Chair-type massage machine

1 . A chair type massaging machine comprising:

a leg rest pivotally secured to a front portion of a seat of a chair for pivotal movement up and down and operable to support calves of a seat occupant sitting on the seat;

a footrest pivotally secured to a front end of the leg rest for supporting feet of the seat occupant sitting on the seat ranging from ankles to toes and soles; and

massaging means incorporated in the leg rest and the footrest, respectively;

wherein the leg rest is provided with a distance thereof relative to the seat being adjustable and the footrest is maintained substantially horizontally at all times regardless of an angle and a position of the leg rest; and

wherein a distance between the leg rest and the footrest is maintained constant.

2 . A chair type massaging machine comprising:

a leg rest pivotally secured to a front portion of a seat of a chair for pivotal movement up and down and operable to support calves of a seat occupant sitting on the seat;

a footrest pivotally secured to a front end of the leg rest for supporting feet of the seat occupant sitting on the seat ranging from ankles to toes and soles; and

massaging means incorporated in the leg rest and the footrest, respectively;

wherein the footrest is maintained substantially horizontally at all times regardless of an angle and a position of the leg rest; and

wherein a distance of the leg rest relative to the seat and a distance of the footrest relative to the seat are independently and separately adjustable.

3 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising pairs of links of an equal length secured to a lower portion of the seat and the footrest, respectively, for rotation in a direction conforming to a direction of rotation of the leg rest, and a coupling member arranged between the pairs of the links, wherein the pairs of the links are rotatably connected to the coupling member so as to extend parallel to each other.

4 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an angle of the leg rest or the footrest relative to the seat and a distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat are capable of varying in association with each other.

5 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a biasing means for biasing the leg rest or the footrest towards the seat, wherein in order for a distance of the leg rest or the footrest relative to the seat to be adjustable, the leg rest or the footrest is provided for movement in a direction close to and away from the seat and is capable of being restrained at a desired position.

6 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the biasing means for biasing the leg rest or the footrest in a direction towards the seat is an elastic element.

7 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising means for controlling a speed of movement to adjust the distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat.

8 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a value of the force applied to reduce the distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat, from which the weight of the leg rest and the weight of the footrest are subtracted, is not greater than 10 kgf.

9 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising guide mechanisms provided in a direction in which the distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat varies and provided in two or more rows in parallel relation to each other within a plane parallel to a body support face of the leg rest or the footrest, wherein each of the guide mechanisms includes a generally U-sectioned rail having a face parallel to the body support face of the leg rest or the footrest, which is opened towards an outside, two or more disc-shaped rollers each rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the body support face of the leg rest or the footrest and having a diameter substantially equal to an inner width of the generally U-shaped section of the respective rail and arranged in a row longitudinally of the respective rail, and rotary shafts for the rollers.

10 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising pairs of links of an equal length secured to a lower portion of the seat and the footrest, respectively, for rotation in a direction conforming to a direction of rotation of the leg rest, and a coupling member arranged between the pairs of the links, wherein the pairs of the links are rotatably connected to the coupling member so as to extend parallel to each other.

11 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an angle of the leg rest or the footrest relative to the seat and a distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat are capable of varying in association with each other.

12 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a biasing means for biasing the leg rest or the footrest towards the seat, wherein in order for a distance of the leg rest or the footrest relative to the seat to be adjustable, the leg rest or the footrest is provided for movement in a direction close to and away from the seat and is capable of being restrained at a desired position.

13 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the biasing means for biasing the leg rest or the footrest in a direction towards the seat is an elastic element.

14 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising means for controlling a speed of movement to adjust the distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat.

15 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a value of the force applied to reduce the distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat, from which the weight of the leg rest and the weight of the footrest are subtracted, is not greater than 10 kgf.

16 . The chair type massaging machine as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising guide mechanisms provided in a direction in which the distance between the leg rest or the footrest and the seat varies and provided in two or more rows in parallel relation to each other within a plane parallel to a body support face of the leg rest or the footrest, wherein each of the guide mechanisms includes a generally U-sectioned rail having a face parallel to the body support face of the leg rest or the footrest, which is opened towards an outside, two or more disc-shaped rollers each rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the body support face of the leg rest or the footrest and having a diameter substantially equal to an inner width of the generally U-shaped section of the respective rail and arranged in a row longitudinally of the respective rail, and rotary shafts for the rollers.