Abstract: A leg training equipment has a base fixed in place, a support portion configured to support a part of a user's body, and a coupling mechanism provided between the base and the support portion. The coupling mechanism movably couples the support portion to the base such that a load applied to a leg of the user by the user's own weight changes by a relative positional displacement between a foot position and a position of center of gravity of the user. In addition, the coupling mechanism limits a movable direction of the support portion such that at least when the load applied to the leg increases, a direction of the relative positional displacement between the foot position and the position of center of gravity is substantially limited to a direction of flexion and extension of knee joint. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently provide the user with an exercise that applies less load on the knee joint.

Abstract: A massage device (10) includes a seat (12), a backrest (13), and an ottoman (14). The ottoman (14) includes a leg rest (14a) and a foot rest (14)b on one side, and a leg placing portion (14c), on which legs of a user can be placed, on the other side. Also, the ottoman (14) is supported to be rotational by a support shaft (16a) provided on a pair of support frames (16) of the seat (12) to extend in the lateral direction. By rotating the ottoman (14), the ottoman (14) is shifted between a massage capable state, in which recesses (14a, 14b) are exposed to the front of the seat (12), and a leg placing state, in which the leg placing portion (14c) is exposed to the front of the seat (12). The leg rest (14a) of the ottoman 14 includes airbags. The foot rest (14b) is supported to be slidable with respect to the leg rest (14a).

Abstract: A massage device (10) includes a seat (12), a backrest (13), and an ottoman (14). Airbags (23), which serve as massage means, are provided on one side of the ottoman (14). A leg placing portion (14c), on which legs of a user can be placed, is provided on the other side, which is the opposite side. The ottoman (14) is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft (16a), which extends in a lateral direction. The ottoman (14) is selectively switched between a massage capable state and a leg placing state by rotating the ottoman (14). The ottoman (14) includes a leg rest (14a) and a foot rest (14b). The foot rest (14b) is formed to rotate independently. The foot rest (14b) has urging members (31). The urging members (31) urge the distal end of the foot rest (14b) that is at the front in the massage capable state toward the rotary shaft (16a) by a predetermined force.

Abstract: The invention allows a user to exercise effectively. A desired exercise effect is not obtained when the user puts too much weight onto a seat. To prevent this, an exercise assist device comprises a limit switch that detects whether a predetermined load (weight) is applied to foot rests, i.e., whether the user steps on the foot rests properly and exercises successfully. A control circuit controls a drive device for swinging the seat; obtains the number of successes relative to the total number of swings, and a success rate, based on detection results by the limit switch; displays the number of successes and the success rate on a display panel, and controls the rotational speed of a motor via a motor control circuit. As a result, the device determines automatically the degree of exercise proficiency of the user, and allows the user to exercise effectively in accordance with his/her degree of the proficiency.

Abstract: An exercise assisting apparatus includes a seat supporting buttocks and a foot base supporting the bottom of the feet, and is arranged to swing the seat for contracting leg muscles. An elevator mechanism regulates a position of the seat. A display and manipulator unit has a physique designating section providing a plurality of classes classified according to the user's height, and a moving direction instructing section with pushbuttons instructing the moving direction of the elevator mechanism. The elevator mechanism is controlled by an elevator controller, and includes a position adjusting section configured to read out a position of the elevator mechanism corresponding to the physique designated at the physique designating section for rough adjustment of the position of the elevator mechanism and a position modifying section configured to make a precise adjustment of the position of the elevator mechanism while the moving direction instructing section is manipulated.

Abstract: An exercise assisting apparatus has a seat with a contact surface of which position is varied within an adjustable range defined by a user's physique in order to successfully adjust the user's knee at a desired bent angle irrespective of the user's height. The seat 21 bears the buttock of the user M with the user's feet resting on a foot supporting surface on top of a foot stand 40. The seat 21 is displaced by a seat driver 50 with a motor in a direction of varying the user's weight acting on the legs of the user M. The seat 21 is driven by an elevator mechanism 60 to move up and down together with the seat driver 50. The elevator mechanism 60 moves the seat 21 in a direction which is restricted to a line inclined rearwardly and upwardly with respect to a vertical direction and deducted by a user of maximum physique and a user of minimum physique.

Abstract: An exercise assisting apparatus is capable of roughly adjusting a user's knee bending angle generally in accordance with a user's physique followed by a further adjustment in account of individual differences. The exercise assisting apparatus includes a seat supporting buttocks of a user M and a foot base supporting the bottom of the user's feet, and is arranged to swing the seat for urging muscle contraction of the user's legs. An elevator mechanism 60 regulates a position of the seat. A display and manipulator unit 32 has a physique designating section 81 provide a plurality of classes classified according to the user's height, and a moving direction instructing section 82 with pushbuttons which instructs the moving direction of the elevator mechanism 60.

Abstract: The invention allows a user to exercise effectively. A desired exercise effect is not obtained when the user puts too much weight onto a seat. To prevent this, an exercise assist device comprises a limit switch that detects whether a predetermined load (weight) is applied to foot rests, i.e., whether the user steps on the foot rests properly and exercises successfully. A control circuit controls a drive device for swinging the seat; obtains the number of successes relative to the total number of swings, and a success rate, based on detection results by the limit switch; displays the number of successes and the success rate on a display panel, and controls the rotational speed of a motor via a motor control circuit. As a result, the device determines automatically the degree of exercise proficiency of the user, and allows the user to exercise effectively in accordance with his/her degree of the proficiency.

Abstract: An exercise assisting apparatus has a seat with a contact surface of which position is varied within an adjustable range defined by a user's physique in order to successfully adjust the user's knee at a desired bent angle irrespective of the user's height. The seat 21 bears the buttock of the user M with the user's feet resting on a foot supporting surface on top of a foot stand 40. The seat 21 is displaced by a seat driver 50 with a motor in a direction of varying the user's weight acting on the legs of the user M. The seat 21 is driven by an elevator mechanism 60 to move up and down together with the seat driver 50. The elevator mechanism 60 moves the seat 21 in a direction which is restricted to a line inclined rearwardly and upwardly with respect to a vertical direction and deducted by a user of maximum physique and a user of minimum physique.

Abstract: A wedge-shaped tilt provider is attached in contact with the bottom surface of a seat and the upper surface of a seat connection member of a rocking mechanism to set the seat to an initial inclined position relative to a reference position. By setting the seat to a forwardly inclined position from a horizontal position where the seated surface of the seat is set horizontal, the user straddling the seat can increase the amount of muscle activity of his or her rectus muscle of abdomen, or abdominal muscle. Further, by setting the seat to a rearwardly inclined position, the user straddling the seat can increase the amount of muscle activity of his or her back muscle such as paraspinal muscle.

Abstract: A leg training equipment has a base fixed in place, a support portion configured to support a part of a user's body, and a coupling mechanism provided between the base and the support portion. The coupling mechanism movably couples the support portion to the base such that a load applied to a leg of the user by the user's own weight changes by a relative positional displacement between a foot position and a position of center of gravity of the user. In addition, the coupling mechanism limits a movable direction of the support portion such that at least when the load applied to the leg increases, a direction of the relative positional displacement between the foot position and the position of center of gravity is substantially limited to a direction of flexion and extension of knee joint. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently provide the user with an exercise that applies less load on the knee joint.

Abstract: A wedge-shaped tilt provider is attached in contact with the bottom surface of a seat and the upper surface of a seat connection member of a rocking mechanism to set the seat to an initial inclined position relative to a reference position. By setting the seat to a forwardly inclined position from a horizontal position where the seated surface of the seat is set horizontal, the user straddling the seat can increase the amount of muscle activity of his or her rectus muscle of abdomen, or abdominal muscle. Further, by setting the seat to a rearwardly inclined position, the user straddling the seat can increase the amount of muscle activity of his or her back muscle such as paraspinal muscle.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an exhaust gas recirculation system and an automatic transmission which shifts in accordance with a plurality of shift patterns including a shift pattern in which upshift occurs at relatively low vehicle speeds and a shift pattern in which upshift occurs at relatively high vehicle speeds. The exhaust gas recirculation system includes an exhaust gas recirculation control mechanism which reduces the amount of exhaust gas to be returned to the combustion chamber when the former shift pattern is selected.