Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for swiveling seats that could wind up being used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on March 21st, 2022, published on September 21st, 2023, and assigned serial number 0294570.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has filed a large number of seat-related patents over the past several months, a list that includes a seat-mounted work surface, interchangeable seat cushions, stowable pickup bed seats, a transformable rear seat, a seat with liquid cooling, and seats with lower leg support, to name just a few. Now, this newly filed patent keeps that trend going by introducing a new idea for swiveling seats that could wind up being used in future Ford vehicles, too.
As is the case with some of the aforementioned patents, the concept behind this new filing is to make it easier to use a vehicle as something of a mobile office, as well as a more comfortable and social place to be in the event that fully autonomous vehicles eventually come to fruition.
The patent introduces an idea for a swiveling seat that utilizes a coupling member, a swivel plate, and a base along with the traditional type of seat, which enables it to be spun around 360 degrees. When the user wants to keep the seat fixed in place, a coupling member is present to handle that, as well as control rotational movement when someone wants to decouple it and position the seat in a different direction.
This is a simple idea that Ford has explored in various ways over the years, meaning that it’s quite likely to eventually make it to a production vehicle at some point in the future – whether it be intended for use in a traditional ICE or EV, or perhaps in a fully autonomous model where we can face each other in a less formal setting.
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Comments
Buick had swiveling seats years ago.
So doid a neighbor’s 1958 Plymouth.
Would love to have this in my Mustang to make it easier to get out and in. I’m older now with arthritis in my knee,but not ready to give up joy ride just yet.
Fourty some years ago we sold Econoline Club Wagons with four ‘captains chairs’ and a rear seat bed. All four chairs swiveled and were great for travelling. We called them Captain Clubs and we sold a ton of them.
Instead of swiveling chairs, they should make them tilt forward so the owners can get ready to make their next payment.