Look, Ma, that car just turned into a bike! | Inquirer Technology

Look, Ma, that car just turned into a bike!

By: - Reporter / @NCorralesINQ
/ 08:09 PM February 26, 2015

Screenshot of the Wall Street Journal report

Screenshot of the Wall Street Journal report

MANILA, Philippines – Ford Motors Co. has filed a patent for a new car design that could be transformed into a bicycle.

In a report by the Wall Street Journal, Ford is doing a series of experiments designed to address future transportation challenges.

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The report said the new design would allow car users to remove certain parts of the car like the jack and headrest and reassemble them into a pedal-powered two-wheeler or a bicycle.

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The report added that Ford made the patent filing in August 2013 but was only made public earlier this February.

“The Dearborn, Michigan auto maker says parts can serve a dual purpose, with the jack becoming a pedal and gear assembly to turn one of the wheels. In one instance, the car’s headrest could morph into a bicycle seat. As for the bike’s wheels, they could be combined to form a spare wheel that may be used by the vehicle,” the report said quoting parts of the filing, which was published in the United States patent database.

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But since the design is still on an experiment stage, many things are still unclear, the report said.

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It cited that the duration  how long the bike would take to assemble or how willing users would buy a car with saddle-shaped headrests has yet to be disclosed.

According to the report, Ford has yet to be granted a patent for the new design citing that the United States Patent and Trademark Office takes about 27 months on average for a decision to be made.

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TOPICS: Bicycle, Car, design, patent, Transportation, United States, vehicle
TAGS: Bicycle, Car, design, patent, Transportation, United States, vehicle

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