Patent ID: 7972204

Claim:
A vehicle door seal venting system for a motor vehicle door positioned in a vehicle door opening formed by a vehicle body, the door having an outer door panel and an inner door panel, the vehicle door seal venting system comprising: an outer seal member positioned and configured to provide a first environmental seal, and an inner seal member spaced apart from said outer seal member, said inner seal member positioned and configured to provide a second environmental seal; such that a seal airlock is formed in a space defined between said first environmental seal and said second environmental seal, said airlock trapping air between said first and second environmental seals when said vehicle door closes, said trapped air acting to resist closure of said door; and a trim panel secured to an interior facing surface of said inner door panel, said trim panel including a seal lip spaced apart from said inner door panel, the space between said inner door panel and said trim panel providing a vent passage through which pressurized air trapped in said airlock may vent to a region behind said trim panel, and configured and adapted to sealably mate against a portion of said inner seal member to at least partially form said second environmental seal; wherein the vent passage is configured to permit air to escape from said airlock as said vehicle door closes, said vent passage operative to vent said trapped air during door closure thereby reducing a required force to close said vehicle door.