Patent ID: 8220843

Claim:
A thermally expandable sealing joint comprising a one-piece tubular body having an outer surface; the tubular body having a first axial end portion, a second axial end portion, and a bridge portion extending therebetween; the first end portion having a coaxially convex outer profile with a maximum outer diameter (OD 1max ); the second end portion having a coaxially convex outer profile with a maximum outer diameter (OD 2max ); and the bridge portion having a coaxially concave outer profile with a minimum outer diameter (OD Bmin ), this minimum outer diameter (OD Bmin ) being less than the maximum outer diameter (OD 1max ) of the first end portion and less than the maximum outer diameter (OD 2max ) of the second end portion; wherein the maximum outer diameter (OD 1max ) of the first end portion and the maximum outer diameter (OD 2max ) of the second end portion increases substantially irreversibly upon heating the sealing joint.