Patent ID: 8668006

Claim:
An apparatus for restricting flow through a well conduit, the apparatus comprising: a tubular member comprising an inner wall surface defining a longitudinal bore, the inner wall surface comprising an upper portion having an upper portion diameter, a lower portion having a lower portion diameter, and a ramp surface disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the upper diameter being greater than the lower diameter; a seat disposed within the longitudinal bore, the seat comprising a sleeve having an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, the outer wall surface being in sliding engagement with the inner wall surface of the tubular member and the inner wall surface comprising a plug element engagement surface for receiving a plug element, the seat having a first position when the apparatus is in a run-in position and a second position when the apparatus is in a set position; a plug element support member operatively associated with the sleeve and the ramp surface, the plug element support member being in direct sliding engagement with the inner wall surface of the tubular member, the plug element support member having an expanded position when the apparatus is in the run-in position and a contracted position when the apparatus is in the set position, the contracted position comprising a portion of the plug element support member being disposed in the bore of the lower portion of the tubular member; and a plug element adapted to be disposed into the bore and landed on the seat to restrict fluid flow through the bore causing the sleeve to move from the first position to the second position, wherein movement of the sleeve from the first position to the second position causes the plug element support member to move from the expanded position to the contracted position thereby providing support to the plug member landed on the seat.