Patent ID: 8616557

Claim:
A multi-layered gasket assembly of the type for sealing around a passage or chamber formed between two mating members, said gasket assembly comprising: a first functional layer having at least one first opening, said first functional layer including a resiliently compressible first sealing bead spaced apart from and surrounding said first opening, said first functional layer including a first stopper region adjacent said first sealing bead; a second functional layer having at least one second opening, said second functional layer including a resiliently compressible second sealing bead spaced apart from and surrounding said second opening, said second functional layer including a second stopper region adjacent said second sealing bead; said first functional layer overlying said second functional layer such that said respective first and second openings are generally aligned with one another and such that said respective first and second stopper regions are generally aligned with one another, said first sealing bead and said second sealing bead being configured to, in use, resiliently oppose one another; a stopper feature disposed in said stopper region of at least one of said first and second functional layers for limiting compression of said first and second functional layers toward each other in use whereby said first and second sealing beads are restricted to partial compression by said stopper feature; and said stopper feature including a plurality of discrete nesting embossments formed integrally from at least one of said first and second functional layers, each said nesting embossment being closely spaced to but not touching the next adjacent said discrete nesting embossment in a radially overlapping relationship, each of said embossments having a pair of ends separated from one another by an embossment opening, and wherein said ends of each embossment are received within said embossment openings of adjacent embossments to provide said stopper feature with a chain-like construction.