Ford Patent Filed For Airbag Between Cabin And Cargo Area

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for an airbag located between the cabin and cargo area that could wind up being used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on May 24^th, 2022, published on September 19^th, 2023, and assigned serial number 11760300.

The Ford Authority Take

Ford has filed a bevy of airbag-related patents over the past couple of years, a list that includes ideas for a movable roof-supported airbag system, a seatback-supported airbag system, a seatback-mounted overhead airbag, a movable floor-mounted airbag, and door-mounted airbags, to name just a few. Now, this newly filed Ford patent keeps that trend going by introducing an idea for an airbag located between the cabin and cargo area that could wind up being used in future Ford vehicles, too.

In its quest to increase the number of airbags in future vehicles – as well as where they’re located – this new patent presents us with a pretty interesting concept – sticking an airbag in between the occupants of a vehicle and the rear cargo area. This is designed to prevent a vehicle’s occupants from being injured in the event that it’s involved in an accident, which could send the cargo careening toward passengers.

In this case, that airbag would be mounted in the floor of the vehicle, and in the event of an accident, it would inflate upward. The top portion of the airbag would be supported by a retractor holding a tether on each side, holding it in place so that it can’t move around and potentially let cargo slip by into the passenger compartment.

While this is a relatively simple idea, it’s also one that could very well prevent injuries, as loose cargo can be quite dangerous in the event of an accident. Throw in Ford’s burgeoning commercial vehicle business, and it certainly has enough merit to perhaps one day make it into a production vehicle, too.

We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford patent news, Ford business news, and ongoing Ford news coverage.