Grille guards protect radiators while making vehicles look tougher, but Jeep may give them another purpose.
The Stellantis brand has designed a grille guard that folds down to serve as a bench. This was disclosed in a patent application submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on April 28, 2023, and published by that agency on Oct. 31 of this year.
According to the patent filing, the grille guard would be attached to the vehicle’s main structure by a bracket with a pivoting mechanism, allowing it to move from a conventional vertical position to a horizontal position for use as a bench. The design calls for a tubular structure similar to conventional grille guards, with a removable panel or panels to provide more comfortable seating.
Folded down, the grille guard would provide seating like an open tailgate, but extending from the front of the vehicle instead of the back. That’s something most other automakers haven’t considered, although Lucid plans to offered removable seats for the front trunk of its Gravity electric SUV for use when parked.
As for why it’s looking to patent a combination grille guard and bench, Jeep noted in the application that there is a substantial market for vehicle accessories, particularly for the off-roaders it’s known for, adding that “there is a desire for vehicle accessories to serve more than one purpose.”
Accompanying drawings show a Wrangler-like SUV, so it’s possible that this accessory is being considered for that model’s redesign. The next-generation Wrangler, known as the J70 series, is expected to arrive in 2028 with plug-in hybrid and all-electric powertrains. Another electric SUV, the Recon, is also expected to appear before the J70 as an alternative to the current gasoline Wrangler. It was recently spied testing ahead of what will likely be a 2025 launch.
High-Res Gallery: Jeep grille guard bench patent image
This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com
Source: www.classiccars.com