US 12,291,283 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 Nov. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/944,073.
Application 18/944,073 is a continuation of application No. 18/816,813, filed on Aug. 27, 2024.
Application 18/816,813 is a continuation of application No. 18/325,661, filed on May 30, 2023, abandoned.
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 2025/0065959 A1, Feb. 27, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
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)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
by a vehicle having a multi-functional tailgate with a primary gate panel having 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 the vehicle and with the inner gate panel being configured to independently pivot relative to the primary gate panel, configuring, by a circuitry of the vehicle, 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 by disabling power delivery associated with the inner gate panel;
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 by disabling power delivery associated with the inner gate panel; 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.