door pillar p as best shown in detail in fig2 the strip 32 is received in the sensor actuator 26 through a pair of guide blocks 34 the guide blocks form the guide track and together serve to stiffen the strip therebetween see fig2 and 4a each guide block 34 is mounted to a base plate 36 the base plate 36 may be conveniently mounted to the body of the vehicle such as to pillar p in or near the door jamb as shown in fig1 an actuator portion of the sensor actuator includes a lever 40 mounted for pivotal movement about a hinge 42 a spring loaded pawl 44 is pivotally mounted about a pin 45 on the free end of the lever 40 as shown the guide track maintains the stiffened strip 32 in engagement with the pawl 44 in other words the guide blocks 34 stretch the strip 32 and effectively limit its movement relative to the pawl 44 to a back and forth motion as the door d is swung open the strip 32 due to its stiffness is pushed in the direction of action arrow a see fig2 the force of movement of the strip 32 is applied to the pawl 44 due to its engagement therewith the force serves to overcome the spring bias action of the pawl 44 to cause it to rotate downwardly in the direction of action arrow b to the release position shown in fig2 the pawl 44 remains in the release position as long as the door is held open the lever 40 is lifted and the valve 24 not actuated as the door d is reversed and swung toward a closed position the strip 32 reverses and moves in the direction of action arrow.