Patent ID: 7837243

Claim:
An apparatus for locking a first door of a motor vehicle in place relative to a second door as the first and second door abut against each other when closed, the apparatus comprising: a base plate mounted to the first door; a latch release lever pivotally mounted to the base plate for movement between a neutral position and a release position, the latch release lever operable to actuate at least one latch to release the first door when pivoted into the release position; and a plunger assembly including a canister coupled to the first door, said canister including a cylindrical sidewall defining a first aperture at one end and a second aperture at another end, said plunger assembly also including a cap mounted to said canister and having a pin aperture open to said first aperture, said pin aperture narrowed by a first shoulder and a second shoulder of said cap, said plunger assembly including a plunger having outer and inner pins slidably mounted to said canister and each received within said pin aperture of said cap, said outer pin extending through said first aperture and having an outer radial flange selectively abutting said second shoulder to prevent said outer pin from exiting said pin aperture of said cap, said inner pin extending through said second aperture of said canister and having a radial flange selectively abutting said first shoulder for retaining said inner pin within said canister; wherein closing the second door while the first door is closed causes the second door to contact the plunger and depress said outer pin thereby moving said inner pin so that said inner pin blocks said latch release lever and prevents movement thereof from said neutral position to said release position.