Patent ID: 8523244

Claim:
A block fitting for an air conditioning system comprising: a male block portion including a first aperture for receiving a tube end therein, the male block portion including an annular shoulder surrounding the first aperture of the male block portion, the annular shoulder including an axially extending lip formed at a first end thereof; a seal structure disposed radially inward from the axially extending lip of the male block portion and adjacent the male block portion, the seal structure including an annular first seal portion produced from a soft metal or plastic material and having a free edge, and a second seal portion produced from an elastomer disposed on the free edge of the first seal portion; and a fastener to sealingly engage the male block portion with a female block portion, the female block portion including a first aperture for receiving a tube end therein, the female block portion including an annular collar surrounding the first aperture of the female block portion and adapted to cooperate with the annular shoulder formed by the male block portion, the first aperture of the male block portion and the first aperture of the female block portion adapted to be substantially concentrically aligned, wherein the fastener causes the male block portion and the female block portion to deform the first seal portion and provide a primary seal between the male block portion and the female block portion, and the fastener causes the male block portion and the female block portion to cooperate with the second seal portion to provide a secondary seal between the male block portion and the female block portion.