Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a vehicular pet restraint system, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on January 28th, 2021, published on July 28th, 2022, and assigned serial number 0234538.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has filed a number of pet-related patents over the past several months, including filings for a pet mode, an integrated pet bowl with water level sensing technology, a seat bottom mounted airbag that protects pets, a pet monitoring and control system, and a system that would combat K9 police vehicle climate control hacking. Now, this new Ford patent continues that trend by introducing a built-in way to keep pets restrained while their owners are driving them around town.
Unlike some pieces of complicated intellectual property, this particular Ford patent is fairly simple, however, as it consists of a restraint device with a collar and harness that can retract when it’s not in use. The device is attached to the vehicle via its seat belts, and the other end secures the pet in place, preventing them from injuries in the event of an accident. Similar devices are currently available via both Ford and the aftermarket, but this particular item is actually integrated into the seat belt, which is interesting.
On top of that, this device is also capable of reading a vehicle’s acceleration, handling, and stopping forces, as well as predict when an accident may be imminent. When that happens, it can adjust the least accordingly to protect pets, much the same way a seat belt tenses up. If nothing else, it’s certainly an interesting idea, and one that many pet owners would welcome as a better way to protect them from injuries while riding in vehicles.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford trademark news, Ford business news, and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
That system is complex and costly. Just get a special traveling harness by Four Paws which only cost about $15 per dog. I have been using two of them since 2010 and my two old dogs love them. People must treat their pets as children since they are living beings, and not loose cargo.
That system is complex and costly. Just get a special traveling harness by Four Paws which only cost about $15 per dog. They attach to the regular seat belt. I have been using two of them since 2010 and my two old dogs love them. People must treat their pets as children since they are living beings, and not loose cargo.
You can say that again!
It better never become a default build feature. YOU want it YOU pay for it !!!!!!!
I put my dog in the FRUNK… LOL… I meanTRUNK. still not an “option”…. Terrible choices.
Brandon probably wants to have us let the DOG drive!! I will never let my dog drive