US 12,240,533 B2
Tailgate deactivation system
James E. Banks, Jr., Clayton, NC (US); and Michael A. Morrison, Clayton, NC (US)
Assigned to Banks Morrison Innovations LLC, Clayton, NC (US)
Filed by Banks Morrison Innovations LLC, Clayton, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 27, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/816,813.
Application 18/816,813 is a continuation of application No. 18/325,661, filed on May 30, 2023.
Application 18/325,661 is a continuation of application No. 17/514,831, filed on Oct. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,702,148, issued on Jul. 18, 2023.
Application 17/514,831 is a continuation of application No. 16/816,441, filed on Mar. 12, 2020, granted, now 11,161,555, issued on Nov. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/896,878, filed on Sep. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/935,231, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0417003 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 33/027 (2006.01); E05F 15/60 (2015.01); H01H 13/50 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 33/0273 (2013.01) [E05F 15/60 (2015.01); H01H 13/50 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/434 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/60 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/546 (2013.01); H01H 2231/026 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
by a vehicle having a hitch receiver apparatus and a multi-functional tailgate having a primary gate panel with an inner gate panel, with the inner gate panel being rotatable about a first horizontal axis extending through the primary gate panel a certain distance above a second horizontal axis about which the primary gate panel is rotatable, with the primary gate panel being configured to pivot between an upward vertical position and a horizontal position relative to a vehicle bed of the vehicle and with the inner gate panel being configured to independently pivot relative to the primary gate panel, with the inner gate panel being further configured to be pivoted to a downward vertical position while the primary gate panel is in the horizontal position relative to the vehicle bed such that a portion of the inner gate panel is proximate the hitch receiver apparatus;
controlling a circuitry operable to enable or disable power delivery associated with the inner gate panel to configure the multi-functional tailgate in one of a set of multi-functional tailgate configurations, including:
a first configuration with the primary gate panel in the horizontal position and enabled to be pivoted and the inner gate panel inhibited from being downwards pivoted;
a second configuration with the primary gate panel in the horizontal position and enabled to be pivoted and the inner gate panel enabled to be downwards pivoted;
a third configuration with the primary gate panel in the upward vertical position and enabled to be pivoted and the inner gate panel inhibited from being downwards pivoted; and
a fourth configuration with the primary gate panel in the upward vertical position and enabled to be pivoted and the inner gate panel enabled to be downwards pivoted.