Patents by Inventor Graham J. Spence

Graham J. Spence 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).

  • Patent number: 9227558
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that defines an opening and a door configured to selectively open and close the opening. The vehicle also includes a lock that operatively connects the door to the body and can be either unlatched or latched for maintaining closure of the opening. The vehicle also includes a control device positioned on the door for unlatching the lock, and also a vehicle electric system and a lighting system. The lighting system includes a light-emitting element arranged on the control device and in electric communication with the electric system. The lighting system also includes a portable transmitter configured to transmit a signal and thereby commence an unlatching sequence for the lock. The lighting system additionally includes a controller configured to receive the signal and activate the light-emitting element in response to the received signal to display a visual lighting sequence signifying the status of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Graham J. Spence, Carolyn J. Thor, Panayiotis J. Karras, So Yon Park
  • Patent number: 8925361
    Abstract: A door having a latch mechanism is provided. The door also includes a bracket, and a pawl having a first aperture. The pawl is rotatably attached to the bracket and is operatively connected to the latch. The door additionally includes a key-cylinder adapted to selectively lock and unlock the latch by rotating the pawl, and a shield having a second aperture. Furthermore, the door includes a component connected to the key-cylinder. The component is aligned with and extends through the first and second apertures without contact with the pawl or with the shield, and is configured to not impede the rotation of the pawl by the key-cylinder when the component is aligned with the first and second apertures. The component is also configured to detach the pawl from the bracket and limit the key-cylinder extraction, when the key-cylinder is forcibly manipulated thereby causing the component to contact the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Granny, David M. Trush, John M. Dobish, Glenn L. Traister, Graham J. Spence, Ian S. Buckley, Grant W. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20140197730
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that defines an opening and a door configured to selectively open and close the opening. The vehicle also includes a lock that operatively connects the door to the body and can be either unlatched or latched for maintaining closure of the opening. The vehicle also includes a control device positioned on the door for unlatching the lock, and also a vehicle electric system and a lighting system. The lighting system includes a light-emitting element arranged on the control device and in electric communication with the electric system. The lighting system also includes a portable transmitter configured to transmit a signal and thereby commence an unlatching sequence for the lock. The lighting system additionally includes a controller configured to receive the signal and activate the light-emitting element in response to the received signal to display a visual lighting sequence signifying the status of the lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Graham J. Spence, Carolyn J. Thor, Panayiotis J. Karras, So Yon Park
  • Patent number: 8484900
    Abstract: A system for controlling an access opening in a vehicle body includes first and second doors arranged to selectively open and close first and second portions of the opening. The system also includes a device operatively connected to the first door and configured to be selectively retracted before at least one of the first and second doors is opened. The device is also configured to be protracted when the first and second doors are closed to thereby seal the first and second portions of the access opening. The system additionally includes a controller configured to selectively retract and protract the device. Furthermore, the system includes a sensor arranged on the vehicle and configured to detect an impact exceeding a threshold intensity on the body and communicate a signal indicative of the impact to the controller. The controller retracts the device upon receipt of the signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky, James S. Netherland, III, Graham J. Spence
  • Publication number: 20130031837
    Abstract: A system for controlling an access opening in a vehicle body includes first and second doors arranged to selectively open and close first and second portions of the opening. The system also includes a device operatively connected to the first door and configured to be selectively retracted before at least one of the first and second doors is opened. The device is also configured to be protracted when the first and second doors are closed to thereby seal the first and second portions of the access opening. The system additionally includes a controller configured to selectively retract and protract the device. Furthermore, the system includes a sensor arranged on the vehicle and configured to detect an impact exceeding a threshold intensity on the body and communicate a signal indicative of the impact to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC.
    Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky, James S. Netherland, III, Graham J. Spence
  • Publication number: 20110187156
    Abstract: A door having a latch mechanism is provided. The door also includes a bracket, and a pawl having a first aperture. The pawl is rotatably attached to the bracket and is operatively connected to the latch. The door additionally includes a key-cylinder adapted to selectively lock and unlock the latch by rotating the pawl, and a shield having a second aperture. Furthermore, the door includes a component connected to the key-cylinder. The component is aligned with and extends through the first and second apertures without contact with the pawl or with the shield, and is configured to not impede the rotation of the pawl by the key-cylinder when the component is aligned with the first and second apertures. The component is also configured to detach the pawl from the bracket and limit the key-cylinder extraction, when the key-cylinder is forcibly manipulated thereby causing the component to contact the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert D. Granny, David M. Trush, John M. Dobish, Glenn L. Traister, Graham J. Spence, Ian S. Buckley, Grant W. Nelson