Patent ID: 7210846

Claim:
A thermostat housing assembly ( 10 , 100 ) comprising; a housing ( 12 , 102 ) having a flange ( 16 , 106 ) for mounting said housing ( 12 , 102 ) on a support structure and a tubular spout ( 18 , 108 ) extending from said flange ( 16 , 106 ) and defining a passageway ( 20 , 110 ) extending from a spout opening ( 22 , 112 ) in said tubular spout ( 18 , 108 ) to a flange opening ( 24 ) in said flange ( 16 , 106 ) for fluid to flow therethrough, said flange ( 16 , 106 ) presenting a mounting face ( 26 , 112 ) for engaging the support structure and including a seal groove ( 28 , 114 ) extending annularly about said flange ( 16 , 106 ) opening and having a U-shaped cross section with a bottom ( 30 , 115 ) and opposing side walls ( 32 , 34 , 116 , 118 ), a seal ( 36 , 124 ) disposed in said seal groove ( 28 , 114 ) for sealing said flange ( 16 , 106 ) to the support structure, and said assembly ( 10 , 100 ) characterized by opposing channels ( 38 , 40 , 120 , 122 ) defined in said opposing side walls ( 32 , 34 , 116 , 118 ) and extending annularly thereabout and said seal ( 36 , 124 ) having annular rings ( 42 , 44 , 126 , 128 ) extending radially into said opposing channels ( 38 , 40 , 120 , 122 ) for retaining said seal ( 36 , 124 ) in said seal groove ( 28 , 114 ).