Patent ID: 8394548

Claim:
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprising: a plate with a first surface a second surface, and a plurality of header openings formed therein; a flow field formed on the first surface of the plate, the flow field including an inlet region and an outlet region, the inlet region and the outlet region having feed area channels to provide fluid communication with at least one header opening; and at least one elongated sealing member formed around at least one of the header openings formed in the plate, the sealing member configured to cooperate with a seal assembly to form a substantially fluid tight seal therebetween, wherein the sealing member includes a first lateral side and a spaced apart second lateral side, each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side having an arcuate upper end, with a substantially planar sealing surface disposed in between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, the planar sealing surface being recessed in respect of the arcuate upper ends of the first lateral side and the second lateral side.