Patent ID: 7488029

Claim:
An automotive vehicle having a body with an opening without a pillar for occupant ingress and egress, the vehicle comprising: a first door having a first end pivotally connected to the vehicle about an axis adjacent to a perimeter of a vehicle body opening, and a second end that extends to a central region of the opening in a closed position and that extends away from the opening in an open position; a second door having a first end translatably connected to the vehicle adjacent to the perimeter of the opening spaced apart from the first door first end, and a second end translatably connected to the vehicle adjacent to the central region of the opening at a closed position; a translatable striker connected to one of the central region of the opening and the perimeter of the opening spaced apart from the first door end; a latch mechanism mounted to one of the second door first end and the second door second end for receiving the striker; wherein the first door and the second door cooperate to close the opening when both the first door and the second door are in the closed position, and the second door is translatable relative to the vehicle on a fixed path of translation such that the second door first end, the second door second end, and the striker are translated from the vehicle to an intermediate position for providing clearance from the first door when in the closed position, and the latch mechanism is detachable from the striker for pivoting the second door about the other of the second door first end and the second door second end relative to the vehicle from the intermediate position to an open position of the second door.