GM’s New Innovative Pitch Could Revolutionize the Way You Tailgate

General Motors may be brewing up an innovative pickup truck feature for tailgating fans. A new patent filing recently surfaced via the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

It clearly depicts a very unique pickup truck bed tailgate design, specifically engineered for one of America’s favorite pastimes. Originally unearthed by GM enthusiast site, GMAuthority, the patent shows a unique tailgate door design that’s divided up in sections.

Said sections can apparently open up and break down into bench seating. If put into production, it’d be an industry first.

A new, potential tailgate seating solution

USPTO

If you’ve ever gone tailgating during a sporting event, you’ll know seating options can be limited. It’s why people tend to carry portable fold-out chairs and other accommodations.

After all, no one’s using the beer cooler for a seat. Well, not without the risk of someone telling you to get out of the way.

USPTO

But with GM’s new patent, tailgate fans may not have to keep lugging extra gear. Instead, they’d be able to expedite their ability to sit back, relax and crack open a cold one.

According to the patent, the design builds on GM’s already clever multi-part tailgate design. Not too long ago, GM introduced new tailgate doors on its full-size pickups. They’re sectioned to allow more flexibility when hauling long or oddly shaped cargo in the bed.

GMC

The system is called MultiFlex on Chevrolet pickups, while GMC calls its version MultiPro. Rather than just being a versatile solution for haulers, the new patent design can convert the tailgate door into a bench seating arrangement, complete with a backrest, armrests, and even footrests.

A new way to pop a squat

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The patent filing goes into deeper detail, complete with technical schematics and drawings. The drawings even include integrated cup holders.

But what’s also clever about the apparent design is that it doesn’t alter or inhibit the bed’s normal function. When deployed, users can supposedly still access the truck’s cargo area with ease.

General Motors’ engineers reportedly filed the patent back in January. It was finally published last month.

USPTO

The filing didn’t disclose any launch dates. Of course, patent filings aren’t always hard evidence of production-ready features or designs.

But they can still give clues as to what engineers are coming up with in terms of future product innovations and technology. Ultimately, we hope this one makes it into production, since its applications could very well extend beyond tailgating into the camping world.

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