Ford has filed a patent software for a cargo mattress extension system that might permit pickup vehicles to hold longer objects when wanted.
Within the software—which was printed by the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Nov. 16, however filed in Might of final yr—Ford discusses separating the cargo mattress into two components. Outer partitions would connect to the body as in a standard pickup, with a bathtub positioned between them that might slide fore and aft on rails.
This interior tub would basically kind the cargo field of the truck. The tailgate would connect to the rear finish of the bathtub, relatively than the mattress sides. On the entrance, a folding panel would cowl the ground house between the bathtub and the cab wall when the bathtub is in its prolonged place.
This can be a distinct patent from the one described in a bunch of 4 patent filings that surfaced in September. These patents confirmed not solely an extendable cargo mattress, but in addition built-in steps, ramps, and a break up tailgate for pickups. In addition they featured a considerably totally different mechanism for the mattress extension, with flooring sections that folded out accordion-style together with telescoping bed-wall panels.
Ford cargo mattress extension system patent picture
One other distinction is that, on this newest patent submitting, Ford particularly describes the instance truck used within the accompanying drawings as “an electrified automobile and, particularly, a battery electrical automobile.” Ford notes {that a} plug-in hybrid or “typical automobile” may very well be substituted, although.
Ford plans to launch a brand new electrical pickup referred to as the T3 in 2025. Not like the present F-150 Lightning, it is going to be based mostly on a devoted EV platform.
Automakers usually patent concepts that do not make it to manufacturing, however the T3’s clean-sheet design might make it simpler to include new options like this extending cargo mattress.