Ford seen planning magnetic truck beds

Ford Motor Company is eying a pickup design which would keep items such as tools in their truck beds safe and secure despite not being tied down.  

This is according to a patent filing the automaker submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in January. The filing consititues a pick-up truck bed having controllably magnetized areas for retaining cargo or attachment devices.

A first permanent magnet may be attached below the lower surface of the truck bed with a second permanent being rotatable relative to the first permanent magnet to control the magnetic flux provided to retain objects in the truck bed. 

Alternatively, one or more electromagnets may be provided that may be turned on to retain objects in the truck bed and turned off to allow removal of objects, the filing said. 

Photo: sketch from Patten filing (source: United States Patent and Trademark Office)