Patent ID: 7739836

Claim:
An apparatus for establishing at least two open access door positions relative to an opening of a compartment, the apparatus comprising: a position defining member having a stop member, said position defining member coupled to the compartment, and including a door check strap slideably coupled to a housing member to enable the access door to pivot into a first open position, a second open position and further into a third open position relative to the compartment, the door check strap having a first end coupled to the stop member and a second end adapted to be coupled to the compartment; the housing member adapted to be coupled to the access door for movement therewith, the housing member including: an opening therethrough for translatable receipt of the door check strap; an engagement element positioned within the housing member that engages the door check strap to establish the first open position and the second open position; a pair of projections coupled to and extending from an exterior surface of the housing, the projections having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the door check strap; at least one spring positioned between the projections and having a first end coupled to the exterior surface of the housing member, the spring having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the door check strap; a release plate positioned between the projections and coupled to a second end of the spring, the release plate operable to engage the stop member of the door check strap in a first position and a second position, the door check strap configured to translate through an opening in the release plate and the opening in the housing member; and a lever coupled to the access door and the housing member, the lever operable to be activated to compress the spring to retract the release plate towards the housing member into the second position to enable the stop member to engage the release plate in the second position and enable the access door to further pivot beyond the first and second open positions into the third open position, the stop member being positioned between the projections when engaging the release plate in the second position, wherein in the first position of the release plate, the spring is uncompressed; and wherein the stop member contacting the release plate in the second position establishes the third open position approximately perpendicular to the compartment, and the door check strap includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion that each cooperate with the engagement element of the housing member to establish the first open position and the second open position.