Car tailgate switch operator
Phil has a Motability car with an electronic tailgate which cannot be closed while seated inside the car. He can only stand for short periods and needs the support of the car while closing it. He needs to be able to operate the invisible switch from a distance.
The Challenge
Phil is a wheelchair user who stores his manual wheelchair in the boot/tailgate area of his vehicle. After loading his wheelchair into the back, he must independently manoeuvre himself from the rear of the vehicle to the driver’s seat. He needs to close the tailgate while standing or supporting himself at the side of the car, but the close button is out of his reach. The vehicle is leased through Motability, meaning absolutely no permanent modifications, drilling, or mechanical alterations can be made to the car itself.
The solution
A custom-engineered, non-invasive mechanism was designed to operate the vehicle’s existing electronic tailgate button from a distance. A self-adhesive steel disc was added to the tailgate near the switch that closes tailgate. A standard grabber tool (litter picker) was modified into an extended control stick to bridge the physical distance between Phil and the tailgate switch with a spring return plunge switch activated by the grabber trigger. A magnet on the end of the tool attaches to the steel disc to hold it in contact with the switch without Phil needing to see it. By simply twisting the grab stick 90 degrees, he breaks the magnetic hold to cleanly disengage the tool.
The benefit
Phil can now safely secure his vehicle independently before making his way to the driver’s seat. The entire mechanism is fully removable and leaves zero trace, preserving the vehicle’s warranty and lease terms. Highly successful in real-world conditions, described directly by the client as a “genius solution.” It avoids thousands of pounds in complex electronic adaptations by cleverly repurposing an everyday tool.
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