Ford engineers have designed a trailer hitch that pivots out of the way when not in use.

Described in a patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 26, but filed by Ford back in 2021, the hitch receiver can move so that it’s parallel with a vehicle’s rear bumper. It’s otherwise a standard receiver that can accommodate a ball hitch or various accessories like bike racks.

With the hitch pivoted out of the way, it’s no longer sticking out where it can become an obstacle to people’s legs when walking around the back of the vehicle, or scrape against the ground if the vehicle is driven up a particularly steep incline, Ford notes in the application. It also eliminates the need to remove the ball hitch, making things a little more convenient for those that tow frequently.

The tubular receiver would be attached to the vehicle’s frame via a pin that allows it to rotate, with a lever arm that locks the receiver into place when it’s stowed or deployed. The assembly could be moved by an electric motor mounted behind the rear bumper, Ford suggests in the application, which would turn a screw that causes the hitch assembly to pivot. This could be controlled from inside the vehicle, Ford notes.

Patented ideas don’t always translate into production-viable features, but given the importance of pickup trucks and SUVs to Ford’s bottom line, this one may have a better chance than most of making it onto a production vehicle.

Toyota, meanwhile, has tried to patent retractable and moveable tow hooks. Instead of convenience, the automaker appears to be more focused on safety with this idea, noting in patent documents that protruding rigid-mounted tow hooks can transmit impact forces to other parts of a vehicle during a crash.