Abstract: A massage machine includes a seat and a backrest, and a massage mechanism including a massaging element is provided within the backrest. The massaging element is connected to an arm of the massage mechanism and includes a heat transfer unit in which a heat source is contained and which is able to transfer to the user the heat transferred from the heat source. A rubbing roller is supported by the heat transfer unit on the arm.

Abstract: A massage machine includes a seat and a backrest, and a massage mechanism including a massaging element is provided within the backrest. The massaging element is provided on an arm of the massage mechanism and includes a first heat transfer unit in which a heat source is contained, a second heat transfer unit which is connected to the first heat transfer unit, and a rubbing roller which is supported by at least one of the first heat transfer unit and the second heat transfer unit. The configuration enables the first heat transfer unit to transfer to the user the heat transferred from the heat source and also enables the second heat transfer unit to transfer to the user the heat transferred from the first heat transfer unit.

Abstract: An air-permeable member for portable body warmers includes a nonwoven fabric and a porous film in a layered structure. The nonwoven fabric is a spunbonded nonwoven fabric having an embossment area ratio of 5% to 20% and a METSUKE of 10 to 80 g/m2, the porous film has a thickness of 30 to 200 ?m, and the air-permeable member has a compressive strength in machine direction of from 2 to 5.5 N as a maximum compressive load measured through a ring crush method by sampling a 60-mm square test piece; rounding the test piece with a circumference agreeing the transverse direction to give a cylindrical sample; compressing the cylindrical sample in the machine direction using a tensile tester at a temperature of 23° C. and relative humidity of 50% at a compressing speed of 300 mm/min.; and measuring compressive loads at distortions of 0 to 10 mm.

Abstract: A massaging device having an applicator driven by a plurality of driving unit to move along two or more different axes to generate a combined massaging action to be applied to the user's body. A controller holds individual speed data each defining a speed at which each of the driving units reciprocates the applicator along each of the different axes, and to control the driving units to reciprocate the applicator in accordance with the associated speed data. The controller controls the speed of the applicator along one of the axes independently from the speed of the applicator moving along another of the axes. Accordingly, the applicator's movements along the different axes can be free from being interfered with each other even being subject to a load, thereby assuring to continue the combined massaging action.

Abstract: An exercise assisting device comprising a left step and a right step for bearing user's feet, respectively, a step driving means configured to provide a reciprocating slide motion of reciprocating and sliding the steps forward-rearward and leftward-rightward, the step driving means configured to vary a height of a front end of each the steps relative to a height of a rear end of each the steps in synchronization with the reciprocating slide motion, the step driving means configured to provide the reciprocating slide motion to each the step such that the steps travel along paths, respectively, the paths extend in non-parallel relation with each other such that the paths are laterally spaced by a distance which is different from one end to the other end of the path which gives a reciprocating slide stroke of the steps.

Abstract: An exercise assisting device comprises steps, a step driving means, and a movable range variation means. The steps are provided for bearing the user's feet, respectively. The step driving means is configured to move the steps so as to provide the exercise to the feet on the steps. The movable range variation means is configured to expand a movable range of the steps according to weight applied to the steps, whereby an additional movable range is added to the movable range, said movable range is determined by the step driving means. The movable range variation means is configured to generate resistive force when the steps are located in the additional movable range. The movable range variation means is configured to apply the resistive force to the steps such that the resistive force cancels the weight applied to the steps.

Abstract: An exercise aiding apparatus has: a step (2) on which user's foot can be placed; a step driving means (5) for causing the step (2) to move, and causing thereby the foot placed on the step to exercise; and a motion allowable zone modifying means for expanding a motion allowable range of the steps (2) established by the step driving means in accordance with a load acting on the step (2). The motion allowable range of the step (2) is expanded when the user intentionally increases the load acting on the step (2).

Abstract: A massage apparatus includes: a supporting body 1 that supports a body of a massage recipient on his front side and a massage mechanism 2 that causes a massage head 28 which is disposed behind the supporting body 1 to massage a back of the body of the massage recipient. The massage apparatus further includes a contour measurement unit 3 that measures contour of the body of the massage recipient supported by the supporting body 1, and the massage mechanism 2 includes a controller C that controls the movement of the massage head 28 based on information of the body contour obtained by the contour measurement unit 3. The massage apparatus can give a suitable massage to the back of the massage recipient in accordance with a different size of the back different per each massage recipient and a position of a part to be massaged depending on the size.

Abstract: The massaging device in this invention comprises a massaging mechanism, arms 3, and carriers 300. The carrier 300 has a shaft 30 which is fixed to the arm 3. The shaft 30 holds the massaging head 2 which is rotatable relative to the shaft 30. The carrier 300 carries the heat source 4 therein, and has a disc extending toward the radial direction of the shaft 30. The carrier 300 or the massaging head 20 includes a heat transfer means extending radially of the shaft from the carrier to an outer circumferential surface of the massaging head 20. This configuration makes it possible to transfer the heat to the outer circumferential surface of the carrier 300 or the massaging head.

Abstract: A vane pump includes a rotor chamber; a rotor eccentrically accommodated in the rotor chamber; a plurality of vanes attached to the rotor, each vane having a leading end adapted to make sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the rotor chamber. The vane pump includes working compartments surrounded by inner surfaces of the rotor chamber, an outer peripheral surface of the rotor, and the vanes; an inlet port through which a working fluid is drawn into a working compartment; and an outlet port through which the working fluid is discharged from a working compartment. An engaging portion is formed in a peripheral end portion of a thrust surface of the rotor and an engaged portion with which the engaging portion engages in a non-contact state is formed in an inner surface region of the rotor chamber facing the thrust surface of the rotor in a non-contact state.

Abstract: A vane pump includes a rotor chamber; a rotor accommodated in the rotor chamber; a plurality of vanes attached to the rotor, each vane having a leading end adapted to make sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the rotor chamber. The vane pump includes working compartments surrounded by inner surfaces of the rotor chamber, an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and the vanes; an inlet port through which a working fluid is drawn into a working compartment; and an outlet port through which the working fluid is discharged from a working compartment. A cutout portion is formed in a leading end portion of each vane on each of at least one of a leading and a trailing side of the leading end portion, the leading end of each vane having a width smaller than that of a base end portion of each vane.

Abstract: A vane pump includes slits formed in a base portion of a rotary unit rotating in a casing and extend radially from a rotation axis of a rotary unit to be opened outwardly in a radial direction, a vane received in each of the slits to be protruded from or retreated into the slit, an annular chamber formed around the base portion in the casing and pump rooms formed by defining the annular chamber by using the vanes. The vane pump is operated to discharge fluid sucked into an associated pump room by rotating the rotary unit and thereby periodically increasing or reducing volume of the pump rooms. The vane pump further includes a fluid force generating portion provided on at least one of the rotary unit and the casing to generate fluid force to the upper side in an axial direction of the rotation axis by rotation of the rotary unit.

Abstract: A vane pump includes a rotor chamber; a rotor eccentrically accommodated in the rotor chamber; a plurality of vanes attached to the rotor, each vane having a leading end adapted to make sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the rotor chamber. The vane pump includes working compartments surrounded by inner surfaces of the rotor chamber, an outer peripheral surface of the rotor, and the vanes; an inlet port through which a working fluid is drawn into a working compartment; and an outlet port through which the working fluid is discharged from a working compartment. An engaging portion is formed in a peripheral end portion of a thrust surface of the rotor and an engaged portion with which the engaging portion engages in a non-contact state is formed in an inner surface region of the rotor chamber facing the thrust surface of the rotor in a non-contact state.

Abstract: A vane pump includes a rotor chamber; a rotor accommodated in the rotor chamber; a plurality of vanes attached to the rotor, each vane having a leading end adapted to make sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the rotor chamber. The vane pump includes working compartments surrounded by inner surfaces of the rotor chamber, an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and the vanes; an inlet port through which a working fluid is drawn into a working compartment; and an outlet port through which the working fluid is discharged from a working compartment. A cutout portion is formed in a leading end portion of each vane on each of at least one of a leading and a trailing side of the leading end portion, the leading end of each vane having a width smaller than that of a base end portion of each vane.

Abstract: A massaging device has an applicator driven by a plurality of driving unit to move along two or more different axes to generate a combined massaging action to be applied to the user's body. A controller holds individual speed data each defining a speed at which each of the driving units reciprocates the applicator along each of the different axes, and to control the driving units to reciprocate the applicator in accordance with the associated speed data. The controller controls the speed of the applicator along one of the axes independently from the speed of the applicator moving along another of the axes. Accordingly, the applicator's movements along the different axes can be free from being interfered with each other even being subject to a load, thereby assuring to continue the combined massaging action.