Vehicle compartment seals

Abstract

An anti-freezing seal for vehicle compartments, doors, trunks, etc. In cold climates, one of the problems is freezing shut of vehicle doors, for example, due to the moisture which accumulates on the seals during the daytime and then freezes at night. This is a problem for all vehicle compartment lids using seals to prevent leakage of moisture or dust into the compartment and can be resolved by heated or vacuum actuated seals. A heated anti-icing seal may be similar in construction with various existing compartment lid or door seals, which include a bulb or compression section, means for attaching the bulb to a compartment flange, a reflective shield, heat strip, and electrical wires or electric clips adapted to be connected to a DC or AC power supply via, for example, a switch, thermostat, and timer. The attaching means may be an adhesive or a seal setting flange compartment having grippers. The vacuum actuated seal differs from the existing conventional seals in that the bulb or compression section is flexible and connected to a vacuum source such that upon activation of the vacuum system the bulb collapses to break frost between the seal and the compartment lid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.