The present disclosure relates to a massage apparatus comprising a flexible rack gear. A main frame comprises: a rack gear belt comprising a rack gear which is for moving a massage module, has a plurality of holes formed therein, is formed from a flexible material, and extends along a buttocks frame and a back frame comprised in the main frame, wherein the rack gear comprises a buttocks rack gear and a back rack gear and is formed without a connecting portion for connecting the buttocks rack gear and back rack gear; and a rack gear support part which is positioned below the rack gear belt to support the rack gear belt, and is formed from a flexible material. The massage module comprises: a pinion gear which comprises pinion gear teeth engaging the rack gear belt, and moves the massage module along the rack gear by means of rotation transmitted from an actuator; a connecting link for connecting the pinion gear and a guide roller; and the guide roller which rotates in contact with the rack gear support part by means of the movement of the pinion gear, and prevents the massage module from shaking.

A retraction device for movable furniture parts has a driver movable along a first guide path, which is movable between a retracted position and a parked position and is directly or indirectly pretensioned into the retracted position by an energy storage device. The driver can be coupled to an activator in order to move the movable furniture part into a closed position. A method uses the driver for opening and closing the movable furniture part and tensioning and releasing a retraction device.

A tool changing system with rigidity improved belt moving mechanism includes a pedestal, a sliding base, a driving unit, a positioning belt, and a transmission belt. The sliding base is disposed on the pedestal, and reciprocatively moves along a linear direction. The driving unit is disposed on the sliding base. The positioning belt and the transmission belt are disposed on the pedestal and include a gear rack, respectively. A detouring section of the transmission belt is separated from the positioning belt, and transmissibly meshed with the driving wheel of the driving unit. When the driving wheel rotates, the detouring section is driven to continuously shift on the transmission belt, and the sliding base is simultaneously driven to slide on the pedestal along the linear direction. Thus, a combination of the positioning belt and the transmission belt achieves an improved rigidity.

Actuation systems and methods for actuating a telescopic structure are provided. The actuation system can include a chain cartridge including a drive chain engageably coupled to a drive mechanism actuated by an actuator coupled to a power supply. The drive chain can include a plurality of inter-connected links conveying at least one cable within an interior space of each inter-connected link. The system can also include a telescopic structure including a plurality of segments configured to extend and retract telescopically and conveying the drive chain therein. The drive chain can couple to a distal segment of the plurality of segments. The drive mechanism can impart a linear translation force on the plurality of inter-connected links to cause the distal segment to extend or retract from the telescopic structure. Methods of actuating the actuation system described herein are also provided.

One embodiment provides a drive system that includes a drive device with at least one drum for spooling at least one wire rope. A mounting device is connected to the drive device and a single-axis tracker. At least one partial pulley is connected to a torque tube. The at least one partial pulley is configured to accept the at least one wire rope and to transfer leveraged drive forces to the torque tube.

A retractable platform with a box-like container and an extractable step is provided with a movement device adapted to move the step, with the platform provided for equipping access doors of commercial, camping or similar vehicles. The movement device includes an electric gearmotor assembly, derived from an automotive regulator, capable of imprinting straight forwards or backwards translations to a coiled flexible cable. A straight guide is integral with the box-like container, where the front portion of the coiled flexible cable is slidable, held straight and parallel to the direction of motion of the extractable step. A bracket is fixed to the front end of the coiled flexible cable, external to the straight guide and made integral with the extractable step, so as to be able to push out or retract the latter. A shaped tubular sheath is rearwardly associated with the electric gearmotor assembly and is intended to receive and house the rear portion of the coiled flexible cable, as a result of the return stroke of the extractable step in the box-like container.

A power switching device for switching power between translational motion and rotational motion includes an active gear, a transmission mechanism, a translation mechanism, a functional gear, and a reset mechanism. The active gear can rotate in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction. The translation mechanism includes a runner and a pushing member. The active gear can switch between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the active gear meshes with the runner and rotates in the first direction or the second direction to drive the runner to rotate. In the second position, the active gear meshes with the transmission gear and rotates in the second direction to drive the functional gear to rotate.

A drive cable for actuating a vehicle element which is mobile relative to a vehicle structure, the drive cable having a plastic cable body which has a toothing extending in the axial direction to become engaged with a driving gear wheel and is penetrated by a continuous reinforcement which extends in the axial direction. The toothing is formed by pocket-like recesses which are regularly spaced in the axial direction and are limited by flanks of resulting tooth tips in the longitudinal direction of the cable and by pocket flanks on both sides in the transverse direction of the cable and each of which is limited at the bottom by a tooth root which is penetrated by the continuous reinforcement.

An actuator assembly having an actuator, a worm gear, a first gear unit, a second gear unit, and a biasing member. The actuator may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in first rotational directions while the biasing member may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in second rotational directions.

A drive cable for actuating a vehicle element movable relative to a vehicle body is provided, the drive cable having a cable body having a cable core around which a coil following a helical line is coiled, the coil serving to engage with a gear wheel, the cable body being provided with a cable sheath. The cable sheath is glued to the coil.