Patents by Inventor James S. Netherland, III
James S. Netherland, III 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).
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Patent number: 8607505Abstract: A sealing assembly is provided for a vehicle having independently opening and closing closure panels, such as first and second doors, which are hinged to a vehicle body with opposing hinges. The sealing assembly has a first seal that is mounted to the vehicle body to substantially surround a continuous door opening, and has a first membrane portion that extends over a first portion of the cutline. A second seal is mounted to a surface of the first door that faces the first membrane portion when the first door is closed. A third seal is mounted to a surface of the second door that faces the first membrane portion when the second door is closed. The first membrane portion is configured to be movable toward the closed first and second doors into contact with the second and third seals to seal the first portion of the cutline.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Imad F. Bazzi, Ronald P. McKenney, James S. Netherland, III, Raymond R. Lipowski
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Patent number: 8484900Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Scott P. Charnesky, James S. Netherland, III, Graham J. Spence
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Patent number: 8485586Abstract: 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 power-activated 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 power-activated 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 primary energy storage device configured to supply power to the power-activated device. Furthermore, the system includes an auxiliary energy storage device configured to supply back-up power to the power-activated device when the power supplied by the primary energy storage device is interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: James S. Netherland, III, Scott P. Charnesky
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Publication number: 20130042533Abstract: 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 power-activated 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 power-activated 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 primary energy storage device configured to supply power to the power-activated device. Furthermore, the system includes an auxiliary energy storage device configured to supply back-up power to the power-activated device when the power supplied by the primary energy storage device is interrupted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2011Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: James S. Netherland, III, Scott P. Charnesky
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Publication number: 20130031837Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC.Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky, James S. Netherland, III, Graham J. Spence
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Patent number: 8123278Abstract: A vehicle includes a pair of opposing-hinged doors having a first door and a second door. The first and second doors each include a tumblehome portion that extends inboard of a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis respectively. The first door and second doors are disposed adjacent each other when in a closed position, and define a gap between the tumblehome portions of the first and second doors. An appliqué is moveably attached to one of the doors, and is moveable between a sealing position and a withdrawn position. When in the sealing position, the appliqué extends across the gap. When in the withdrawn position, the appliqué is spaced from one of the doors, thereby allowing the doors to simultaneously rotate open in opposite directions without the tumblehome portions of the doors contacting or otherwise interfering with each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ronald P. McKenney, James S. Netherland, III, Gregory B. Smith
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Publication number: 20120023830Abstract: A sealing assembly is provided for a vehicle having independently opening and closing closure panels, such as first and second doors, which are hinged to a vehicle body with opposing hinges. The sealing assembly has a first seal that is mounted to the vehicle body to substantially surround a continuous door opening, and has a first membrane portion that extends over a first portion of the cutline. A second seal is mounted to a surface of the first door that faces the first membrane portion when the first door is closed. A third seal is mounted to a surface of the second door that faces the first membrane portion when the second door is closed. The first membrane portion is configured to be movable toward the closed first and second doors into contact with the second and third seals to seal the first portion of the cutline.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Imad F. Bazzi, Ronald P. Mckenney, James S. Netherland, III, Raymond R. Lipowski