Abstract: A cylinder containing gas has a valve and is connected to a delivery side through a filling pipe, a primary pipe, a first air-operated valve, a pressure reducing valve, a secondary pipe, and a second air-operated valve. Inert gas flows into the primary pipe through an air-operated valve. The primary pipe is connected to a vacuum generator through an air-operated valve and a pipe. Gas remaining in the primary pipe is purged as exhaust gas by automatically repeating leaving-pipe-in-pressurized-state purge for pressurizing the inside of the primary pipe by the inert gas and leaving the pipe in this state for 2 to 10 minutes and evacuating the pipe for 20 seconds. Gas remaining in the primary pipe is purged with high-efficiency, and the vacuum generator is stopped while the inside of the primary pipe is pressurized in the leaving-pipe-in-pressurized-state purge and the just-before-replacement purge.

Abstract: A seat suspension includes a lower frame mounted on a floor of an automotive body, an upper frame vertically movably mounted on the lower frame, a magnetic spring for elastically supporting the upper frame, and an equilibrium adjusting device for adjusting the position of equilibrium of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. The equilibrium adjusting device includes a torsion bar for elastically supporting the upper frame and a link mechanism connected to the torsion bar. The upper frame is moved vertically by rotating the torsion bar via the link mechanism so that the position of equilibrium of the upper frame relative to the lower frame may be adjusted according to a load applied to the upper frame.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention is to reduce a backlash at the time of locking of a seat back and to reduce clearance in the thrust direction of a worm so as to prevent generation of an abnormal noise with a simple structure suitable for mass production. Substantially cone-shaped recesses 15 and 16 are provided respectively on both end faces of the worm 4 pivotably attached on a seat cushion, and inside end faces of a pair of holders 13 and 14 to support these two end portions, and at the same time balls 17 are rotatably housed respectively in a pair of spaces formed in the recesses 15 and 16 facing each other to form a pair of bearings 11 and 12 which rotatably support the worm 4. A press means composed of a coil spring 25 and the like which presses the worm 4 to the worm wheel 5 is provided in a locking mechanism.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to suppress rebound of a human body when receiving a large impact load accompanying a collision or the like. A back frame member 20 and a seat frame member 10 are individually formed by welding or caulking, and a link member 30 for connecting both is attached to the back frame member 20 and the seat frame member 10 by welding or caulking. Each of the frame members is provided with a cushioning member as a tension structure. Upon receipt of an impact vibration or an impact force at a predetermined magnitude or more, the tension of the cushioning member provided as the tension structure lowers to be able to exhibit high damping characteristics.

Abstract: A urine absorbent bag includes a pair of pad sections placed one upon another. These pad sections are sealed together along one of the longitudinally opposite ends extending transversely of the bag and along adjacent side edge portions extending longitudinally of the bag and being contiguous to the one end. The pad sections are left unsealed along the other longitudinal end and along the remaining zones of the respective side edges extending adjacent the sealed side edge portions to define foldable regions. A guide structure for insertion of a wearer's penis is formed in one of the foldable regions.

Abstract: A locking device is to be mounted on a bed of a truck or within an ambulance to lock or fasten goods on the bed or a stretcher within the ambulance. The locking device includes a frame, an operating handle rotatably mounted on the frame, a link mechanism connected to the operating handle and having a recess defined therein, a hook connected to the operating handle via the link mechanism, and a locking pin slidable relative to the operating handle. The hook is locked by introducing the locking pin into the recess and is unlocked by moving the locking pin apart from the recess.

Abstract: A cylinder containing gas has a valve and is connected to a delivery side through a filling pipe, a primary pipe, a first air-operated valve, a pressure reducing valve, a secondary pipe, and a second air-operated valve. Inert gas flows into the primary pipe through an air-operated valve. The primary pipe is connected to a vacuum generator through an air-operated valve and a pipe. Gas remaining in the primary pipe is purged as exhaust gas by automatically repeating leaving-pipe-in-pressurized-state purge for pressurizing the inside of the primary pipe by the inert gas and leaving the pipe in this state for 2 to 10 minutes and evacuating the pipe for 20 seconds. Gas remaining in the primary pipe is purged with high-efficiency, and the vacuum generator is stopped while the inside of the primary pipe is pressurized in the leaving-pipe-in-pressurized-state purge and the just-before-replacement purge.

Abstract: An automobile seat or recliner has a recliner adjuster for adjusting the inclination of a seat back relative to a seat cushion. The recliner adjuster is provided with a backlash reducing structure that includes a worm gear attached rotatably to the seat cushion, a sector gear fixed to the seat back and held in engagement with the worm gear, and a pressing member for pressing the sector gear to the worm gear to reduce backlash therebetween.

Abstract: A stepless slide adjuster having a safety lock includes a first member and a second member, which can move relatively to each other, a nut fastened to the first member, a screw rotatably attached to the second member and screwed into the nut, a manual locking device for manually locking the screw, and an emergency locking device having a brake drum and brake shoes for emergency locking the screw. The lead angle of the nut and the screw is set to be larger than the friction angle between them. When the locking with the manual locking device is released, and the screw rotates with an acceleration or a speed that exceeds a predetermined value, then the brake shoes spread and frictionally engage the brake drum, thereby impeding a relative movement between the first member and the second member.

Abstract: A vibration isolator on which a stretcher is to be placed is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the vibration isolator. The locking mechanism is mounted on a movable frame of the vibration isolator, and includes a stationary portion and a movable portion mounted on the stationary portion so as to undergo a rocking motion at least in a vertical direction. The locking mechanism also includes first and second lock pins movable between a locking position and a locking release position, a link mechanism connected to the first and second lock pins, and an operation knob for operating the first and second lock pins via the link mechanism. When the operation knob is moved from the locking release position to the locking position, the link mechanism moves the first and second lock pins toward each other to sandwich a portion of the stationary portion therebetween, thereby locking the movable portion with respect to the stationary portion.

Abstract: A vibration isolator is mounted on a floor of an ambulance and includes a lower frame movably mounted on the floor and an upper frame vertically movably mounted on the lower frame via a link mechanism. The vibration isolator also includes a plurality of magnetic springs interposed between the upper and lower frames and each having a plurality of permanent magnets with like magnetic poles opposed to each other. A vertical vibration of the upper frame is restrained by the plurality of magnetic springs, and the front side of the vibration isolator is lifted upon receipt of a forward acceleration.

Abstract: A urine absorbent pad is folded along a transverse center folding line extending across a full length of the absorbent pad into upper and lower halves. An inner side of the absorbent pad is formed with adhesive zones extending over a desired extent of the respective side edges and one of the upper and lower halves divided by the transverse center folding line is formed with a guide arrangement for insertion of a wearer's penis extending through a thickness of the absorbent pad.

Abstract: A vibration mechanism having a magnetic spring includes a lower frame, an upper frame vertically movably mounted on the lower frame via a plurality of link mechanisms, and at least two permanent magnets mounted on the lower frame and the upper frame, respectively, with the same magnetic poles opposed to each other. A plurality of springs are connected to the link mechanisms to produce a lifting force of the upper frame. The total spring constant of the permanent magnets and the springs is partially set to a negative value or substantially zero.

Abstract: A vibration generating mechanism includes first and second permanent magnets spaced from each other with the same magnetic poles opposed to each other, and an electromotive actuator for driving the first permanent magnet. The electromotive actuator moves the first permanent magnet periodically and reciprocatingly relative to the second permanent magnet to change the opposing area of the first and second permanent magnets thereby causing the second permanent magnet to vibrate relative to the first permanent magnet.

Abstract: A seat adjuster has a first member and a second member, one of which is movable relative to the other. A lock mechanism for locking the seat adjuster includes a conversion mechanism for converting deceleration or acceleration applied to a seat to a thrust force, and a lock unit for locking the seat adjuster by making use of the thrust force when deceleration or acceleration of not smaller than a predetermined value is applied to the seat.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a lock mechanism for locking a seat slide unit on which a vehicle seat is mounted or a seat reclining unit mounted on the vehicle seat. A screw rotatably mounted on an upper rail is in mesh with a nut secured to a lower rail or mounted on a seat back frame. Each of the screw and the nut has a lead angle greater than an angle of friction thereof so that the screw can rotate in response to a load applied to the vehicle seat or a seat back, thus enabling adjustment of the position of the vehicle seat in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle body or that of the angle of inclination of the seat back. If deceleration or acceleration of a value not smaller than a predetermined value is applied to the vehicle seat, the screw is urgently locked to thereby maintain the current position of the vehicle seat or the current angle of inclination of the seat back.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a lock mechanism for locking a seat slide unit on which a vehicle seat is mounted or a seat reclining unit mounted on the vehicle seat. A screw rotatably mounted on an upper rail is in mesh with a nut secured to a lower rail or mounted on a seat back frame. Each of the screw and the nut has a lead angle greater than an angle of friction thereof so that the screw can rotate in response to a load applied to the vehicle seat or a seat back, thus enabling adjustment of the position of the vehicle seat in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle body or that of the angle of inclination of the seat back. If deceleration or acceleration of a value not smaller than a predetermined value is applied to the vehicle seat, the screw is urgently locked to thereby maintain the current position of the vehicle seat or the current angle of inclination of the seat back.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope apparatus containing an objective optical system and a CCD sensor at the distal end thereof, the optical system and CCD sensor are moduled in an optical module tube. The optical module tube is first separately formed from the body of the distal end portion of the electronic scope. In the optical module tube, a focusing of the objective optical system is preadjusted with respect to the CCD sensor. Thereafter, the optical module tube containing the focus-adjusted optical objective optical system is assembled with the body of the distal end portion.

Abstract: A method of cleaning scope end of endoscope capable of performing a painless cleaning operation as well as securing a stable direct observation condition, without relying on an operator's skill. The method includes the steps of: injecting water towards the scope end for washing out the scope end; exhaling air towards the scope end to blow away remaining drops on the scope end of the water injected at the injecting step; and inhaling as much an amount of air as exhaled at the exhaling step, slowly enough not to cause dew condensation due to an abrupt pressure decrease. An endoscope equipped with scope end cleaning mechanism performing this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A front seat includes a seat cushion and a reclining back cushion, and is so arranged as to move back and forth between forward and retracted positions. The seat is temporarily released from the latched position for moving the seat towards the most forward position for facilitating movement of the rear seat passengers into and out of the vehicle. Thereafter, the front seat is again returned and latched in an original position by the operation of latch releasing mechanism employed in the front seat.