Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a new type of cross bar mount that may be used on future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on January 18th, 2024, published on July 24th, 2025, and assigned serial number 0236241.
The Ford Authority Take
Roof racks have become more and more popular in recent years, not only because a lot of people find them to be aesthetically pleasing, but also, because they enable one to carry all sorts of stuff. Whether vehicle owners are strapping baskets or carriers to those mounts – or even things like tents – there are many uses for roof racks, which is why Ford continues to file patents exploring new concepts for those types of things. The latest aims to solve one particular problem – using crossbars on vehicles with glass roofs – which may wind up on future Ford vehicles, too.
At this time, Ford instructs owners of vehicles with glass roofs (moonroofs and sunroofs) not to install crossbars on those vehicles, and even warns that doing so could void one’s manufacturer warranty, presumably because it poses a safety risk. This patent aims to fix that problem with a new crossbar design that would attach to special mounting points in the vehicle’s roof, located outside of the glass itself. This would provide a more secure connection, perhaps eliminating the risk involved with using traditional crossbars on vehicles with those features.
“Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” Ford said in a statement. “The ideas described within a patent application should not be viewed as an indication of our business or product plans. No matter what the patent application outlines, we will always put the customer first in the decision-making behind the development and marketing of new products and services.”
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