GM has filed a patent application for a new pickup truck cargo bed utility wall system to quickly and easily install things like cargo tie-downs or accessory storage.
The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 2022/0371666 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on November 24th, 2022. The patent was originally filed on May 20th, 2021, and lists several Michigan-based engineers as the inventors, including Thomas P. Grabowski, Kurt Baldauf, John David Taylor, and Charles Salvatore Calcaterra.
The patent describes a utility wall that is installed in the inner panels of a pickup truck bed, with the wall incorporating a series of repeating apertures of varying lengths and widths. The utility walls are installed along the right and left sides of the pickup truck bed, as well as against the inner wall of the tailgate.
The apertures are of appropriate size and configuration to provide mounting points for bolts or tie-downs. As such, this system would provide enhanced utility for those looking to use their pickup to haul goods or cargo, but require added flexibility in terms of securing said goods or cargo.
Notably, the patent also mentions the MOLLE system, an acronym used by the U.S. armed forces that stands for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. Essentially, the MOLLE system maximizes the utility of load-bearing equipment and backpacks by incorporating webbing and modular attachments. While similar systems are seeing increasing use in non-military applications, such as outdoor equipment, it’s possible this new patent describes a system in development for future GM Defense vehicles.
Back in 2020, GM Defense was awarded a contract to develop the new GM Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) for the U.S. Military. Based on the Chevy Colorado ZR2, the GM Defense ISV incorporates a variety of commercial-off-the-shelf components, and is designed to quickly transport up to nine passengers. More recently, it was reported that GM Defense was selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a new battery pack prototype for testing and analysis in conjunction with Department of Defense platforms.
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Comments
Interesting. I’ve had something very similar in my 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison for a couple of years. Not clear what makes this new
Most likely just GM doing it and not aftermarket.
It sounds unusual. If the item exists, I don’t see how it could be patented. The aftermarket invented this. It doesn’t really matter to me as I only bought one, didn’t invent it.
They can patent the size of the holes, mounting method and the like. This will potentially slowdown any aftermarket copies at the very least making it harder for reputable brands to make compatible accessories / replacements. I think it is more just standard operating procedure as well as a sly way of leaking info.
What could be new is the specific hole pattern, which isn’t MOLLE (Fig 3) and the method of attaching the panel to the chassis (Fig 5).
When you get a patent, you pay thousands of dollars to lawyers and the lawyers at the USPTO to know and argue about the rules of what’s new or not.
I am all for making more utility for the bed. I love the t-slot rails in my Tundra, for instance. My shop is full of t-slot mounting points. I wish I could put the MultiPro tailgate on it (I’m too cheap to buy the trucks I sell; snagged an immaculate high mile Tundra when someone traded it in). But I really wish GM would spend more time looking at what happens to vehicles after they sell them. This would be like the Denali grills that catch dirt and water and are a massive pain to detail.
Nothing more than a piece of expanded sheet steel, except has odd shaped openings instead of square or diamond shape. I can’t see how this would qualify for an exclusive patent. They would be a better maker of trucks if they used all that attorney money to address defects in the trucks they now make.
You can patent a ham sandwich if you want.
Yes please!
I wonder what Valhalla Offroad and Putco will have to say about this since they already sell molle walls for truck beds. Putco’s version is sold through GM as accessories to the trucks.
Plenty of aftermarket items already exist. From what I’ve seen, not made out of cheap sheet metal, but solid steel material. GM version seems like it will easily be damaged off road.
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Sincerely Denis FLeury
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Hi James,do you work for General motors.
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Denis FLeury