The disclosure relates to a drive arrangement for a flap of a motor vehicle, comprising a linear drive for producing drive movements and comprising a transmission arrangement, which is coupled to said linear drive, for transmitting the drive movements, a compensating arrangement being provided which couples two drive elements of the drive arrangement to each other in terms of drive, and, when a limit load between the two drive elements is exceeded, the compensating arrangement permitting a guided compensating movement between the two drive elements. It is proposed that the transmission arrangement provides the compensating arrangement.

A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a plurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges between each panel of the plurality of panels so that the plurality of panels are rotatably connected together, wherein some or all of the one or more hinges include: (i) a plurality of expansion links that are movably interconnected together, some of the plurality of expansion links including: (1) one or more expansion projections; (2) one or more pockets that receive all or a portion of the one or more expansion projections from an adjacent one of the plurality of expansion links; and (3) one or more expansion stops that restricts movement of the one or more expansion projections from the adjacent one of plurality of the expansion links that extend within the one or more pockets; wherein the one or more hinges rotate so that the one or more hinges form of angle of about 90 degrees or more and about 225 degrees or less.

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.

A system for a vehicle having an accessory positioned along the vehicle. The system may also include a sensor located along the vehicle in wireless communication with the accessory, wherein the sensor triggers activation of the accessory based on input from an external source.

An opening structure includes a lower door having an upper end configured to be rotated and opened with respect to a lower surface of a vehicle body, a garnish unit located on a surface of the lower door, at least a portion of a lower end of the garnish unit configured to be tilted from the lower door, a driving unit extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to apply driving force to the lower door and the garnish unit, a first driver configured to tilt the garnish unit, a second driver configured to integrally pop up the tilted garnish unit and the lower door and to apply opening force thereto, and a hinge arm connecting the first driver and the second driver to each other.

A hinge assembly includes a tailgate bracket securable to a vehicular tailgate, a support bracket securable to a vehicular bed, a torque shaft, and a crank. The tailgate bracket includes a socket. The support bracket includes a support. The torque shaft is supported by the support for axial rotation. The torque shaft includes a tailgate-side head and a crank-side head. The tailgate-side head and the socket are configured to make a head-and-socket connection with one another. The crank-side head includes an external profile. The crank includes a shaft-side base and an actuator-side base, a load arm extending therebetween, and at least one of a dogleg along the shaft-side base, the load arm and the actuator-side base, and an embossed rib extending along the load arm. The shaft-side base includes an internal profile. The external profile and the internal profile are configured to make a shaft-and-hub connection with one another.

A vehicle is disclosed that includes: a vehicle body having an outer body panel; a tailgate that is movable in relation to the vehicle body via a tailgate actuation system between a closed position and an open position; and a bracket that is configured to receive the tailgate actuation system. The bracket includes a main body portion and an appendage that extends transversely from the main body portion such that the appendage engages the vehicle body to inhibit rotational deflection of the tailgate actuation system and, thus, lateral flexure of the outer body panel during movement of the tailgate.

A system for controlling a vehicle power tailgate includes a latch structured to be movable to a latching position when the latch is engaged with a portion of a tailgate so as to maintain the tailgate in a closed position associated with the latching position of the latch. A latch actuator operably connected to the latch to control operation of the latch. A memory is communicably coupled to the processor and stores a tailgate control module including instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to, responsive to receipt of a tailgate opening command, control operation of the latch actuator to attempt move the latch to an over-stroke position of the latch and, responsive to a failure to move the latch to the over-stroke position within a predetermined time period, control operation of the latch actuator to move the latch to a fully-latched position of the latch.

A power operated tailgate for a vehicle includes a major gate having a hinge about which the major gate is configured to be coupled to the vehicle for movement between open and closed positions, a minor gate configured to be coupled to the major gate for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the major gate, and a minor gate drive unit configured to drive movement of the minor gate with respect to the major gate. The minor gate is disposed at least partially within an outer profile of the major gate and supported by the major gate for movement therewith.

A vehicle cargo compartment system includes an electric outlet mounted within an accessible location within a vehicle cargo compartment and a sensor assembly mounted proximate the electric outlet within the cargo compartment for detecting a presence of an electrical power cord. The cargo compartment system integrates powered features such as an electric outlet, powered tailgate and the powered top that utilizes environmental information gathered by various sensors on the vehicle in combination with predefined actions to simplify use and automate operation.