Ford patents Jeep Gladiator-like convertible pickup truck design

Ford has filed a patent software for a convertible roof system that might give its vans a shot at competing with the brand new Jeep Gladiator within the drop-top area. 

The submitting, revealed final Thursday noticed by Ford Authority in a Saturday report, present a easy detachable hard-top system with two clips holding the panel to the windshield encompass and two extra holding it to the cab under the mattress line. The mechanism depicted is designed to be operated solely by undoing the clasps over the windshield bracket, which might swing the rear panel freed from the clips within the rear.

Ford truck convertible patent

The place the rooftop and rear window panels meet would sit over a set construction (which might be an extension of the cab) on the trailing fringe of the rear doorways of the crew cab depicted within the diagrams. Ford says this is just one potential implementation, because it may very well be designed to accommodate completely different cab configurations.

Ford says the hypothetical roof panel may very well be fabricated from metallic, plastic or composite. It additionally demonstrates how the panel might nonetheless incorporate a sliding rear window, which is harking back to the way in which Jeep’s hard-top Wranglers and Gladiators incorporate rear glass that may be opened. 

With the brand new Ford Bronco on the way in which, the Blue Oval’s patent filings have been drawing elevated consideration from fanatics searching for clues as to what we would see from the reincarnated 4×4. One other patent confirmed a set of trick detachable doorways depicted on a basic Bronco physique and body. 

As all the time, a patent submitting is a far cry from concrete product plans. Ford is simply as prone to maintain this one in its pocket for potential future use as it’s to truly ship a truck with a folding roof. Solely time will inform.