Patent ID: 6857668

Claim:
A connector for connecting together two tubular bodies, comprising: a pin having pin threads formed externally on an end of a first tubular body, said pin threads extending from a starting point on said first tubular body and terminating adjacent the free pin end, wherein said pin threads run out to an outside diameter of said first tubular at said starting point of said pin threads, a box having box threads formed internally on an end of a second tubular body, said box threads extending from a starting point on said second tubular body and terminating adjacent the free box end, said pin adapted to be received in and threadedly engaged within said box, an external seal between said pin and said box adjacent said pin thread starting point and adjacent said free box end, said external seal comprising a pin seal surface formed on said pin on a third tubular body comprising a metal seal base separately added to said first tubular body, and an internal seal adjacent said box threads starting point and said free pin end whereby said pin threads and said box threads are confined between said external and internal seals when said pin and box are engaged; and said internal seal is defined by direct contact between surfaces of said first and second tubular bodies without an intermediate sealing member.