Ford has filed a patent utility for a cargo mattress extension system that might permit pickup vehicles to hold longer objects when wanted.
Within the utility—which was printed by america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Nov. 16, however filed in Might of final 12 months—Ford discusses separating the cargo mattress into two parts. Outer partitions would connect to the body as in a traditional pickup, with a bath positioned between them that might slide fore and aft on rails.
This internal tub would basically type the cargo field of the truck. The tailgate would connect to the rear finish of the bathtub, fairly than the mattress sides. On the entrance, a folding panel would cowl the ground area 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 gaggle 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 cut up tailgate for pickups. Additionally they featured a considerably completely 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 car and, specifically, a battery electrical car.” Ford notes {that a} plug-in hybrid or “typical car” may very well be substituted, although.
Ford plans to launch a new electrical pickup known as the T3 in 2025. In contrast to the present F-150 Lightning, will probably be based mostly on a devoted EV platform.
Automakers typically patent concepts that do not make it to manufacturing, however the T3’s clean-sheet design may make it simpler to include new options like this extending cargo mattress.