Energy operating boards and built-in bumper steps are widespread options on new pickup vans, however a brand new Ford patent submitting successfully combines them.
The submitting, which was printed by the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Could 21, and submitted by Ford in 2021, is for a deployable step for the rear bumper of a pickup truck, one thing that might make accessing the mattress simpler, particularly when the truck is lifted.
As described within the patent submitting, the step meeting would match right into a truck’s trailer hitch receiver. An arm would pivot down from the mounting level when the step is getting used. The remainder of the time, the step may very well be tucked up in opposition to the bumper to maintain it out of the way in which.
In vans geared up with air suspension, the step may be linked to an onboard controller that tells the rear suspension to decrease when the step is getting used, Ford says within the utility. So the truck would kneel like a metropolis bus to deliver the step nearer to the bottom.
Ford deployable bumper step patent picture
The applying offers particularly with vans which have a tailgate door—a characteristic that was simply launched on the refreshed 2024 Ford F-150 full-size pickup. Dubbed Professional Entry Tailgate, the door could be opened with detents to cease its at 37-, 70-, or 100-degree angles.
That was considered one of a number of updates for the 2024 mannequin yr, together with revised styling, greater screens, and a reshuffled lineup of trim ranges and powertrains. The F-150 Raptor R grade additionally acquired much more energy.
The rear-bumper step did not make the reduce, however because it was designed for use together with a tailgate door, maybe Ford will add it to manufacturing automobiles sooner or later.
