Patent ID: 7155862

Claim:
A closure panel assembly for closing an opening defined in a fixed panel, the assembly comprising: a pair of guide rails affixed to the fixed panel on generally opposite sides of the opening; and a sliding panel having an outer face, and a first and second edge bordering the outer face, the first and second edges being respectively disposed within the first and second guide rails such that the first and second guide rails guide the movement of the sliding panel between a closed position generally covering the opening and an open position displaced in a first direction from the closed position; and a compression seal on one of the sliding panel and a periphery of the opening, wherein at least one of the guide rails generally includes an engagement portion that overlies a portion of the outer face of the sliding panel when the sliding panel is in or near the closed position, the engagement portion including at least one first surface feature projecting laterally in the general direction of the opening defined in the fixed panel, and wherein the portion of the outer face of the sliding panel includes at least one second surface feature projecting laterally toward the engagement portion of the one guide rail, the first and second surface features engaging each other when the sliding panel is moved into the closed position to displace the sliding panel laterally toward the fixed panel to compress the seal about the periphery of the opening directly between the fixed panel and the sliding panel, and further wherein the second surface feature is disengaged from the guide rails and the first surface feature when away from the closed position whereby the sliding panel is displaceable away from the fixed panel when positioned between the fully-opened and closed positions.