Jeep designed a grille guard that translates into a bench
The grill Guard protects the radiators and makes the vehicle look more tough, but the Jeep aims to give them a different purpose.
The Stellantis brand has designed a folding grille guard to function as a bench. This was disclosed in a patent application filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2023/4/28 and published by its agents in May 10. 31 of the year.
According to the patent application, the grille guard can be attached to the main structure of the vehicle by a bracket with a pivot mechanism and moved from a conventional vertical position to a horizontal position to be used as a bench. The design requires a tubular structure similar to conventional grille guards, with removable panels or panels to provide a more comfortable seat.
The folded grille guard provides an open tailgate-like seat, but extends from the front of the vehicle rather than the back. This is something that most other automakers don't consider, but Lucid plans to offer a removable seat for the front trunk of a gravity electric SUV for use when parking.
As to why Jeep is seeking to patent the combination of grille guard and bench, Jeep noted in its application that there is a considerable market for vehicle accessories, especially off-road, where it is known, "It is hoped that vehicle accessories serve multiple purposes.""
The accompanying drawings show an SUV like a wrangler, so it is possible that this accessory is being considered for a redesign of that model. The next generation of wranglers, known as the J70 series, will feature plug-in hybrids and an all-electric powertrain and will be available in 2028. Another electric SUV, the reconnaissance aircraft, is also expected to appear before the J70 as an alternative to the current gasoline wrangler. It was recently monitoring the test ahead of its 2025 launch.