Patent ID: 7168440

Claim:
A method of making a valve body and seal assembly, the method comprising: providing a liquid elastomer; providing a valve body having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a peripheral seal retention groove spaced apart from said longitudinal axis, said seal retention groove having first and second opposing sides, said opposing sides being separated by a groove width; a top guide stem extending away from said peripheral seal retention groove along said longitudinal axis; an impact area of said valve body for contacting a valve seat, said impact area being proximate to said first opposing side of said peripheral seal retention groove; and circular serrations on said first and second opposing sides of said peripheral seal retention groove; treating said peripheral seal retention groove and said top stem guide to render said peripheral seal retention groove and said top guide stem adhesion-inhibiting; providing a mold for containing said liquid elastomer, said mold comprising an adhesion-inhibiting mold shell mated with said valve body, said mold comprising said adhesion-inhibiting peripheral seal retention groove and said adhesion-inhibiting top guide stem; pouring said liquid elastomer into said mold; curing said poured elastomer in said mold; and removing said mold shell to make a valve body and seal assembly.