Patent ID: 7165800

Claim:
A tailgate assembly adapted to be mounted along an associated open end of an associated vehicle's load-carrying bed for alternatively pivoting about (1) a first axis generally parallel with the open end for movement between a closed position and a fold-open position and (2) a second axis generally normal relative to the first axis for movement between the closed position and a swing-open position, the tailgate assembly comprising: a tailgate for selectively closing the associated open end of the associated vehicle's load-carrying bed; a dual-mode hinge assembly mounted to said tailgate; a first hinge/lock assembly mounted to said tailgate at a location spaced from said dual-mode hinge, said first hinge/lock assembly selectively latched to an associated first hinge/lock striker and cooperating with said dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support said tailgate about the first pivot axis; a second hinge/lock assembly mounted to said tailgate at location spaced from said dual-mode hinge and said first hinge/lock assembly, said second hinge/lock assembly selectively latched to an associated second hinge/lock striker and cooperating with said dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support said tailgate about the second pivot axis; a synchronizer in mechanical communication with said first and second hinge/lock assemblies, said synchronizer receiving direct mechanical communication from each of said first and second hinge/lock assemblies indicating the respective position, latched or unlatched, of each of said first and second hinge/lock assemblies; and wherein one of said first and second hinge/lock assemblies is mechanically prevented from unlatching from a respective one of the associated first and second hinge/lock strikers when the other of said first and second hinge/lock assemblies is unlatched from the other respective one of the associated first and second hinge/lock strikers.