Slideshow

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2 / 10

Tear Gas Dispenser, Wind Turbine, & Retractable Telescopic Tail

The first one's listed as a 'fragrance' dispenser inside the car. However, Toyota also mentioned its alternate use as a tear gas dispencer as self-defense.

In search for alternative automotive energy, a roof-mounted turbine system patent has been submitted in 2012 to use wind energy in powering cars.

Toyota submitted a patent for a telescopic 'tail' in a car to improve its aerodynamics. Can you imagine the Supra with this at its rear end?

3 / 10

The 'Asymmetric Car', Sticky Car Bonnet, & Laser Windshield Cleaner

Designed to lessen or mitigate pedestrian injuries, Google submitted a sticky car hood patent that works like a fly paper for human beings.

Tesla submitted a patent for laser-powered windshield cleaner in 2018. We're still waiting for this, Elon.

Lastly, someone actually thought of leaving the car design into the hand of the buyer, literally, even allowing asymmetric-shaped vehicle designs. Imagine how the cars would look like if that happened.

4 / 10

In-Car Conveyor Belts & Deployable Motorbike

These two patents look practical and useful at first glance, but Ford hasn't tried making them a production piece.

If you're torn between a car and a motobike, Ford thought of a way to bring both.

On the other hand, in case you need something from your groceries at the cargo area, Ford thought of a way to get it without having to pull over, getting out of the car, and opening the trunk. Nifty, right? Well, a bit peculiar, we must say.

5 / 10

The 'Aerocar' & Drone Car Wash

Toyota has dreams of making a flying car as early as 2014. the design's a bit weird, though, and that's why they invested in another company recently to make flying taxis a reality. Just leave the weird things to other guys, okay?

BMW, on the other hand, wanted to take flight in terms of car washing. Yes, using robots and drones, just like in Sci-Fi movies.

6 / 10

Mobile Meeting Room & Mounted Light-Up Signs For Autonomous Cars

In light of autonomous cars, Ford submitted a patent for a "meeting room on the move" which consists of a circular passenger compartment at the back of a self-driving car. Thoughts?

Another patent submitted in relation to autonomous cars is the light output system that helps and alerts pedestrians. Could be a probable tech in the future, but nowadays? Please, no.

7 / 10

Pivoting End Sections & Vertical Parking

A pivoting driver's cab isn't new, as there are noseless trucks that use this setup in order to keep the engine stowed under the seats. It's pointless in passenger cars, however.

Presumably to conserve space, a vertical parking patent has been submitted in 1923. Almost a hundred years on, nobody dares to make this a reality because, hello, fluids?

8 / 10

On-The-Go Toilet & In-Car Coffee

Someone actually thought of making a portable toilet system in a passenger car. Not a bad idea, really, except when you're traveling alone or you're just hitching a ride with a friend. Can you imagine how awkward that would be?

Now, in case someone needs coffee and there isn't any diner or store on the way, an in-car coffee maker patent has been submitted in 1991. It didn't go into production for obvious reasons.

9 / 10

Huggable Seatbelt Covers & Child Partition

Okay. The illustration might show you a scary seatbelt cover but we think SeatPets LLC didn't have this in mind when they submitted the patent in 2011. The seatbelt cover was supposed to be a huggable and plush toy. Not too bad.

On the other hand, the child seat partition was a head-scratcher. We still don't know what the partition was for. For noisy kid, maybe?

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10 / 10

Can you imagine a world with these oddities around?

Automotive patents and trademarks are a way for automakers and inventors to protect their ideas, inventions, or basically anything that they could think of in terms of car technology and design. This is a way for them to show their innovative minds in making the automotive world a better place.

Several patent and trademark applications have been submitted in the past. In fact, in 2018, Toyota and Ford top the list of the most number of patent applications submitted by a marque, with over 2,000 patent applications submitted that year.

However, as you should know by now, not all patented ideas make it into production because, well, some of them are other-worldly, while others are just... weird.

Here's a list of weird automotive patents that – thankfully – never made it into production, as compiled and illustrated by Vanarama. Click through the slideshow and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Weird Automotive Patents Thankfully Never Went Into Production