as the foot pedal assembly is moved between configurations.

A foot pedal assembly and method of moving a wheel assembly from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration is provided. The foot pedal assembly can be moved to a locked configuration, thereby securing the wheel assembly in a deployed configuration, by allowing a foot pedal of the foot pedal assembly to move away from a second position after moving the foot pedal from a first position to the second position. When in the locked configuration, the foot pedal assembly can be moved to an unlocked configuration by moving the foot pedal assembly back to the second position, thereby allowing the foot pedal assembly and the wheel assembly to move towards the first configuration and the stowed configuration, respectively. A pin extending from a cam assembly into a raceway of a raceway body travels through the raceway as the foot pedal assembly is moved between configurations.

A fail-safe release mechanism for use with patient positioning support apparati having a base structure and a patient support structure, to prevent collapse of the patient support structure during disconnection of the patient support structure from the base structure at outboard ends thereof.

A fail-safe release mechanism for use with patient positioning support apparati having a base structure and a patient support structure, to prevent collapse of the patient support structure during disconnection of the patient support structure from the base structure at outboard ends thereof.

Various embodiments include a transmission element for a spring return of an actuating drive comprising: a toothed wheel element with teeth at least in sections; and a locking element including a locking section for locking engagement in the teeth of the toothed wheel element to prevent a rotation of the toothed wheel element in a return direction. The locking element includes a safety element mechanically operatively connected to the locking section and elastically deformable in order to release the locking of the toothed wheel element by elastic deformation of the safety element at a torque of the toothed wheel element in the return direction greater than a safety torque limit.

Various embodiments include a transmission element for a spring return of an actuating drive comprising: a toothed wheel element with teeth at least in sections; and a locking element including a locking section for locking engagement in the teeth of the toothed wheel element to prevent a rotation of the toothed wheel element in a return direction. The locking element includes a safety element mechanically operatively connected to the locking section and elastically deformable in order to release the locking of the toothed wheel element by elastic deformation of the safety element at a torque of the toothed wheel element in the return direction greater than a safety torque limit.

The object of the present invention is a drive unit for a motor vehicle component with an electromotor (5) and a rotatable output element (7). Furthermore, a blocking element (9), which can be acted on by an actuator (10), is provided for interacting with a protrusion (15) on the output element (7). According to the invention, the protrusion (15) detaches the blocking element (9) from a stop (17) at the start of a rotational movement of the output element (7). Thus, the blocking element (9) is transferred into a blocking position with the aid of the actuator (10) in which the blocking element (9) blocks a rotation of the output element (7) beyond a specified point.

The object of the present invention is a drive unit for a motor vehicle component with an electromotor (5) and a rotatable output element (7). Furthermore, a blocking element (9), which can be acted on by an actuator (10), is provided for interacting with a protrusion (15) on the output element (7). According to the invention, the protrusion (15) detaches the blocking element (9) from a stop (17) at the start of a rotational movement of the output element (7). Thus, the blocking element (9) is transferred into a blocking position with the aid of the actuator (10) in which the blocking element (9) blocks a rotation of the output element (7) beyond a specified point.

A seat adjuster, includes a brake acting between fixed and adjustable parts so the adjustable part is blockable in positions on the fixed part and releasable by a release element, an adjustment element acting on the release element, selectively adjusting the adjustable part in two opposite directions, and a locking element automatically engaging and interlockingly locking the adjustable part to the fixed part when the adjustment element is not actuated and automatically disengaging when the adjustment element is actuated, disengagement of the locking element and adjustment of the adjustable part being effected by moving the adjustment element out of neutral position, the locking element having a toothed segment for meshing with a toothed ring coupled to the adjustable part so the locking element is movable in the radial direction of the toothed ring between locking and release positions, in which the locking element meshes with or moves away from the toothed ring.