Patent ID: 7234705
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: F16J,G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. An improved gasket assembly for sealing between longitudinally opposed mating surfaces of at least a pair of members adapted to be forcibly mated together to clamp said gasket therebetween, the mating surfaces having openings therein laterally aligned in longitudinal communication with each other when the members are mated together, said gasket comprising: at least two relatively rigid carriers each having first and second laterally-extending sides defining a longitudinal thickness therebetween, said carriers each having at least one gasket opening therethrough adapted to be laterally aligned in longitudinal communication with the openings in the mating surfaces of the members when said gasket assembly is clamped between the mated members, said first and second carriers being at least partially separated from one another at least in an unclamped state; a longitudinally flexible inner sealing portion of each of said carriers disposed laterally adjacent and substantially defining the periphery of said gasket opening, said inner sealing portion being longitudinally offset relative to the remainder of said carrier, said inner sealing portion being offset in a longitudinal direction toward a first of the members when said gasket assembly is clamped between the mated members; and a longitudinally flexible outer stopper portion of each of said carriers spaced laterally away from said gasket opening and disposed laterally outward relative to said inner sealing portion, said flexible outer stopper portion and said inner sealing portion being in close lateral proximity with each other and in close lateral proximity with the same said gasket opening, said flexible stopper portion being longitudinally convex relative to the remainder of said carrier on a side of said flexible stopper oriented in a direction toward said first of the members and being longitudinally concave relative to the remainder of said carrier on an opposite side of said flexible stopper oriented in a direction toward a second of the members, said flexible stopper acting in conjunction with said inner sealing portion and with respect to the same said gasket opening to flexibly limit the amount of longitudinal compression of said inner sealing portion and being less flexible than said inner sealing portion, one of said inner sealing portions being thereby maintained in said sealing engagement with the mating surface of one of the members during relative movement between the members when the members are mated together.