Ford Vehicles Could Get Special Roof Mounted Airbag

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a special roof mounted airbag that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on October 4^th, 2022, published on October 24^th, 2023, and assigned serial number 11794683.

The Ford Authority Take

Ford has filed a bevy of airbag-related patents in recent years, a list that includes ideas for a cabin crossbar with a movable pillar and airbag, a movable floor supported airbag, a seatback-mounted overhead airbag, selectively inflatable side airbags, and an airbag that would separate the cargo area from the passenger compartment, to name just a few. Now, this newly filed patent introduces yet another, similar idea – this time, for a special roof mounted airbag that could be used in future Ford vehicles, too.

As is the case with pretty much every other airbag-related patent Ford has filed, this particular idea is centered around the concept that adding more of those types of units to a vehicle can in turn make it safer. Ford makes it quite clear that it wants to extend airbag coverage inside the cabin of its future vehicles, and in this particular case, that includes adding one to the roof.

In this case, the roof-mounted airbag would aim to protect front-row passengers, specifically, which would provide a bit of additional cushion in the event that something hits the roof, and perhaps even if the vehicle rolls over, to an extent. In many cases, taller passengers tend to hit their heads on the roof during certain types of accidents, and such a position for an airbag may help prevent injuries in the event that this occurs. Regardless, if nothing else, this filing continues a trend that has perpetuated for years now as FoMoCo seeks to add airbags to pretty much every area of its future models.

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 continuous Ford news coverage.