US 12,377,918 B1
Tailgate deactivation system
James E. Banks, Jr., Clayton, NC (US); and Michael A. Morrison, Archer Lodge, NC (US)
Assigned to Banks Morrison Innovations, LLC, Archer Lodge, NC (US)
Filed by Banks Morrison Innovations, LLC, Archer Lodge, NC (US)
Filed on Apr. 24, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/188,528.
Application 19/188,528 is a continuation of application No. 18/944,073, filed on Nov. 12, 2024, granted, now 12,291,283.
Application 18/944,073 is a continuation of application No. 18/816,813, filed on Aug. 27, 2024, granted, now 12,240,533, issued on Mar. 4, 2025.
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 62/935,231, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/896,878, filed on Sep. 6, 2019.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E05F 15/73 (2015.01); 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)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a tailgate assembly coupled to a rear portion of a vehicle, the tailgate assembly including a first gate panel and a second gate panel;
a tailgate power circuit coupled to the tailgate assembly and configured to supply power to at least a portion of the tailgate assembly to cause the second gate panel to pivot with respect to the first gate panel; and
a switch configured to override operation of the tailgate power circuit to disable the second gate panel from pivoting with respect to the first gate panel, the switch comprising:
a proximity switch; and
an actuator having an actuator surface facing outwardly from the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the actuator is configured to cause the switch to transition between a first state, in which the switch is configured to allow power to flow in the tailgate power circuit, and a second state, in which the switch is configured to inhibit power from flowing in the tailgate power circuit.