Patent ID: 7143977

Claim:
Force assistance module ( 10 ) for providing a load-dependent assistance force, in particular for a lowerable overhead luggage compartment in an aircraft, comprising a housing ( 18 ), a spring system for generating the assistance force, of which spring system one end is coupled pivotally about an axis (Z) in the housing ( 18 ) and the other, opposite end defines a force application point (P), a force-transmitting device fastened to or in the vicinity of the force application point (P) for transmitting assistance force to a location remote from the force assistance module, a support ( 36 ), which is mounted rotatably in the housing ( 18 ) and on which a path ( 40 ) is provided, along which the force application point (P) is displaceable back and forth between a first end point (A) and a second end point (B), and an adjusting device ( 52 ), which interacts with the support ( 36 ) and a load sensor and which as a function of the load detected by the load sensor rotates the support ( 36 ) in order to vary the angle between the force application direction of the assistance force at the force application point (P) and the force-transmitting device and hence adapt the value of the assistance force acting upon the force-transmitting device to the detected load.