Ford has filed a patent software for a cargo mattress extension system that might permit pickup vans 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 Could of final yr—Ford discusses separating the cargo mattress into two components. 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 inside tub would basically kind the cargo field of the truck. The tailgate would connect to the rear finish of the bathtub, moderately 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 gaggle of 4 patent filings that surfaced in September. These patents confirmed not solely an extendable cargo mattress, but additionally built-in steps, ramps, and a cut up tailgate for pickups. In addition they featured a considerably completely different mechanism for the mattress extension, with ground 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 “standard automobile” may very well be substituted, although.

Ford plans to launch a new electrical pickup referred to as the T3 in 2025. In contrast to the present F-150 Lightning, will probably be primarily based 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.