Patent ID: 6905144

Claim:
A sealing system for creating a fluid barrier-type seal between two interfitting structures, said sealing system comprising: a spring in the form of an annulus; a seal ring in the form of an annulus, wherein said seal ring has a radially-located outer surface that faces away from a center axis of said seal ring and, when viewed in radial cross-section, includes an outwardly-protruding, arcuately-shaped first portion and a trailing second portion, and wherein said seal ring has a radially-located inner surface that faces toward said center axis and includes first and second portions separated by a groove; and wherein when said spring is placed within a complementary endless groove located on an outer surface of a first structure, and said seal ring is then placed in said groove in a manner wherein it overlies said spring, and wherein when said first structure is inserted into a second structure that has an inner surface that presses on said outer surface of said seal ring, the arcuately-shaped first portion of said outer surface of said seal ring will be pressed inwardly toward said spring, thereby compressing said spring and causing at least a portion of said seal ring to flex about said groove in said seal ring and cause a reorientation of the seal ring's outer surface.