Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for an integrated umbrella holder that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on June 28th, 2022, published on December 28th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0415660.
The Ford Authority Take
In recent years, smartphones have become quite common, to the point where essentially everyone has one on their person at pretty much any given time. Ford is well aware of this fact, and recently filed a patent for an electronic device holder that’s a bit different than what we’ve seen in current and past models, as it would hold devices in a way that they could be used to keep second-row passengers entertained in lieu of built-in screens. Now, the automaker has filed a patent for an integrated umbrella holder that may wind up making its way into future Ford vehicles, too.
Currently, the Ford Edge has an umbrella storage tray located inside the cabin, but it’s located right next to the seat and door sill, providing a place to simply put that particular item to prevent moisture from getting over everything else. However, the integrated umbrella holder outlined in this patent would exist in the side of the center console, and would be quite a bit more discreet.
Much like how Rolls Royce famously stores umbrellas in the doors of its vehicles, this system would employ a hole in the console where one could slide an umbrella in to store it out of sight, and when one needs it, they could simply unscrew a cap and remove it. The goal here is to keep an umbrella nearby in the event that it’s raining while one is out and about, but also do so in a manner that it doesn’t get water everywhere – making it potentially viable for use in future Ford vehicles.
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Comments
My Lincoln MKC had a tray next to the outboard side of the driver’s seat that snugly held a compact umbrella. My MKZ has a place integrated into the door bottle holder area to snap in a compact umbrella. Both methods work perfectly fine for handy, inconspicuous storage.
My wires 2019 Nautilus has the same!
My 2014 Fusion Hybrid holds three compact umbrellas right now in the tray by the driver’s door. Since the tray is plastic, they can be dripping wet with no consequences or worries about wetting the carpet.