Patent ID: 7862950

Claim:
An assembly with a reinforced sealing structure comprising: a) a membrane electrode assembly having an outer contour; b) a sealing structure surrounding said membrane electrode assembly, comprising: i) a gasket comprising at least one bead sealing element, wherein the at least one bead sealing element completely covers the outer contour of the membrane electrode assembly and extends until covering the outer contour of the assembly, and wherein the at least one bead sealing element comprises a first, a second, and a third attachment area and a first and a second sealing area; ii) a reinforcing material integrated in said gasket that extends from the outer contour of the membrane electrode assembly to the outer contour of the assembly, in such a manner that the reinforcing material is embedded into the second and into the third attachment area of the bead sealing material of the gasket within limits of said attachment areas; and iii) reagent gas and coolant fluid openings for the passage of reagent gases and coolant fluid.