Abstract: An assist device includes an actuator; a first body-worn unit including a belt body; right and left arms; and second body-worn units that are attached to distal parts of the arms and worn on thighs of the user. The belt body includes an upper belt and a lower belt provided on a back side of the user, the upper belt and the lower belt respectively extending along an upper side and a lower side of buttocks of the user. The assist device includes a restraining belt that connects the second body-worn units to the lower belt and restrains the lower belt from moving upward.

Abstract: An assist device includes: a first brace configured to be worn on at least a waist of a user; an arm configured to extend along a thigh of the user and to rotate with respect to the first brace; an actuator configured to generate torque that rotates the arm; and a second brace provided on the arm and configured to be worn on the thigh. The arm includes an arm body and a holding portion. The holding portion is provided on the arm body such that the holding portion is movable in a longitudinal direction of the arm body. The holding portion holds the second brace such that the second brace is rotatable.

Abstract: An assist device includes a first harness, a second harness, a belt body, a mechanical unit and an attachment-detachment portion. The first harness is configured to be fitted to at least one of a shoulder region and a breast region of a user. The second harness is configured to be fitted to a leg region or a waist region of the user. The belt body is provided so as to extend to the first harness and to the second harness along a back side of the user. The mechanical unit includes an actuator provided in one harness of the first harness and the second harness and configured to wind and unwind a part of the belt body. The attachment-detachment portion is provided in the harness and the mechanical unit and is configured to detachably attach the mechanical unit to the harness.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes: an inner shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis and extend in an axial direction are formed; an outer shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis and extend in the axial direction are formed; a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between each of the recessed grooves and the corresponding recessed groove so as to form a line in the axial direction; a pair of stoppers; and a buffer body unit. Each of the stoppers restricts falling of a rolling body at an end portion of the corresponding line from the corresponding recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body unit integrally includes a pair of buffer bodies, and a connection portion that connects the pair of buffer bodies.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between recessed grooves of the inner shaft and the outer shaft and form a line in an axial direction, a stopper, and a buffer body. The stopper restricts falling of the rolling bodies from the recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body is interposed between the stopper and a rolling body at an end portion of the line. An end surface of the buffer body includes an inclined abutment portion that is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the inner shaft. The abutment portion abuts against the rolling body at the end portion of the line at a stroke end of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A shaft-to-universal joint coupling structure includes: a column shaft; a universal joint including a shaft yoke; a sleeve to which the column shaft and the universal joint are fitted; and a coupling pin inserted into a through-hole of the shaft yoke and an insertion hole of the sleeve. The coupling pin has a small-diameter portion inserted into the insertion hole, and a step portion positioned inward of an inner peripheral face of the sleeve in the radial direction of the sleeve.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between recessed grooves of the inner shaft and the outer shaft and form a line in an axial direction, a stopper, and a buffer body. The stopper restricts falling of the rolling bodies from the recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body is interposed between the stopper and a rolling body at an end portion of the line. An end surface of the buffer body includes an inclined abutment portion that is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the inner shaft. The abutment portion abuts against the rolling body at the end portion of the line at a stroke end of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes: an inner shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis and extend in an axial direction are formed; an outer shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis and extend in the axial direction are formed; a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between each of the recessed grooves and the corresponding recessed groove so as to form a line in the axial direction; a pair of stoppers; and a buffer body unit. Each of the stoppers restricts falling of a rolling body at an end portion of the corresponding line from the corresponding recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body unit integrally includes a pair of buffer bodies, and a connection portion that connects the pair of buffer bodies.

Abstract: A shaft-to-universal joint coupling structure includes: a column shaft; a universal joint including a shaft yoke; a sleeve to which the column shaft and the universal joint are fitted; and a coupling pin inserted into a through-hole of the shaft yoke and an insertion hole of the sleeve. The coupling pin has a small-diameter portion inserted into the insertion hole, and a step portion positioned inward of an inner peripheral face of the sleeve in the radial direction of the sleeve.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft (5) has an inner shaft (12) and a tubular outer shaft (13) that are fitted to each other so that they can move relative to each other in the axial direction and that they can transmit torque to each other. A plurality of balls (14) are aligned between respective raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13). Limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) are provided that limit the amount of relative rotation to not more than a predetermined amount of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13) when a ball (14) comes off the raceway grooves (15; 16). The limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) include a pair of engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) engageable with each other in a circumferential direction (C1). The engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) are provided at ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28) that are adjacent to the raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13), respectively.

Abstract: An expandable shaft includes an outer shaft and an inner shaft. Plural rolling elements are pinched elastically in a space between raceway grooves of the outer shaft and the inner shaft. An outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft includes flat portions parallel to each other. An inner peripheral surface of the outer shaft includes flat limiting portions parallel to each other. The respective limiting portions limit relative rotation of the outer shaft and the inner shaft by engaging with corresponding flat portions. A deformation promoting portion is placed in a specific region of the outer shaft between a plane including a center of curvature of the raceway groove of the outer shaft as well as a central axis line of the outer shaft and each limiting portion.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft (5) has an inner shaft (12) and tubular outer shaft (13) that are fitted to each other so that they can move relative to each other in the axial direction and that they can transmit torque to each other. A row of balls (14) is placed in respective raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13). Limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) are provided in the telescopic shaft (5), and the mechanisms limit the amount of relative rotation of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13) when a ball (14) comes off the raceway grooves (15; 16). The limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) include a pair of engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) engaging with each other in a circumferential direction (C1). The engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) are provided at ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28), and the ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28) are adjacent to the raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13), respectively.

Abstract: An erroneous assembling preventing tool for a universal joint prevents a shaft from being fixed to a cylindrical section of a yoke main body of the universal joint by fastening a bolt in a state where the shaft is not inserted into a normal position of an axial direction of the cylindrical section. The erroneous assembling preventing tool comprises a fixing section fixed to the yoke main body, a prevention section arranged between first and second tabs of the yoke main body, and a driving section for driving a prevention section. The prevention section is displaceable to a prevention position at which an end of the bolt can be prevented from being inserted through a screw hole of the second tab of the yoke and a prevention release position. The driving section displaces the prevention section to the prevention release position when it is pressed by an end of the shaft inserted into the normal position of the axial direction of the cylindrical section.

Abstract: A universal joint (4; 6) comprises an outer ring (28) held in a fitting hole (25) of a yoke (20; 21) and supporting a trunnion (24) so as to be rotatable with a needle roller (27) sandwiched therebetween. The outer ring (28) comprises a main body (281) fitted in the fitting hole (25) and a closed end (282) provided at one end in the main body (281). The trunnion (24) comprises an end surface (24a) having a ball holding hole (29; 29A) formed thereon. A ball receiving section (31; 31A) for elastically receiving a ball (30) held in the ball holding hole (29; 29A) is provided at the closed end (282) of the outer ring (28). The ball receiving section (31; 31A) comprises either one of a conical tapered surface (31) and a concavely-curved surface (31A). The radius of curvature (Rb) of the concavely-curved surface (31A) is larger than the radius (Ra) of the ball (30).

Abstract: An expandable shaft (5) includes an outer shaft (13;13A;13B;13C;13D) and an inner shaft (14;14A;14B;14C;14D;14E;14F). Plural rolling elements (15) are pinched elastically in a space between raceway groves (16;17) of the outer shaft (13;13A;13B;13C;13D) and the inner shaft (14;14A;14B;14C;14D;14E;14F) by an elastic restoring force of the outer shaft (13;13A;13B;13C;13D). An outer peripheral surface (141) of the inner shaft (14;14A;14B;14C;14D;14E;14F) includes at least a pair of flat portions (21;22;41;42;43;44;45;46) that are parallel to each other. An inner peripheral surface (131) of the outer shaft (13;13A;13B;13C;13D) includes at least a pair of flat limiting portions (31;32;71;72;73;74) that are parallel to each other. The respective limiting portions (31;32;71;72;73;74) limit a quantity of relative rotation of the outer shaft (13;13A;13B;13C;13D) and the inner shaft (14;14A;14B;14C;14D;14E;14F) by engaging with the corresponding flat portions (21;22;41;42;43;44;45;46).

Abstract: An erroneous assembling preventing tool for a universal joint prevents a shaft from being fixed to a cylindrical section of a yoke main body of the universal joint by fastening a bolt in a state where the shaft is not inserted into a normal position of an axial direction of the cylindrical section. The erroneous assembling preventing tool comprises a fixing section fixed to the yoke main body, a prevention section arranged between first and second tabs of the yoke main body, and a driving section for driving a prevention section. The prevention section is displaceable to a prevention position at which an end of the bolt can be prevented from being inserted through a screw hole of the second tab of the yoke and a prevention release position. The driving section displaces the prevention section to the prevention release position when it is pressed by an end of the shaft inserted into the normal position of the axial direction of the cylindrical section.