Self-cleaning weather strip seal

A self-cleaning weather strip seal for a vehicle, the self-cleaning weather strip seal comprising:

• an attachment portion configured to couple the self-cleaning weather strip seal to a vehicle component;
• a main body portion having a length dimension and a width dimension, the main body portion comprising a flexible wall that define an interior region configured to retain a volume of air;
• and
• a relief opening defined in the main body portion and providing selective fluid communication from the interior region to an external environment, wherein upon receiving a compressive force on the main body portion, the relief opening is aligned and configured to direct pressurized air toward a surface of the vehicle susceptible for accumulating debris,
• wherein the relief opening comprises one of a defined cavity or a slit configured to open after the volume of air in the interior region exceeds a threshold pressure.

A self-cleaning weather strip seal for a door of a vehicle, the self-cleaning weather strip seal comprising:

• an attachment portion configured to couple the self-cleaning weather strip seal to a door component;
• a main body portion having a flexible wall extending in a length dimension and a width dimension, the main body portion comprising a plurality of chambers aligned in a series along the length dimension, wherein each of the plurality of chambers defines a respective interior region configured to retain a volume of air;
• and
• a relief opening defined in each chamber and providing selective fluid communication from the respective interior region to an external environment, wherein upon receiving a compressive force on the main body portion, the relief openings are aligned and configured to direct pressurized air toward a bottom surface of a door sill of the vehicle to remove any accumulated debris.

A method for removing debris from adjacent a door sill of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a self-cleaning weather strip seal coupled to a door component, the weather strip seal comprising:
• an attachment portion configured to couple the self-cleaning weather strip seal to the door component;
• a main body portion having a length dimension and a width dimension, at least a portion of the main body portion defining an interior region configured to retain a volume of air;
• and
• a relief opening defined in the main body portion providing selective fluid communication between the interior region and an external environment;
• permitting a closing operation of a vehicle door to compress the main body portion of the weather strip seal, thereby creating a pressure in the interior region;
• upon exceeding a threshold pressure, directing compressed air from the interior region of the main body portion through the relief opening and toward a bottom surface of the door sill, thereby removing the debris.