Dual mode tailgate control system

A dual-mode tailgate assembly having a tailgate mounted to an associated vehicle, said tailgate being moveable from a closed position to a first open position and alternatively a second open position, said dual-mode tailgate assembly comprising:

• a dual-mode hinge pivotally connected to said associated vehicle for movement about a first axis to open said tailgate toward said first open position and alternative movement about a second axis to open said tailgate toward said second open position;
• a first hinge/lock assembly releasably locked to said associated vehicle and spaced from said dual-mode hinge in a first direction;
• a second hinge/lock assembly releasably locked to said associated vehicle and spaced from said dual-mode hinge in a second direction, said tailgate openable in a first direction to said first open position when (i) said first hinge/lock assembly is detached from said associated vehicle and (ii) said second hinge/lock assembly and said dual-mode hinge pivotally connect to said associated vehicle, said tailgate openable in a second direction to said second position when (i) said second hinge/lock is detached from said associated vehicle and (ii) said first hinge/lock assembly and said dual-mode hinge pivotally connect to said associated vehicle;
• a first handle for unlocking said first hinge/lock assembly to open said tailgate toward said first position;
• a second handle for unlocking said second hinge/lock assembly to open said tailgate toward said second position;
• and
• a synchronizer in mechanical communication with said first and second hinge/lock assemblies and said first and second handles, said synchronizer receiving direct mechanical communication from said first hinge/lock assembly indicating whether said first hinge/lock assembly is locked to said vehicle and receiving direct mechanical communication from said second hinge/lock assembly indicating whether said second hinge/lock assembly is locked to said vehicle, said synchronizer (1) only allowing said first handle to detach said first hinge/lock assembly from said vehicle when said second hinge/lock assembly is indicated as being locked and (2) only allowing said second handle to detach said second hinge/lock assembly from said vehicle when said first hinge/lock assembly is indicated as being locked.

A closure assembly mounted on a vehicle and moveable between a closed position and at least one open position, said closure assembly comprising:

• a closure structure mounted to an associated vehicle for movement between said closed position and said at least one open position;
• a first lock assembly selectively locking said closure structure to said associated vehicle;
• a second lock assembly selectively locking said closure structure to said associated vehicle;
• a synchronizer in mechanical communication with said first and second lock assemblies for receiving an indication of a position, locked or unlocked, of each of said first and second lock assemblies:
• a first handle in mechanical communication with said synchronizer for unlocking said first lock assembly from said vehicle when said first handle is actuated and said mechanical communication between said second lock assembly and said synchronizer indicates that said second lock assembly is in a locked position;
• and
• a second handle in mechanical communication with said synchronizer for unlocking said second lock assembly from said vehicle when said second handle is actuated and said mechanical communication between said second lock assembly and said synchronizer indicates that said first lock assembly is in a locked position;
• wherein said closure structure is a dual-mode tailgate openable about (1) a first axis generally parallel with a bottom edge of said tailgate for movement between a closed position and a fold-open position and (2) a second axis generally parallel with a first lateral edge of said tailgate for movement between the closed position and a swing-open position.

A closure assembly mounted on a vehicle and moveable between a closed position and at least one open position, said closure assembly comprising:

• a closure structure mounted to an associated vehicle for movement between said closed position and said at least one open position;
• a first lock assembly selectively locking said closure structure to said associated vehicle;
• a second lock assembly selectively locking said closure structure to said associated vehicle;
• a synchronizer in mechanical communication with said first and second lock assemblies for receiving an indication of a position, locked or unlocked, of each of said first and second lock assemblies;
• a first handle in mechanical communication with said synchronizer for unlocking said first lock assembly from said vehicle when said first handle is actuated and said mechanical communication between said second lock assembly and said synchronizer indicates that said second lock assembly is in a locked position;
• a second handle in mechanical communication with said synchronizer for unlocking said second lock assembly from said vehicle when said second handle is actuated and said mechanical communication between said second lock assembly and said synchronizer indicates that said first lock assembly is in a locked position;
• a first sensor rod connecting said first lock assembly to said synchronizer for mechanically communicating said position of said first lock assembly to said synchronizer;
• and
• a second sensor rod connecting said second lock assembly and said synchronizer for mechanically communicating said position of said second lock assembly to said synchronizer.