Patent ID: 7049023

Claim:
A fuel cell, comprising: a pair of separators, a first of said separators having a plurality of linear protruding members on a first surface thereof forming grooves between adjacent protruding members; a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and an anode and a cathode disposed at both sides of said electrolyte membrane, said membrane electrode assembly being held by said pair of separators; a sealing member disposed between said membrane electrode assembly and the first surface of the first of said pair of separators, said sealing member including a circumferential portion surrounding at least a portion of the circumference of the first separator, and an extended portion seamlessly connected to and extending from the circumferential portion through a first groove between a first protruding member and a second protruding member adjacent to the first protruding member to an end portion of the extended portion over the first surface of the first separator; and a reactant gas channel disposed between said membrane electrode assembly and said first separator, wherein the gas channel bends around the end portion of the extended portion of the sealing member, said extended portion extending along a significant portion of said gas channel in order to direct the flow of a fluid flowing therealong.