Patents by Inventor Miguel Moutinho de Faria

Miguel Moutinho de Faria has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Lumbar support apparatus
    Patent number: 7000986
    Abstract: A lumbar support apparatus includes a guide rail on a seat frame, and a bendable occupant support structure mounted for sliding movement on the guide rail. The bendable structure, which is preferably configured as a grid, includes a spring that imparts increasingly bowed contours to the grid upon increasingly arched deflection of the spring relative to the seat frame and the guide rail. The apparatus further includes an actuator, a cable, and a fastener. A first section of the cable extends from the actuator into engagement with the grid so as to apply a bending force to the grid under the influence of the actuator. A second section of the cable extends from the first section to an end portion of the cable that is anchored to the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ficosa North America
    Inventors: Antonio Cruz Fernandes de Pinho, Miguel Moutinho de Faria
  • Lumbar support apparatus
    Publication number: 20030071501
    Abstract: A lumbar support apparatus includes a guide rail on a seat frame, and a bendable occupant support structure mounted for sliding movement on the guide rail. The bendable structure, which is preferably configured as a grid, includes a spring that imparts increasingly bowed contours to the grid upon increasingly arched deflection of the spring relative to the seat frame and the guide rail. The apparatus further includes an actuator, a cable, and a fastener. A first section of the cable extends from the actuator into engagement with the grid so as to apply a bending force to the grid under the influence of the actuator. A second section of the cable extends from the first section to an end portion of the cable that is anchored to the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Antonio Cruz Fernandes de Pinho, Miguel Moutinho de faria, Paulo Alexandre Alves Vinha, Jose Alberto de Sousa Mendes, Filipe da Silva Alves