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).

  • Patent number: 8607505
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Imad F. Bazzi, Ronald P. McKenney, James S. Netherland, III, Raymond R. Lipowski
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8485586
    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 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James S. Netherland, III, Scott P. Charnesky
  • Publication number: 20130042533
    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 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James S. Netherland, III, Scott P. Charnesky
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8123278
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ronald P. McKenney, James S. Netherland, III, Gregory B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120023830
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Imad F. Bazzi, Ronald P. Mckenney, James S. Netherland, III, Raymond R. Lipowski