Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a steering wheel assist handle that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on June 29th, 2022, published on January 4th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0001983.
The Ford Authority Take
As it continues to work toward a future in which it imagines that we’ll all be riding around in fully autonomous vehicles, more than one Ford patent has been filed outlining features that may one day be found in those types of vehicles. That list includes a deployable vehicle desk, an active wheel theft prevention system, and a disappearing steering wheel and pedals system, to name just a few. Now, this newly filed Ford patent aims to keep that trend going by introducing an idea for a steering wheel assist handle that could be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
As this new Ford patent points out, many autonomous vehicles currently utilize fixed steering wheels that don’t move – outside of the typical tilt and telescoping motions – and are oftentimes accompanied by grab handles that aid in ingress and egress. However, it makes sense to use a steering wheel that’s capable of moving around and doubling as an assist handle in that way instead of relying on other types of handles, it seems.
In this case, the moving steering wheel/assist handle would slide around automatically based on user data such as their identify or physical stature. From there, the system would move the steering wheel to the desired position to make it easier to get in or out of the vehicle, and then move it back to the standard driving position once that has taken place, while also moving it out of the way once the driver needs to get out. It’s a fairly simple idea, but one that could prove useful for those that find such an act to be difficult at times.
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Comments
Why not dust off the drawings for the swivel seat and tilt away steering wheel from the 60’s Thunderbirds?
I’m waiting for the article: “Ford Invents Stuff That Doesn’t Need Multiple Recalls.”