Patent ID: 8267464

Claim:
A door latching system for a vehicle including an openable and closeable door and a portion interfacing with the door, the system comprising: a first component defining a first passage and adapted to be operatively connected to and contained in one of the door and the portion interfacing with the door; a second component defining a second passage and adapted to be operatively connected to and contained in the other of the door and the portion interfacing with the door; a latching member fully contained in the first passage in a retracted position and actuable to slidably protrude from the first passage into the second passage in a protracted position in response to a triggering event; a latching feature defined by the latching member; a retaining member operatively connected to one of the first component and the second component; wherein the retaining member is configured to be selectively engageable with the latching feature when the latching member is in the protracted position; and wherein the latching member in the protracted position engages the first component and the second component to operatively latch the door to the portion interfacing with the door.