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10 August 2016Patents

Apple patent hints at vehicle plans

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has published a patent application by Apple which hints that the company may be moving looking to break into the automobile industry.

The USPTO made the patent application publicly available, yesterday, August 9.

Apple first applied for the patent, US number 9,409,599 on March 19, 2012. It is a continuation of an existing patent, US number 14/006,953, which relates to a steering device.

The updated patent is described as a “steering device for articulated vehicle” and covers a “steering device comprising a steering member” as well as “a link mechanism” for pivoting the vehicle.

Images included with the application show two interlocking vehicles with tank-like wheels.

In February this year, news website The Business Insider reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook said, in reference to a proposed Apple car: “Do you remember when you were a kid, and Christmas Eve, it was so exciting, you weren't sure what was going to be downstairs?

“Well, it's going to be Christmas Eve for a while.”

Apple declined to comment.

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