Patents by Inventor Stephen David FLEMING

Stephen David FLEMING 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: 9536416
    Abstract: A vehicle has an interior antenna for detecting transmissions from a keyless entry device (KED) and/or a radio frequency device (RFD) associated with a portable item when inside the vehicle, and an exterior antenna for detecting transmissions from the KED and/or the RFD when outside the vehicle. A processor receives determines, based on transmissions received by the interior and exterior antennas, passing of the KED from inside to outside the vehicle, and generates an alert if the interior antenna detects the RFD remaining inside the vehicle after said passing. The processor may further determine passing of the RFD from outside to inside the vehicle based upon detection by the exterior antenna of transmissions indicating the RFD is outside the vehicle, and subsequent detection by the interior antenna of transmissions from the RFD indicating it is inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Spahl, Stephen David Fleming
  • Publication number: 20160375835
    Abstract: A cargo organiser for a vehicle includes a frame at least partially forming a floor of a cargo area of the vehicle. The cargo organizer includes one or more elongate elements extendable across an opening defined by the frame. The elongate elements are slidable with respect to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew J. Murray, Sebastian Rieger, Alicia Agius, Stephen David Fleming, Ed Stubbs, Jonathan Mundy
  • Patent number: 9517726
    Abstract: A cargo organizer for a vehicle includes a frame at least partially forming a floor of a cargo area of the vehicle. The cargo organizer includes one or more elongate elements extendable across an opening defined by the frame. The elongate elements are slidable with respect to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Murray, Sebastian Rieger, Alicia Agius, Stephen David Fleming, Ed Stubbs, Jonathan Mundy
  • Patent number: 9381871
    Abstract: A cargo organiser for a vehicle includes a frame at least partially forming a floor of a cargo area of the vehicle. The cargo organizer includes one or more elongate elements extendable across an opening defined by the frame. The elongate elements are slidable with respect to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Murray, Sebastian Rieger, Alicia Agius, Stephen David Fleming, Ed Stubbs, Jonathan Mundy
  • Patent number: 9374135
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for alerting a user to presence within a vehicle of an item having an active near-field communication device (NFCD) associated therewith, such as a smartphone. A passive NFCD is located adjacent to a storage compartment within a vehicle. When the active NFCD-equipped item is placed in the compartment, communication is established between the active and passive NFCDs. A controller device is communicatively connected to the vehicle to detect a journey completion event and send a wireless message (via Bluetooth, for example) to the item. The message instructs the item to output an alert if the active and passive NFCDs are in communication with one another. Journey completion events may be turning off of a vehicle ignition, opening of a vehicle door, or a vehicle seat becoming unoccupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen David Fleming, Robert Spahl
  • Patent number: 9352694
    Abstract: A folding seat assembly includes a pair of seats each of which has a backrest and a seat cushion. A luggage compartment cover housing is attached to each backrest so as to cover substantially the entire rear face of each backrest for stowing an individual flexible luggage compartment cover for each seat. This enables each backrest to be folded into a stowed position without the need to remove the respective flexible luggage compartment cover or the respective luggage compartment cover housing and produces a substantially flat obstruction free load surface when so folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel Osehioria Inedia, Ed Stubbs, Stephen David Fleming
  • Publication number: 20150077253
    Abstract: A vehicle has an interior antenna for detecting transmissions from a keyless entry device (KED) and/or a radio frequency device (RFD) associated with a portable item when inside the vehicle, and an exterior antenna for detecting transmissions from the KED and/or the RFD when outside the vehicle. A processor receives determines, based on transmissions received by the interior and exterior antennas, passing of the KED from inside to outside the vehicle, and generates an alert if the interior antenna detects the RFD remaining inside the vehicle after said passing. The processor may further determine passing of the RFD from outside to inside the vehicle based upon detection by the exterior antenna of transmissions indicating the RFD is outside the vehicle, and subsequent detection by the interior antenna of transmissions from the RFD indicating it is inside the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Robert SPAHL, Stephen David FLEMING
  • Publication number: 20140354003
    Abstract: A cargo organiser for a vehicle includes a frame at least partially forming a floor of a cargo area of the vehicle. The cargo organizer includes one or more elongate elements extendable across an opening defined by the frame. The elongate elements are slidable with respect to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Murray, Sebastian Rieger, Alicia Agius, Stephen David Fleming, Ed Stubbs, Jonathan Mundy
  • Publication number: 20140319888
    Abstract: A folding seat assembly includes a pair of seats each of which has a backrest and a seat cushion. A luggage compartment cover housing is attached to each backrest so as to cover substantially the entire rear face of each backrest for stowing an individual flexible luggage compartment cover for each seat. This enables each backrest to be folded into a stowed position without the need to remove the respective flexible luggage compartment cover or the respective luggage compartment cover housing and produces a substantially flat obstruction free load surface when so folded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel Osehioria Inedia, Ed Stubbs, Stephen David Fleming
  • Publication number: 20140218189
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for alerting a user to presence within a vehicle of an item having an active near-field communication device (NFCD) associated therewith, such as a smartphone. A passive NFCD is located adjacent to a storage compartment within a vehicle. When the active NFCD-equipped item is placed in the compartment, communication is established between the active and passive NFCDs. A controller device is communicatively connected to the vehicle to detect a journey completion event and send a wireless message (via Bluetooth, for example) to the item. The message instructs the item to output an alert if the active and passive NFCDs are in communication with one another. Journey completion events may be turning off of a vehicle ignition, opening of a vehicle door, or a vehicle seat becoming unoccupied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen David FLEMING, Robert SPAHL