Patent ID: 7017915

Claim:
A valve assembly comprising: a valve body configured to support a valve closure member; a stem extending from said valve body, said stem coupled to said valve closure member for moving said valve closure member; a compression member which extends about said stem, said compression member having a recess, said recess including an inner surface facing toward said stem; a monolithic seal which extends about said stem and which contacts said compression member and said valve body, wherein said seal includes a first portion disposed in said recess and a second portion disposed between said compression member and said valve body, and wherein said first portion is disposed between said stem and said inner surface of said recess; and means for urging said compression member toward said valve body such that said seal is pressed between said compression member and said valve body, wherein, said compression member includes a first inclined surface disposed in said recess, said first portion of said seal includes a second inclined surface which contacts said first inclined surface when said compression member is urged toward said valve body to urge said first portion of said seal toward said stem, said compression member includes a third inclined surface and said seal includes a fourth inclined surface, and said third inclined surface contacts said fourth inclined surface to urge said seal toward said stem when said compression member is urged toward said valve body.