Future Ford Vehicles Could Get Multifunction Floor Mats

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for multifunction floor mats that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on June 10^th, 2022, published on December 14^th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0398919.

The Ford Authority Take

Ford recently filed a patent outlining an idea for a multifunctional cargo area cover, one that aims to reinvent a rather basic component of an automobile by designing it in a way that it can be positioned or stored in many different ways. This includes not only a traditional flat surface to conceal cargo from prying eyes, but also folded up into a partial covering or even transformed into a giant tote bag of sorts. Now, this new patent filing aims to do essentially the same thing with the humble floor mat in future Ford vehicles, too.

For eons, floor mats have been used to protect the carpeting in a vehicle and trap dirt, mud, and other things, making interior cleanup a lot easier. However, the floor mats outlined in this Ford patent would be able to fold in all kinds of different ways, even providing a bit of elevation when needed or desired. This way, the vehicle’s occupants could transform the floor mat into a foot rest if so desired, which may provide a bit of relief on long journeys, if nothing else.

What’s particularly interesting about this patent is that the floor mat would be able to be positioned in many different ways to accomplish this same task, whether that be in a triangular shape or even one that’s rounded off at the top. This would give occupants many choices when it comes to adjusting their floor mats for optimum comfort, and given how simple such a thing may be to produce, it could prove viable in future Ford vehicles.

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.