Patent ID: 7117737

Claim:
A device for use in measuring gas flow, comprising: a meter body housing a gas flow measuring device adapted to output a signal indicative of a gas flow from an inlet of the meter body to an outlet of the meter body, the meter body having a substantially planar surface on an exterior surface; an index coupled to the meter body about the substantially planar surface and the gas flow measuring device, the index adapted to display a representation of an amount of gas flow; an index cover adapted to house the index and defining an open end through which the index is received, the index cover open end having a substantially planar surface adapted to contact the substantially planar surface of the meter body; an elastomeric ring seal received between the index cover and the meter body, the ring seal having a substantially X-shaped cross-section that defines a plurality of discrete lines substantially parallel to the perimeter of the ring seal, at least one line adapted to contact a surface of the index cover and at least one line adapted to contact the substantially planar surface of the flow meter body when the index cover is joined to the flow meter; and a seal groove disposed in the substantially planar end surface of the index cover, said groove retains the ring seal in a substantially stationary position without the aid of gravity when the index cover is separated from the meter body, the seal groove being defined by a bottom surface and two substantially planar side surfaces and an opening between the two side surfaces, said opening being narrower than the substantially X-shaped cross-section of the ring seal, wherein the seal is retained in said ring groove by compression of the seal by the two side surfaces of the ring groove.