Ford is looking to make it a little easier for drivers to secure cargo to the roof of their vehicle.
In a patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on March 12 (and originally filed on September 9, 2021), Ford discusses incorporating fold-out tie-down points into fenders. of vehicles.
Patent image of Ford retractable fender attachment point
Ropes or straps are needed to secure a large item – such as a kayak or canoe – being transported to the roof of the vehicle. While there are lower points on the vehicle to tie them down, this could allow ropes or straps to rub the paint, Ford notes in the app. Retractable tie-down points help keep ropes and straps away from the bodywork and paintwork.
Tie-down points consist of hardware that secures them to a rigid point, such as a piece of the vehicle’s internal structure inside a front fender, and a hinge that allows them to be deployed when needed. It seems simple enough, assuming a given vehicle has enough room in its fenders for a tie-down point ideally located at the right angle to keep the straps secured.
![Patent image of Ford retractable fender attachment point Patent image of Ford retractable fender attachment point](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ford-retractable-fender-tie-down-point-patent-image_100922851_l.webp.webp)
Patent image of Ford retractable fender attachment point
While such a feature may be popular among the active lifestyle crowd, retractable tie-down points may not make it into production. Ford files a steady stream of patent applications, but some ideas, like retractable bike rack which appeared in 2017, is not used in production vehicles.
If this feature appears in a production vehicle, it would likely be a good fit for an SUV, perhaps in combination with the split rear door seen in another recently published Ford patent application.