Ford was granted a patent for a vehicle headliner installation tool.

{
  "signal_id": "dafefcd0-208e-5059-9438-06bafaa04bde",
  "signal_type": "patents-company",
  "signal_subtype": "patentGrant",
  "detected_at": "2026-09-23T14:47:55+00:00",
  "company": {
    "name": "Ford",
    "domain": "ford.com"
  },
  "data": {
    "cpc": [
      {
        "code": "B62D 65/14",
        "label": "Motor vehicles; trailers (steering)"
      },
      {
        "code": "B25B 11/002"
      },
      {
        "code": "B25B 27/0035"
      },
      {
        "code": "B60R 13/0225",
        "label": "Vehicles, vehicle fittings or parts not otherwise provided for"
      }
    ],
    "tags": [
      "Intellectual Property",
      "Research & Development",
      "Automotive",
      "Manufacturing Operations"
    ],
    "detail": "In September 2026 Ford patented a magnetic locator tool for positioning and securing vehicle headliners during assembly-line installation.",
    "summary": "Ford was granted a patent for a vehicle headliner installation tool.",
    "event_at": "2026-09-22",
    "inventors": [
      {
        "name": "Carlos Ernesto Saenz",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": true,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-ernesto-saenz-camacho-39227551"
      },
      {
        "name": "Jesus Sanchez Llaca",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesus-sanchez-llaca-a128b3134"
      },
      {
        "name": "Cecilia Oddett Paredes Mancilla",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": false
      },
      {
        "name": "Julio Adolfo Castillo",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/julio-castillo-5a735529"
      }
    ],
    "tech_area": "vehicle steering / chassis",
    "event_kind": "grant_date",
    "grant_date": "2026-09-22",
    "source_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12741711",
    "cpc_primary": {
      "code": "B62D 65/14",
      "label": "Motor vehicles; trailers (steering)"
    },
    "patent_title": "Tool for installing headliner in a vehicle and method of installing a headliner in a vehicle",
    "patent_number": "US12741711",
    "uspto_assignee": "FORD MOTOR COMPANY",
    "patent_abstract": "A locator tool for a headliner assembly includes a base, first finger, second finger, and magnet. A proximal end portion of the first finger is fixedly coupled to a top portion of the base. The first finger extends in a first direction from the proximal end portion of the first finger to a distal end portion of the first finger. A proximal end portion of the second finger is fixedly coupled to the top portion of the base. The second finger extends in the first direction from the proximal end portion of the second finger to a distal end portion of the second finger. The second finger is spaced apart from the first finger by the top surface. The second finger extends in the first direction a lesser distance from the top surface than the first finger. The magnet is coupled to the distal end portion of the first finger.",
    "precision_class": "structural",
    "invention_explanation": "A handheld alignment tool uses two locating fingers and a magnet to hold a headliner in the correct position while it is fitted inside a vehicle.",
    "technologies_mentioned": [
      "vehicle assembly",
      "headliner installation",
      "magnetic locator tools"
    ]
  }
}

curl https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/signals/dafefcd0-208e-5059-9438-06bafaa04bde \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY"

curl -X POST https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/companies/enrich \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"domain":"ford.com","limit":20}'