SUVs have largely replaced sedans from showrooms and driveways, in part due to their ability to carry more cargo. But an SUV’s tall height can also make loading and unloading items more difficult – something a recently published Ford patent application aims to address.
Published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on March 7, but filed by Ford on September 1, 2022, the application concerns a deployable loading ramp that would allow users to slide items in and out of the vehicle. cargo area of an SUV. rather than lifting them and risking back pain.
Patent image of Ford SUV loading ramp
The ramp would be implemented from a channel at the same height as the loading floor, a bit like the sliding ramps on box trucks. In addition to providing a shallow enough angle for loading and unloading cargo, the ramp can also be used by pets to enter and exit the cargo area, suggests Ford.
Made of multiple layers of material bonded with resin, the ramp would be just 0.3-1.1 inches thick but would be capable of supporting at least 220 pounds, and perhaps as much as 661 pounds, according to the order.
Patent image of Ford SUV loading ramp
The project also requires humidity sensors to help prevent the ramp from being used in conditions where moisture would enter its operation and freeze. It would also have a microphone to detect the sound of the ramp scraping the ground, so drivers wouldn’t inadvertently drive away with the ramp open.
Both Ford It is General Engines It recently attempted to patent different forms of integrated ramps for pickup trucks, and aftermarket ramps are already a popular accessory for these vehicles. A loading ramp for SUVs is unusual, so this feature could set Ford’s future SUVs apart from the competition if it gets the green light for production.
