Patent ID: 7845712

Claim:
A vehicle closure assembly for selectively closing an opening to a compartment in a vehicle body, comprising: first and second closure panels mounted side-by-side to the vehicle body; wherein the closure panels are independently selectively pivotable with respect to the vehicle body about at least one pivot axis between an open position in which the respective closure panel does not close a respective portion of the opening, and a closed position in which the respective pivoted panel closes the respective portion of the opening; wherein the closure panels define a split therebetween when both are in the closed position; wherein the split extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the at least one pivot axis; a seal assembly connected to the closure panels along the split to seal the split when the opening is closed by the closures panels, the seal assembly and closed closure panels thereby sealing the opening; a hinge operatively connected to one of the closures panels to permit pivoting of said one of the closure panels with respect to the vehicle body; and wherein the hinge is configured to cause said one of said closure panels to move laterally to allow sufficient separation of the closure panels at the seal assembly to thereby permit said independent pivoting of the closure panels without interference from the seal assembly.