A power unit for a powered cinching mechanism with a favorable level of operational noise is provided. A door latch apparatus includes latch unit and power unit. Latch unit has latch that engages striker, ratchet that engages latch and first cinching lever that displaces latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position. Latch unit is attached to an end portion of a vehicle door. Power unit includes motor, cable drum, deceleration mechanism and closed-type housing that houses them. Operational noise at 300 mm right above the housing of power unit is 42.2 to 40.9 dB at a supply voltage to the motor of 9V, 47.5 to 43.9 dB at a supply voltage of 12V, and 49.7 to 46.5 dB at a supply voltage of 16 V. Deceleration mechanism includes a worm gear and a helical gear.

A striker mounting structure is designed to mount a striker on a vehicle body and prevent a door from entering a passenger compartment. A reinforcement provided on the vehicle body is covered by an outer panel. A striker mounting surface is arranged to be spaced away from the reinforcement in a front/backward direction of the vehicle body. The reinforcement is provided with an insertion hole opening toward a direction away from the passenger compartment. The striker and a reinforcement member are fixed to opposite sides of the striker mounting surface. A connecting rod is fixed to the reinforcement member and is formed with a locking portion extending into the insertion hole in a direction toward the passenger compartment and formed with an abutment portion. A distance between an end of the abutment portion and the passenger compartment is smaller than a distance between the striker and the passenger compartment.

A striker mounting structure is designed to mount a striker on a vehicle body and prevent a door from entering a passenger compartment. A reinforcement provided on the vehicle body is covered by an outer panel. A striker mounting surface is arranged to be spaced away from the reinforcement in a front/backward direction of the vehicle body. The reinforcement is provided with an insertion hole opening toward a direction away from the passenger compartment. The striker and a reinforcement member are fixed to opposite sides of the striker mounting surface. A connecting rod is fixed to the reinforcement member and is formed with a locking portion extending into the insertion hole in a direction toward the passenger compartment and formed with an abutment portion. A distance between an end of the abutment portion and the passenger compartment is smaller than a distance between the striker and the passenger compartment.

An operation relay device for a motor-vehicle door latch includes a base fixed to a door panel of a door, an operation handle pivotably supported to the base, and a link lever transmitting an opening operation by the operation handle to a door latch. The base includes a plurality of fixing parts, and the operation handle is pivotably supported at a position deviating from a center in a front-rear direction on the base, so that a center of gravity of the operation relay device is in a side of the deviating position. The fixing parts except a specific fixing part are respectively fixed to the door panel by a bolt. The specific fixing part is a temporary fixing piece that is integrally formed on the upper portion of the base to be capable of engaging with an engaging hole formed on the door panel.

A vehicle includes a chassis defining a longitudinal axis, a cab coupled to the chassis, a cargo body coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the cab, and a driver seat disposed within the cab. The cab has a first door with a first window and a second door with a second window. When the driver seat is in a position that accommodates an operator being in the 95.sup.th male height percentile, the operator within the driver seat can see out of (i) the first window at a first angle relative to a forward looking direction that is parallel with the longitudinal axis and (ii) the second window at a second angle relative to the forward looking direction. Each of the first angle and the second angle is at least 95 degrees.

The technology provides a lockout assembly that covers a latching mechanism, where the latching mechanism would enable a passenger to fold down the rear seat(s) of a vehicle. This can be particularly beneficial when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous driving mode, because certain areas within the vehicle may be restricted from passenger access. For instance, access to the trunk or cargo area may be limited to authorized service personnel. The lockout assembly includes a base unit and a cover. The cover is releasably secured to the base unit using one or more clip members. The base unit is fixedly secured to a receptacle of the latching mechanism using one or more fastener members, such as a screw. Once the cover is releasably secure, it may be completely or substantially flush with an inner edge of the receptacle.

The technology provides a lockout assembly that covers a latching mechanism, where the latching mechanism would enable a passenger to fold down the rear seat(s) of a vehicle. This can be particularly beneficial when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous driving mode, because certain areas within the vehicle may be restricted from passenger access. For instance, access to the trunk or cargo area may be limited to authorized service personnel. The lockout assembly includes a base unit and a cover. The cover is releasably secured to the base unit using one or more clip members. The base unit is fixedly secured to a receptacle of the latching mechanism using one or more fastener members, such as a screw. Once the cover is releasably secure, it may be completely or substantially flush with an inner edge of the receptacle.

A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle body and a driver seat. The vehicle body defines a driver compartment having a first door with a first window and a second door with a second window. The driver seat is disposed within the driver compartment. When the driver seat is in a position that accommodates an operator being in a 95.sup.th male height percentile, the operator within the driver seat can see out of (i) the first window at a first angle relative to a forward looking direction that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body and (ii) the second window at a second angle relative to the forward looking direction. Each of the first angle and the second angle is at least 95 degrees.

A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle body and a driver seat. The vehicle body defines a driver compartment having a first door with a first window and a second door with a second window. The driver seat is disposed within the driver compartment. When the driver seat is in a position that accommodates an operator being in a 95.sup.th male height percentile, the operator within the driver seat can see out of (i) the first window at a first angle relative to a forward looking direction that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body and (ii) the second window at a second angle relative to the forward looking direction. Each of the first angle and the second angle is at least 95 degrees.

An anti-vibration fastening member may include a first fastening portion formed of an elastic material and comprising a shaft coupled to a shaft coupling hole provided at an actuator, and a second fastening portion integrated with the first fastening portion and comprising holding protrusions introduced into a mounting groove provided at a counterpart on which the actuator is mounted and then held by rotation.