Abstract: A massage apparatus includes a foldable base plate, carriers with massage rollers thereon capable of running on the base plate, a pair of guide members arranged on the base plate and foldable together therewith, each having therein passages, and a drive mechanism for reciprocating the driving belt in the passages to transmit driving force to the carriers.

Abstract: In an apparatus for manufacturing a spring unit, a pair of movable bodies are slidably mounted on a guide rail which is extended on a frame structure. A pair of rollers are provided on the respective movable bodies and a grip mechanism is arranged on the frame. The ends of a single wire are held between the pairs of rollers and the intermediate portion of the wire is gripped by a grip mechanism so that the single wire is stretched between the movable bodies. A swing arm is axially and swingably supported on each of the movable bodies and a forming roller is pivotably fixed to the respective swing arms. A guide is arranged between the forming rollers and the rollers and a pitch rod is arranged between the guide and the forming roller.

Abstract: A plurality of main springs and a plurality of intermediate support springs are disposed and fixed on a rectangular base plate. Each main spring has a linear connecting rod portion and two coil spring portions such that one end of each of the two coil spring portions is coupled to a corresponding one of two ends of the first linear connecting rod portion. The main springs are disposed such that these connecting rod portions are perpendicular to each other in a matrix form. The other end of each of the coil springs is fastened to the base plate. Each intermediate support spring has a connecting rod portion and two coil spring portions. The connecting rod portion of each intermediate support spring is shorter than that of each main spring. One end of each of the coil spring portions of the intermediate support spring is coupled to a corresponding one of two ends of the connecting rod portion of the intermediate support spring.

Abstract: A self-contained tent includes a flat rectangular case which can be freely opened or closed. A tent sheet and a plurality of substantially U-shaped frame pipes are held in the case. The two ends of each frame pipe are pivotally supported in the case through a pair of supports. When the tent sheet is held in the case, the sheet covers the frame pipes. An edge of the tent sheet is attached to the edge of the case through a seal element, and the frame pipes are fastened at predetermined inner surface positions of the tent sheet.

Abstract: A cushion unit with an opening section is placed atop a bed frame. Rails are laid under the bed frame, and a truck reciprocated by a drive mechanism is placed on the rails for traveling. The truck carries movable units on which an elastic pad and a urinal are mounted. Each of the units is provided with guide rollers for vertical movement within guide members extending under the bed frame, facing the opening section. The guide rollers associated with the elastic pad or the urinal engage with the guide members according to the direction of travel of the truck, thus raising either the elastic pad or the urinal from the truck to fit the same into the opening section of the bed cushion unit.

Abstract: A spring unit comprises a rectangular base plate, a rectangular frame, first main springs, second main springs, third main springs and fourth main springs arranged on the base plate, and intermediate support springs also placed on the base plate. Each of the first and third main springs has one straight rod portion and two coil portions which are connected at one end to the ends of the straight portion. Each of the second and fourth main springs has one straight rod portion and two torsion bar spring portions which are connected at one end to the ends of the straight rod portion. The first and second main springs are parallel to each other and alternately arranged on said rectangular base plate. The third and fourth main springs are parallel to each other and alternately arranged on said rectangular base plate, with the straight rod portions arranged at right angles to those of the first and second main springs.

Abstract: A mattress comprises an upper layer having a number of projections formed integrally on the top surface thereof and a lower layer, the upper and lower layers being formed of foamed plastic capable of being deformed by compressive load and restored. A hygroscopic layer formed of a highly hygroscopic material such as cotton is disposed under the upper layer to absorb water from the upper layer. Between the hygroscopic layer and the lower layer lies a middle layer which has a number of columnar core members arranged parallel to and coupled with one another. The core members are formed from relatively hard foamed plastic. An outer covering covers the upper, hygroscopic, middle, and lower layers. Upper and lower spaces are defined between the middle and hygroscopic layers and between the middle and lower layers, respectively, and communicate each other. The water absorbed by the hygroscopic layer is discharged into the upper and lower spaces, where it is discharged into the open air through the outer covering.

Abstract: In a tilting health table apparatus, a pair of first handles are horizontally set on both sides of the upper end portion of a leg assembly. A table is swingably fitted to the leg assembly to securely hold the user and the table is securely set in a prescribed position by means of first, second and third stopper mechanisms. A foot board is mounted on one end portion of the table, and a pair of second handles are fitted to both sides of the foot board.

Abstract: A bed apparatus with an urinal comprises a bed frame placed with a cushion unit thereon, a cover pivotally provided at an opening formed at the cushion unit, a urinal slidably held along the longitudinal direction of the bed frame and mounted with a guide frame along the sliding direction thereof, and a shielding unit pivotally provided to be urged in a upright direction at the top end of the urinal and normally held in horizontal state underneath the cushion unit.

Abstract: A mattress for use on a bed and settee comprises a spring unit, at least one cushion, a protection layer arranged between the spring unit and the cushion, and an outer covering for covering these component members. The protection layer includes a frame located at the circumference and outside of the spring unit, and a net tensioned inside the frame, the protection layer being made of synthetic resin and having the frame and net formed integral thereto. The frame has a flange with which end turns of coil springs arranged in the spring unit and adjacent to the frame can be contacted. The frame of each protection layer provided with the flange has sufficient rigidity and serves as a reinforcing member.

Abstract: Apparatus for chiropractic therapy and massage having a housing on which the user lies, pressure means including a number of pressure rollers disposed in the housing which rolls to apply pressure on the user lying on the housing, a support frame provided in the housing and supporting the pressure roller, a pair of pulleys provided in the housing, and a wire stretched between the pulleys to reciprocate the support frame. The apparatus further comprises a spring coupled to both ends of the wire for absorbing the elongation and contraction of the wire; and first and second interlocking members coupled to both ends of the wire and to the support frame for transmitting the driving force of the wire directly to the support frame without transmitting the driving force to the spring.

Abstract: A mattress includes a pair of ridges made of elastomeric material and disposed respectively on both sides of an elastomeric layer which is laid on the top of a spring unit and covered with an outer covering, the ridges protruding from the elastomeric layer. Each ridge partially or fully extends in the longitudinal direction of the elastomeric layer. A user lying on the mattress is prevented from falling from the mattress by the ridges.

Abstract: A ball-and-screw power transmission device includes a screw or a threaded rod on which power to be transmitted is applied, an outer cylindrical member disposed around the screw, and at least one ball or spherical member located in contact between the adjacent turns of the thread on the screw and the inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical member, the rotational power being thus transmitted through the ball to the outer cylindrical member as a converted linear power. Means is further provided to restrain behavior of the ball during the inverse-directional and the forward-directional operations of the device relative to the direction of a load for automatically changing a reduction ratio between the two operations.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a fermenting heater for a vessel which is disposed below the bottom of the vessel and a fermenting heater for an oven chamber which, together with the fermenting heater for the vessel, can be turned ON. A kneading switch, fermenting/baking switch and a release switch for opening these switches are disposed on the front surface of the apparatus housing. Likewise, an exclusive time setter, automatic time setter and baking time setter are disposed on the front surface of the apparatus housing. A kneading circuit, fermenting/baking circuit, kneading/fermenting circuit and fermenting/baking circuit are selectively controlled by selecting a combination of the switches and time setters to perform a kneading step, fermenting step and baking step either singly or in combination.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprises an apparatus housing divided by a partition plate into upper and lower chambers. An oven chamber is defined in the lower chamber and has a baking heater therein. A vessel having a kneading blade is disposed on the upper chamber. The upper chamber includes a drive mechanism for rotating the blade. A fermenting heater is provided below the bottom of the vessel to heat the interior of the vessel to a fermenting temperature. Dough is kneaded and fermented in the vessel and baked in the oven chamber. Another fermenting heater is disposed in the oven chamber to preheat the interior of the oven chamber for baking, while the dough is being kneaded and fermented in the vessel.

Abstract: A method for sewing together fabric pieces which comprises the steps of sewing elastic cord-like core material such as polyethylene cord along the edge portions of two or more fabric pieces, automatically engaging the edge portions of the fabric pieces with each other by guiding the sewn core material, and sewing together the engaged edge portions to render an assembly of fabric pieces adapted for use as a cover; and a machine for sewing together fabric pieces which is provided with a core material-guiding mechanism for clamping core materials previously sewn to the edge portions of two or more fabric pieces being sewn together, thereby engaging the edge portions with each other.