Patents by Inventor Joseph Neighbors
Joseph Neighbors 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: 10604038Abstract: A seat for at least one occupant of a vehicle includes a seat cushion, a back, and a first side component. The seat cushion has a front end, a back end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the front and back ends. The seat cushion includes a rear portion and a front portion. The rear portion is disposed at the back end and includes a first top surface that is configured to engage the occupant. The front portion is disposed at the front end. At least one of the front and rear portions is configured to move along the longitudinal axis with respect to the other of the front and rear portions. The back is disposed at the back end of the seat cushion. The first side component is coupled to the back. The first side component is configured to move between a stowed configuration and a use configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shifang Li, Yiran Hu, Carl W. Wellborn, Joseph Neighbors
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Publication number: 20190359094Abstract: A seat for at least one occupant of a vehicle includes a seat cushion, a back, and a first side component. The seat cushion has a front end, a back end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the front and back ends. The seat cushion includes a rear portion and a front portion. The rear portion is disposed at the back end and includes a first top surface that is configured to engage the occupant. The front portion is disposed at the front end. At least one of the front and rear portions is configured to move along the longitudinal axis with respect to the other of the front and rear portions. The back is disposed at the back end of the seat cushion. The first side component is coupled to the back. The first side component is configured to move between a stowed configuration and a use configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shifang LI, Yiran HU, Carl W. WELLBORN, Joseph NEIGHBORS
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Publication number: 20190126934Abstract: Systems and method are provided for remotely controlling one or more comfort settings within a cabin of a vehicle. The vehicle includes one or more comfort sub-systems, a communication interface, and a controller. The communication interface receives control signals from a comfort settings management system. The control signals indicate one or more comfort settings of the one or more comfort sub-systems. The controller can generate commands, based on the control signals, that automatically adjust settings of the one or more comfort sub-systems to control the one or more comfort settings within the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Carl W. Wellborn, Michael D. Munger, Joseph Neighbors, Raymond A. Beaufait
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Publication number: 20190106024Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body and a rear row of seats attached to the vehicle body. The rear row of seats includes a first side seat proximate a first side of the vehicle, a second side seat proximate a second side of the vehicle, and an intermediate seat disposed between the first side seat and the second side seat. The intermediate seat has an upright position. The intermediate seat is configured to support an occupant in the upright position. The intermediate seat is supported for movement relative to the vehicle body, the first side seat, and the second side seat while in the upright position. Methods for positioning a rear row of seats are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2017Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Carl W. Wellborn, Joseph Neighbors, Raymond A. Beaufait
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Patent number: 10189380Abstract: A vehicle-seat mounting system, for securing a child seat in a vehicle, including a collapsible vehicle seat comprising a vehicle seat back configured to be movably connected to a vehicle-seat base. The system also includes a vehicle-seat-back securing structure being connected to, or part of, a rear of the vehicle seat back. The vehicle-seat-back securing structure is configured and arranged at the rear of the vehicle seat back to mate securely with child-seat securing structure corresponding in size and shape to the vehicle-seat-back securing structure. In various embodiments, the technology includes (i) parts of the vehicle seat, such as a kit including the vehicle-seat-back securing structure, (ii) the child seat, or (iii) parts thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Mary Decaluwe, Joseph Neighbors, Raymond A. Beaufait, William J. Ochalek
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Patent number: 10040432Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically maintaining cleanliness of an vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle; determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Louise E. Stauffer, Spencer W. Chamberlain, Joseph Neighbors, Mary E. Decaluwe, Jim K. Rainbolt, Janet S. Goings, William J. Ochalek, Joseph F. Szczerba, Roy Mathieu, Paul W. Alexander, Dorel Sala, David R. Fischer, Joseph M. Bilderbeck, Ann K. Duffy, Sandra N. Thomson
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Patent number: 9855926Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cleaning systems of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a floor mat; a vacuum system integrated with the floor mat, the vacuum system comprising a port, one or more ducts, and one or more openings integrated with the floor mat; and a control module that selectively activates suction of the vacuum system based on a detection of a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Louise E. Stauffer, Sandra N. Thomson, Spencer W. Chamberlain, Joseph Neighbors, Mary E. Decaluwe, Jim K. Rainbolt, Paul W. Alexander, David R. Fischer, Joseph Bilderbeck, Ann K. Duffy
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Publication number: 20170210352Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically maintaining cleanliness of an vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle; determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: LOUISE E. STAUFFER, SPENCER W. CHAMBERLAIN, JOSEPH NEIGHBORS, MARY E. DECALUWE, JIM K. RAINBOLT, JANET S. GOINGS, WILLIAM J. OCHALEK, JOSEPH F. SZCZERBA, ROY MATHIEU, PAUL W. ALEXANDER, DOREL SALA, DAVID R. FISCHER, JOSEPH M. BILDERBECK, ANN K. DUFFY, SANDRA N. THOMSON
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Publication number: 20170213165Abstract: A methods and a server for operating a vehicle are provided. A method includes selecting an identifier that is associated with a vehicle reservation for passenger service in the vehicle. The method further includes initiating a pick-up portion of the vehicle reservation for making the vehicle available to a passenger. The method further yet includes displaying the identifier at the vehicle during the pick-up portion of the passenger service. The server includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that configure the server for performing the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: LOUISE E. STAUFFER, MARY E. DECALUWE, JIM K. RAINBOLT, SPENCER W. CHAMBERLAIN, JANET S. GOINGS, CARL W. WELLBORN, JOSEPH NEIGHBORS, JASON E. DIEHL, SCOTT LUMSDEN, BRYAN M. QUINTANILLA, VINCENT K. TRAINA, PAUL W. ALEXANDER, JOSEPH F. SZCZERBA, VIVIEN MARTINAGE, ROY J. MATHIEU
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Publication number: 20170210353Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cleaning systems of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a floor mat; a vacuum system integrated with the floor mat, the vacuum system comprising a port, one or more ducts, and one or more openings integrated with the floor mat; and a control module that selectively activates suction of the vacuum system based on a detection of a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: LOUISE E. STAUFFER, SPENCER W. CHAMBERLAIN, JOSEPH NEIGHBORS, MARY E. DECALUWE, JIM K. RAINBOLT, PAUL W. ALEXANDER, DAVID R. FISCHER, JOSEPH M. BILDERBECK, ANN K. DUFFY, SANDRA N. THOMSON
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Publication number: 20170120779Abstract: A vehicle-seat mounting system, for securing a child seat in a vehicle, including a collapsible vehicle seat comprising a vehicle seat back configured to be movably connected to a vehicle-seat base. The system also includes a vehicle-seat-back securing structure being connected to, or part of, a rear of the vehicle seat back. The vehicle-seat-back securing structure is configured and arranged at the rear of the vehicle seat back to mate securely with child-seat securing structure corresponding in size and shape to the vehicle-seat-back securing structure. In various embodiments, the technology includes (i) parts of the vehicle seat, such as a kit including the vehicle-seat-back securing structure, (ii) the child seat, or (iii) parts thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Mary Decaluwe, Joseph Neighbors, Raymond A. Beaufait, William J. Ochalek