Patent ID: 7784797

Claim:
A sealing and gripping assembly for a downhole tool against a tubular downhole, comprising: a structural metallic annularly shaped ring having an inner surface and an outer surface and opposed ends, said ring having an initial annular diameter and a larger annular diameter when sealing and gripping; a fully circumferential seal supported by said outer surface and having an outer surface that selectively contacts the tubular; a plurality of ribs extending from said outer surface and into said seal with said seal contacting opposed sides of all said ribs when said ring is in said initial annular diameter and said ribs extending through said outer surface of said seal and into contact with the tubular downhole when said ring is at said larger annular diameter; a plurality of hardened gripping members received into at least one recess on said outer surface and extending outwardly therefrom; and said plurality of hardened gripping members initially covered by said seal.