Patent Publication Number: US-6213962-B1

Title: Roller massaging mechanism and massaging apparatus incorporating the same

Description:
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP99/01340 which has an International filing date of Mar. 17, 1999 which designated the United States of America. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a roller massaging mechanism capable of performing a variety of massaging operations for a human and massaging apparatus incorporating such mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventional massaging apparatus incorporating a roller massaging mechanism include a bed-type one as described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. SHO 59-28963 and a relatively compact stationary-type one as described, for example, in Japanese Examined Patent Publication HEI No. 4-78307 or Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. HEI 2-109628. 
     The bed-type massaging apparatus includes a roller massaging mechanism which is shiftable in the longitudinal direction of the bed. The massaging mechanism comprises a transversely extending rotary shaft capable of moving longitudinally of the bed, and a pair of right and left massaging rollers mounted on the rotary shaft as slanted relative to the axis of the rotary shaft, the rollers being slanted opposite to each other. 
     The aforementioned stationary-type massaging apparatus comprises a compact stationary-type casing having an opening oriented upward and a roller massaging mechanism disposed in the casing. In this arrangement, the roller massaging mechanism comprises a rotary shaft rotatably supported by the casing, and a pair of right and left disc-shaped massaging rollers mounted on the rotary shaft at an intermediate location corresponding to the opening, the pair of right and left massaging rollers being mounted as slanted relative to the axis of the rotary shaft in opposite directions. 
     Since the pair of right and left massaging rollers are slanted opposite to each other in the roller massaging mechanism, the distance between the peripheries of the massaging rollers is widened and narrowed as the rotary shaft rotates, whereby when the massaging rollers are pressed against an affected part of a user, they perform a kneading massage. 
     In the conventional roller massaging mechanism, however, the pair of right and left massaging rollers are fixed on the rotary shaft as slanted opposite to each other and, hence, the slanting direction of each roller relative to the rotary shaft cannot be varied, thus providing the kneading massage only. 
     Accordingly, the conventional massaging mechanism capable of performing only the kneading massage with the pair of right and left slanted massaging rollers cannot meet users&#39; diversified needs and tends to let users lose their interest easily. 
     Although a variety of massaging apparatus performing various massaging operations as well as the kneading massage have been suggested, such massaging apparatus generally have a complicated structure in the drive system of massaging members or in the control program for performing various massaging operations and, hence, are large in size and expensive. 
     The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a roller massaging mechanism which can perform, as well as the kneading massage, other massaging operations with a less complicated structure, and massaging apparatus incorporating such mechanism. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides the following technical means to attain the above objects. 
     A roller massaging mechanism according to the present invention is of a type having a pair of right and left massaging rollers mounted on an intermediate portion of a rotary shaft in a slanted fashion relative to an axis of the rotary shaft, and includes switching means for selectively switching the position of the pair of right and left massaging rollers into one of a kneading position where the pair of massaging rollers are slanted opposite to each other and a non-kneading position where they are slanted parallel with each other. 
     The switching means may be, for example, a mechanical structure in which the position of the massaging rollers is changed by switching the rotational direction of the rotary shaft (for example, a half-turn clutch as described later), but is not limited to this structure. 
     With this arrangement, when the massaging rollers are slanted in the same direction to assume the non-kneading position, the outer peripheries of the massaging rollers move their points of contact with an affected part to the right and left while maintaining a predetermined spacing therebetween, resulting in a massaging operation other than the kneading massage. 
     On the other hand, when the rotary shaft is rotated with the massaging rollers assuming the kneading position, the outer peripheries of the massaging rollers move their points of contact with the affected part toward and away from each other, thereby performing the kneading massage relative to the affected part. 
     The present invention recommends that the pair of right and left massaging rollers be mounted eccentrically relative to the rotary shaft such that a portion of one massaging roller which is closer to a corresponding portion of the other massaging roller becomes more distant from the rotary shaft than a portion of said one massaging roller which is more distant from a corresponding portion of said other massaging roller. 
     With this eccentric arrangement, rotation of the rotary shaft with the massaging rollers in the non-kneading position causes the massaging rollers to perform a massaging operation such that the respective outer peripheries of the massaging rollers repeatedly reciprocate against an affected part alternately with each other. When the rotary shaft rotates at a relatively low speed, such alternating reciprocation of the outer peripheries of the massaging rollers is equivalent to pressing the affected part slowly (finger pressure-like massage) while when the rotary shaft rotates at a relatively high speed, it is equivalent to tapping the affected part (tapping massage). 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides not only the kneading massage but also the finger pressure-like massage or the tapping massage by the use of the massaging rollers only, thereby realizing the roller massaging mechanism capable of performing the kneading massage and other massaging operations with a less complicated structure and lower cost. 
     The change of the rotational speed of the rotary shaft can be achieved by imparting the drive means with a function of varying the rotational speed of the rotary shaft to at least two levels when the pair of right and left massaging rollers are in the non-kneading position. 
     More specific modes of the roller massaging mechanism according to the present invention are as follows. 
     The rotary shaft according to the present invention may be divided into a first shaft portion supporting one massaging roller and a second shaft portion supporting the other massaging roller and disposed coaxially with the first shaft portion. In this case, the switching means may comprise a half-turn clutch which restricts relative rotation between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion to about a half turn. 
     In this arrangement, when the direction of the rotation of, for example, the first shaft portion is switched by the drive means, the position of the second shaft portion relative to the first shaft portion for rotation is changed by a half turn. Thus, the position of the massaging rollers can be switched to one of the kneading position and the non-kneading position selectively by simply rotating the rotary shaft forwardly or backwardly by means of the drive means, thereby extremely facilitating the switching and controlling of the position of the massaging rollers. 
     More specifically, the half-turn clutch may include a tubular member unrotatably and coaxially secured to an end portion of the second shaft portion and defining in an outer periphery thereof a transverse slot having a length circumferentially of the tubular member which corresponds to the half turn; and a stopper pin projecting radially outwardly of an end portion of the first shaft portion rotatably and coaxially inserted into the tubular member and having a tip portion staying within the transverse slot. 
     Where the rotary shaft is divided into the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, which are then interconnected through the half-turn clutch as described above, too easy of a relative rotation between the first and second shaft portions would cause the driven shaft portion to rotate relative to the driving shaft portion undesirably due to the pressure imposed on the massaging rollers from an affected part of the user, thereby rotating the massaging rollers with their kneading or non-kneading position instantaneously collapsed, which may result in a case where a proper massaging operation becomes impossible. 
     Therefore, it is recommended that brake means be provided for applying a frictional resistance against rotation of one of the first and second shaft portions which is situated on a driven side that is not directly rotary-driven by the drive means. 
     In this case, though the massaging roller supported by the driven shaft portion receives pressure from the affected part, a braking member restrains the second shaft portion from rotating relative to the first shaft portion thereby preventing the collapse of the kneading or non-kneading position of the massaging rollers, hence allowing for a proper massage operation with the massaging rollers maintained in the kneading or non-kneading position properly. 
     Further, though it is preferred that the pair of right and left massaging rollers are coupled to the rotary shaft so as to be rotatable relative to the rotary shaft for preventing unnecessary friction against the affected part and the cover member, too easy of a rotation of the massaging rollers relative to the rotate shaft would cause the massaging rollers to change their slanted direction(s) instantaneously due to the pressure received from the affected part, which may also result in an improper massage operation. 
     Therefore, it is recommended that second brake means be provided for applying a frictional resistance against the rotation of the pair of right and left massaging rollers relative to the rotary shaft. 
     The roller massaging mechanism of the present invention does not exclude any additional massaging member other than the pair of right and left massaging rollers. 
     For example, it is possible to provide a multiplicity of mini-rollers around a portion of the rotary shaft situated closer to each end of the rotary shaft than a portion of the rotary shaft on which the pair of right and left massaging rollers are mounted, for performing a rolling massage relative to an affected part. With this arrangement the user can enjoy, in addition to the kneading massage and finger pressure-like massage by the pair of right and left massaging rollers, the rolling massage by the multiplicity of mini-rollers if the affected part is moved closer to each end of the rotary shaft. 
     The roller massaging mechanism according to the present invention may be incorporated in various types of massaging apparatus such as relatively small massaging apparatus of stationary type or hand-carriable type, and relatively large massaging apparatus of leaner type or chair type. 
     Where the roller massaging mechanism is incorporated in massaging apparatus of the leaner type or chair type, it is preferred that shift means be provided for shifting the roller massaging mechanism upwardly and downwardly so as to massage a larger longitudinal extent of the back of a human. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a roller massaging mechanism as viewed from line A—A in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a massaging apparatus as viewed from the left-hand side in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the massaging apparatus of stationary type; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of a rotor; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a half-turn clutch; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B—B in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the massaging operation of massaging rollers in a non-kneading position; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the massaging operation of massaging rollers in a kneading position; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing a chair-type massaging apparatus; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a hand-carriable massaging apparatus; 
     FIG. 11 is a front sectional view showing the hand-carriable massaging apparatus; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another stationary-type massaging apparatus; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the inner structure of the stationary-type massaging apparatus; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a leaner-type massaging apparatus; 
     FIG. 15 is a front view showing the inner structure of the leaner-type massaging apparatus; and 
     FIG.  16  and FIG. 17 are side views showing examples of use of the leaner-type massaging apparatus. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 to  8  show a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an example of massaging apparatus  1  incorporating therein roller massaging mechanism  4  according to the present invention. The massaging apparatus  1  shown is of a stationary type which is relatively compact and flat. 
     This stationary-type massaging apparatus  1  includes a stationary-type casing  2  defining an opening  2 A oriented upwardly, and the roller massaging mechanism  4  housed in the casing  2 , the opening  2 A being closed with a flexible cover member  3  formed of a stretch fabric or the like. The massaging apparatus  1  can be used by, for example, being placed under the back, waist, thighs or calves of a human lying on his or her back, or under the feet of a human sitting on a chair. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the roller massaging mechanism  4  includes a support frame  8  having at right and left ends thereof right and left support brackets  7 , 7  with a predetermined spacing therebetween, a rotary shaft  10  extending between and rotatably supported by the brackets  7 , 7  of the support frame  8  through bearings  9 , a pair of right and left rotors  13  and  12  mounted on the rotary shaft  10  in a slanted fashion relative to the axis of the rotary shaft  10 , and drive means  14  for rotary-driving the rotary shaft  10 . 
     The right and left rotors  13 , 12  are arranged in the casing  2  at a location corresponding to the opening  2 A and include respective boss portions  15  fitted around the rotary shaft  10  eccentrically therewith, and respective massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L which are each in a substantially discoid configuration and held by the corresponding boss portions  15  as slanted relative to the axis of the rotary shaft  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, each of the boss portions  15  includes a pair of sandwiching plates  15   a  and  15   b  each in the form of a section of a cylinder sectioned askew relative to the axis of the cylinder, and a central plate  15   c  held as sandwiched by these sandwiching plates  15   a  and  15   c.    
     These plates  15   a ,  15   b  and  15   c  are integrated together into each boss portion  15  by placing the sandwiching plates  15   a  and  15   b  on opposite sides of each massaging roller  16 R, 16 L centrally receiving the central plate  15   c  and then fastening the plates  15   a ,  15   b  and  15   c  with use of a bolt extending through these three plates and a nut. 
     The boss portions  15  are each prevented from rotating relative to the rotary shaft  10  by a relative rotation preventive structure not shown and hence are adapted to rotate together with the rotary shaft  10 . 
     The central plate  15   c  is shaped discoid with its opposite sides respectively abutting the slanted end faces of the sandwiching plates  15   a  and  15   b . Thus, the central plate  15   c  is slanted relative to the axis of the rotary shaft  10 . It should be noted that the central plate  15   c  may be formed integrally with one of the sandwiching plates  15   a  and  15   b , or alternatively the central plate  15   c  may be composed of mating halves cut at the center of the thickness of the plate  15   c  which are formed integrally with the sandwiching plates  15   a  and  15   b , respectively. 
     The massaging rollers  16 R,  16 L are each shaped discoid defining a central hole  16   a  in a central portion thereof for slidably receiving the central plate  15   c  for rotation relative to the central plate  15   c . Thus, the massaging rollers  16 R,  16 L are rotatably coupled to the rotary shaft  10  as slanted relative to the axis of the rotary shaft  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary shaft  10  includes a first shaft portion  10 L supporting the-left massaging roller  16 L, and a second shaft portion  10 R supporting the right massaging roller  16 R, the second shaft portion  10 R being coaxially aligned with the first shaft portion  10 L. The first shaft portion  10 L has a portion for mounting the left rotor  12  and a portion extending through the drive means  14  in this order from the left, while the second shaft portion  10 R has a portion for mounting the right rotor  13 . 
     The rotary shaft  10  is divided into the first and second shaft portions  10 L and  10 R at a dividing end  10   a  located between the drive means  14  and the right rotor  13 . Dividing end portions  10   b  and  10   c  of the first and second shaft portions  10 L and  10 R are interconnected through a half-turn clutch  21 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the half-turn clutch  21  includes a tubular member  20  unrotatably and coaxially secured to the dividing end portion  10   c  of the second shaft portion  10 R, and a stopper pin  25  projecting radially outwardly of the dividing portion  10   b  of the first shaft portion  10 L coaxially and rotatably inserted into the tubular member  20 . 
     The tubular member  20  is shaped cylindrical having a bore  22  axially extending through a central portion thereof, and a bearing  23  located on a peripheral edge portion of the opening adjacent the drive means  14  (on the left-hand side in FIG. 5) for receiving the dividing end portion  10   b  of the first shaft portion  10 L for rotation. Further, the tubular member  20  is formed in an axially intermediate portion thereof with a semicircular transverse slot  24  which has a length circumferentially of the tubular member  20  corresponding to a half turn and which has a depth from the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member  20  to the bore  22 . 
     The stopper pin  25  is secured to the dividing end portion  10   b  of the first shaft portion  10 L by, for example, thread engagement of a setscrew so as to project radially outwardly, and the tip portion of the pin  25  movably stays within the transverse slot  24 . 
     The tubular member  20  defines in a right-hand side end portion thereof a tapped hole  28  for thread engagement with a setscrew  27  preventing the dividing end portion  10   c  of the second shaft portion  10 R from rotating relative to the tubular member  20 . 
     As is apparent from the above, the first shaft portion  10 L of the rotary shaft  10  supporting the left rotor  12  is turnable relative to the tubular member  20  forming the half-turn clutch  21  within a range of a half turn, while the second shaft portion  10 R of the rotary shaft  10  supporting the right rotor  13  is secured to the tubular member  20  unrotatably relative thereto. 
     Accordingly, when the first shaft portion  10 L of the rotary shaft  10  is rotated counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 and 6 by the drive means  14 , the stopper pin  25  comes to abut one radial end face  24   a  of the semicircular transverse slot  24  thereby causing the second shaft portion  10 R to rotate counterclockwise together with the first shaft portion  10 L. 
     On the other hand, when the first shaft portion  10 L is rotated clockwise from the condition where the stopper pin  25  abuts the radial end face  24   a , the stopper pin  25  moves within the transverse slot  24  to abut the other radial end face  24   b  of the slot  24  thereby causing the second shaft portion  10 R to rotate clockwise together with the first shaft portion  10 L. 
     As the stopper pin  25  moves from the radial end face  24   a  to the opposite radial end face  24   b , the right rotor  13  mounted on the second shaft portion  10 R on the driven side makes a half turn relative to the left rotor  12 . 
     As a result, the respective massaging rollers  16 R,  16 L of the right and left rotors  13  and  12  can assume a non-kneading position where the two massaging rollers  16 L and  16 R are slanted in the same direction parallel with each other as indicated in solid line or alternatively a kneading position where the two massaging rollers  16 L and  16 R are slanted in opposite directions as indicated in phantom line of FIG  1 . 
     In this way the half-turn clutch  21  forms switching means  26  for selectively switching the position of the massaging rollers  16 R,  16 L into one of the kneading position where the pair of opposite massaging rollers  16 L and  16 R are slanted opposite to each other and the non-kneading position where they are slanted in the same direction. 
     In the non-kneading embodiment the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L are mounted eccentrically relative to the rotary shaft  10  such that, as illustrated in FIG.  7 ( a ), a lower portion of lower the right rotar  13  selectively becomes more distant from the rotary shaft  10  than a lower portion of lower the left rotar  12  by making the boss portion  15  of each rotor  12 , 13  eccentric relative to the rotary shaft  10 . As illustrated in FIG.  7 ( b ), by rotating the rotary shaft  10  counterclockwise, the lower end of the left rotor  12  selectively becomes more distant from the rotary shaft  10  than a lower portion of the right rotor  13 . 
     For this reason, when the rotary shaft is rotated with the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L in the non-kneading position, they perform a massage operation such that the respective outer peripheries of the rollers  16 R,  16 L reciprocate against an affected part of the user&#39;s body alternately with each other, as shown in FIGS.  7 ( a ) and  7 ( b ). In this case it is preferred that the stroke between the outer periphery of each roller  16 R, 16 L be set to about 15 mm. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the drive means  14  includes a motor  31 , and a reduction gear device  32  for transmitting the driving power of the motor  31  to the rotary shaft  10  (first shaft portion  10 L) at a reduced speed, the reduction gear device  32  being either integral with or separate from the motor  31 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the reduction gear device  32  includes a gear case  29  receiving therethrough the rotary shaft  10  via bearings  30  for rotation, a worm wheel  34  secured to a portion of the rotary shaft  10  situated within the gear case  29 , and a worm  35  secured to output shaft  33  of the motor  31  so as to mesh with the worm wheel  34 . 
     In this embodiment the motor  31  can revolve forwardly and backwardly by way of an electric control circuit not shown and, hence, the forward rotation of the rotary shaft  10  can be switched to the backward rotation, and vice versa. 
     The electric control circuit of the drive means  14  is capable of varying the rotary speed of the rotary shaft  10  to at least two levels when the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L are in the non-kneading position. This speed varying operation may be effected stepwise or steplesswise. Further, the speed varying function may be controlled mechanically (including change of gear combination) instead of the electric control using the control circuit. 
     Where the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L are in the non-kneading position (in the case of FIG.  7 ), rotating the rotary shaft  10  at a relatively low speed causes the respective outer peripheries of the rollers  16 R, 16 L to reciprocate relatively slowly in an alternate fashion thereby providing a finger pressure-like massage such as to press an affected part heavily from the right and left. 
     To achieve such a finger pressure-like massage, the rotary speed of the rotary shaft  10  is set to about 50 rpm. 
     On the other hand, rotating the rotary shaft  10  at a relatively high speed with the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L in the non-kneading position (in the case of FIG. 7) causes the respective outer peripheries of the rollers  16 L, 16 R to reciprocate alternately at a higher speed thereby giving impacts to the affected part, thus resulting in a tapping massage. 
     To achieve such a tapping massage, the rotary speed of the rotary shaft  10  is set to 150 rpm or higher, and the rotary speed of 200 rpm provides the user with a particularly advantageous tapping massage. 
     When the rotary shaft  10  is rotated with the outer peripheries of the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L abutting an affected part of the user, there is the possibility that the massaging roller  16 R supported on the second shaft portion  10 R situated on the driven side changes its slanted direction instantaneously due to the pressure from the affected part, resulting in an improper massage. 
     More specifically, since the first and second shaft portions  10 L and  10 R into which the rotary shaft  10  is divided are interconnected through the half-turn clutch  21 , too easy of a relative rotation between these shaft portions  10 L and  10 R would cause the second shaft portion  10 R to rotate relative to the first shaft portion  10 L undesirably due to the pressure imposed on the right massaging roller  16 R from the affected part thereby rotating the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L with their kneading or non-kneading position instantaneously collapsed, thus resulting in a case where a proper massage becomes impossible. 
     Although the pair of massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L are preferably mounted for rotation relative to the rotary shaft  10  to prevent unnecessary friction between these rollers and an affected part of the user and between these rollers and the cover member  3 , too easy rotation of the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L relative to the rotary shaft  10  would cause the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L to change their slanted direction(s) instantaneously, which also results in an improper massage. 
     To prevent such inconveniences this embodiment is provided with first brake means  39  for providing a frictional resistance against rotation of the second shaft portion  10 R on the driven side which is not driven by the drive means  14 , and second brake means  40  for providing frictional resistance against rotation of the pair of massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L relative to the rotary shaft  10 . 
     The first brake means  39  comprises a friction wheel  37  attached to the projecting end of the second shaft portion  10 R, and a pressing spring  38  secured to the support bracket  7  so that an end portion thereof presses upon the outer periphery of the friction wheel  37 . 
     The second brake means  40  comprises pressing the respective slanted faces of the sandwiching plates  15   a  and  15   b  upon each massaging roller  16 R, 16 L with an appropriate pressure. 
     When the rotary shaft  10  of the massaging apparatus  1  of the above construction is rotated counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 and 6, the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L of the rotors  13  and  12  rotate in the non-kneading position where the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L are parallel with each other, with the result that the respective outer peripheries of the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L alternately reciprocate against an affected part of the user. 
     In this case, adjusting the rotary speed of the rotary shaft  10  to a relatively low speed (about 50 rpm) realizes the finger pressure-like massage in which the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L alternately and slowly press the affected part. Alternatively, adjusting the rotary speed of the rotary shaft  10  to a relatively high speed (150 rpm or higher, advantageously about 200 rpm) realizes the tapping massage where the massaging rollers  16 R,  16 L alternately give impacts to the affected part. 
     On the other hand, when the rotary shaft  10  is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 6, the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L of the rotors  13  and  12  rotate in the kneading position, with the result that the respective outer peripheries of the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L expand while gradually coming closer to each other and subsequently retract while going away from each other as shown in FIG. 8, thereby providing the kneading massage. 
     It should be noted that the rotary speed of the rotary shaft  10  is preferably set within a range from about 50 to about 60 rpm in the kneading massage. 
     The massaging apparatus  1  according to this embodiment is capable of selectively performing the kneading massage and other massaging operations by simply switching the rotational direction of the rotary shaft  10 . Further, by simply varying the rotary speed of the rotary shaft  10  when the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L are in the non-kneading position, the massage apparatus  1  can selectively perform the finger pressure-like massage and the tapping massage. Thus, the massaging rollers  16  of a single kind allow for three different kinds of massaging operations. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     This embodiment is a chair-type massaging apparatus  43  including a seat portion  41 , a backrest portion  42  extending upwardly from an end portion of the seat portion  41 , and the aforementioned roller massaging mechanism  4  shown in FIG.  1  and disposed within the backrest portion  42 . 
     It should be noted that the roller massaging mechanism  4  may be incorporated also in the seat portion  41  or in a footrest (not shown) as well as in the backrest portion  42 . 
     If shift means is provided for upwardly and downwardly shifting the roller massaging mechanism  4  disposed within the backrest portion  42 , it is possible to massage a larger extent of a user&#39;s body from the occiput portion through the back to the waist. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     This embodiment is a hand-carriable massaging apparatus  54  including a hand-carriable casing  53  having an opening  51  on a front side thereof (on the top side in FIG. 10) and grip portions  52  on right and left lateral sides thereof, and the roller massaging mechanism  4  disposed in the casing  53 . 
     The casing  53  shown defines a pair of right and left openings  51 , 51  on the top side thereof through which the right and left massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L project upwardly from the casing  53 . The cover member  3  shown is divided into right and left separate ones for closing the openings  51 , 51 , respectively. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, second brake means  40 ′ employed in this embodiment comprises a ring spring  55  disposed on opposite sides of each massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L. The ring spring  55  is inserted in a clearance between each sandwiching plate  15   a ,  15   b  and each massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L to provide a friction resistance against the rotation of the rollers  16 R, 16 L about the rotary shaft  10 . 
     The grip portions  52  are each a cylindrical portion formed integrally with each of the right and left lateral sides of the casing  53  for an operator to press the massaging apparatus  54  against the back of another person for massage by holding these portions  52  with both hands. 
     The massaging apparatus  54  according to this embodiment can rest on a floor or the like with the massaging rollers  16  oriented upwardly as shown in FIG.  10  and hence can be used also as a stationary-type massaging apparatus of a small size. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Like the first embodiment, this embodiment also is a stationary-type massaging apparatus  1  including stationary-type casing  2  having an opening  2 A on the top side thereof, and roller massaging mechanism  4  housed in the casing  2 . The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. 
     That is, the roller massaging mechanism  4  includes, as well as a pair of right and left massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L, a multiplicity of mini-rollers  57  disposed around a portion of the rotary shaft  10  situated closer to each end of the rotary shaft  10  than a portion thereof on which the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L are mounted. The mini-rollers  57  are mounted with a predetermined spacing on a plurality of rotatable shafts  58  secured around the rotary shaft  10 . 
     With this arrangement if the user places his or her calves or the like on the massaging apparatus  1  at locations adjacent the opposite ends of the rotary shaft  10 , the user can enjoy a rolling massage performed by the multiplicity of mini-rollers  57  rolling on an affected part as well as a kneading massage or a like massage performed by the massaging rollers  16 . 
     In the massaging mechanism  4  employed in this embodiment drive means  14  comprising motor  31  and reduction gear device  32  is connected to the left end of the rotary shaft  10  and is disposed in a left portion of the casing  2  as shown. 
     Further, half-turn clutch  21  is covered with a sleeve  59  made of resin having massaging projections  60  on an outer periphery thereof, the sleeve  59  serving to prevent the half-turn clutch  21  from catching the cover member  3  therearound when the cover member  3  sags into the casing  2 . 
     FIGS. 14 to  17  illustrate a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Massaging apparatus  61  according to this embodiment is of a leaner type including an independent one-piece casing  62  having a longitudinal length substantially corresponding to that of the back of a human and capable of leaning against a wall face W with its back side facing the wall face W, and the aforementioned roller massaging mechanism  4  longitudinally movably disposed in the casing  62 . 
     The overall configuration of the casing  62  used in this embodiment is a longitudinally elongated flat box having a longitudinally extending opening  63  on a front side thereof. The casing  62  is capable of leaning against wall face W defining a room as shown in FIG. 16, or against wall face W of the backrest of a chair  64  as shown in FIG.  17 . 
     Since the casing  62  is of such a longitudinally elongated flat box configuration capable of leaning against the wall face W, the massaging apparatus  61  is able to massage the back of the user over a large extent as in the case of the chair-type massaging apparatus  43  if it is used when leaning against a wall face W as shown in FIG. 16 or  17 . 
     On the other hand, since the casing  62  is of the longitudinally elongated flat box configuration unlike the chair-type massaging apparatus  43 , the massaging apparatus  61  can easily be stored in a narrow space such as in a corner of a room or between furniture articles. Thus, the massaging apparatus  61  is a compact and inexpensive massaging apparatus having substantially the same function as the chair-type massaging apparatus  43 . 
     As shown in FIG. 15, shift means  65  is provided in the casing  62  for shifting the roller massaging mechanism  4  longitudinally of the. casing  62 . 
     The shift means  65  includes a pair of right and left guide rails  66  longitudinally extending on right and left lateral sides of the casing  2 , guide rollers  67  disposed at the four corners of the support frame  8  of the massaging mechanism  4  and rollably fitted in the guide rails  66 , a feed screw shaft  69  extending through a threaded pipe  68  secured to the support frame  8 , and a shift motor  70  for driving the feed screw shaft  69 . 
     The feed screw shaft  69  is rotatably supported substantially centrally of the casing  61  so as not to move axially, and the threaded pipe  68  threadingly engages the outer periphery of the feed screw shaft  69 . Thus, as the feed screw shaft  69  is rotated by the shift motor  70 , the support frame  8  connected to the threaded pipe  68  moves longitudinally thereby shifting the massaging position of the massaging rollers  16 R, 16 L relative to the user. 
     On the upper and lower ends of the guide rails  66  are provided limit switches  71  for establishing the upper and lower shifting limits of the massaging mechanism  4 . Further, a guide shaft  73  around which electric wires  72  of the motor  31  associated with the massaging mechanism  4  are spirally wound is fixed on the left side of the left guide rail  66 . Even if the electric wires  72  are loosened in the casing  2  by repeated upward and downward shifting of the massaging mechanism  4 , this arrangement prevents the loosened wires  72  from being caught and drawn toward an unexpected direction and hence from being broken thereby. 
     Further, the massage drive motor  31  is disposed to project away from the shift motor  70  (upwardly in FIG. 15) in this embodiment and, hence, there is no need to provide a dead space for avoiding interference between the two motors  31  and  70 , resulting in the casing  62  having a reduced longitudinal dimension. 
     It should be noted that the foregoing second to fifth embodiments have been described concisely without redundant repeated descriptions by giving like numerals to elements having functions or structures as same as or similar to those of the first embodiment. 
     It should also be noted that the embodiments described herein are only illustrative of the present invention but not limitative of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and all variations and equivalents which can read on the claims are included in the present invention. 
     While the rotary shaft  10  is provided with the dividing portion  10   a  and the half-turn clutch  21  is disposed in the dividing portion  10   a  as an example of the arrangement for switching the position of the massaging rollers  16 , it is possible to employ any other mechanical switching structure, electromagnetic clutch mechanism or manually-operated switching mechanism as an alternative. 
     The massaging rollers  16  may each be differently varied in configuration so long as the overall configuration thereof is substantially discoid, for example, in the form of an elliptic disc or a polygonal disc. 
     Further, the massaging mechanism  4  of the present invention may be incorporated into a bed-type massaging apparatus. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention provides a roller massaging mechanism capable of performing a kneading massage operation and other massage operations by means of a pair of right and left massaging rollers. 
     This massaging mechanism can be incorporated into various massaging apparatus such as relatively small massaging apparatus of stationary type or hand-carriable type, and relatively large massaging apparatus of leaner type or chair type.