TAILGATE DEACTIVATION SYSTEM
A tailgate deactivation system. A switch includes two terminals configured to be electrically coupled to a tailgate power circuit that supplies power to at least a portion of a tailgate of a vehicle, and an actuator configured to electrically couple the two terminals in an on state to allow power to flow in the tailgate power circuit, and to electrically decouple the two terminals in an off state to inhibit power from flowing in the tailgate power circuit.
1 . A tailgate deactivation system comprising:
a switch configured to be electrically coupled to a tailgate power circuit that supplies power to at least a portion of a tailgate of a vehicle; and
wherein the switch is operable to, in an on state, allow power to flow in the tailgate power circuit and, in an off state, to inhibit power from flowing in the tailgate power circuit.
2 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a proximity switch.
3 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises an actuation surface that is configured to be contacted by a towing apparatus.
4 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a push button that is configured to be manually contacted by a digit of a user.
5 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 1 wherein, in the off state, the switch is operable to inhibit power to a portion of the tailgate power circuit that supplies power to an inner gate panel of the tailgate.
6 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 1 wherein, in the off state, the switch is operable to prevent an inner gate panel of the tailgate from pivoting with respect to a primary gate panel of the tailgate.
7 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 1 wherein the switch is operable to transition from the on state to the off state in response to a hitch pin being installed into a hitch pin opening of a hitch receiver tube of the vehicle.
8 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 1 wherein the switch is operable to transition from the on state to the off state in response to a coupling of a ball mount system to a hitch receiver tube of the vehicle.
9 . A tailgate deactivation system comprising:
a switch configured to be electrically coupled to a tailgate power circuit that supplies power to at least a portion of a tailgate of a vehicle, the switch having an on state and an off state, and wherein, in the on state, the switch is operable to allow power to flow in the tailgate power circuit and, in the off state, the switch is operable to inhibit power from flowing in the tailgate power circuit.
10 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 9 wherein, in the off state, the switch is operable to inhibit power from flowing to a portion of the tailgate power circuit that supplies power to an inner gate panel of the tailgate.
11 . The tailgate deactivation system of claim 9 wherein, in the off state, the switch is operable to prevent an inner gate panel of the tailgate from pivoting with respect to a primary gate panel of the tailgate.
12 . A method comprising:
receiving, by a switch electrically coupled to a tailgate power circuit that supplies power to at least a portion of a tailgate of a vehicle, an input that causes the switch to transition from an on state to an off state; and
in response to the input, transitioning from the on state, which allows power to flow in the tailgate power circuit, to the off state, which inhibits power from flowing in the tailgate power circuit.