Patent ID: 7309084

Claim:
A seal assembly comprising: a) a first seal assembly member comprised of a member body from which extends a raised annular ring, the raised annular ring comprising an inner sidewall, an outer sidewall and an end portion opposite the member body, the end portion and the sidewalls forming a first sealing surface, b) a second seal assembly member forming a second sealing surface which defines an annular recess having an end face, the annular recess extending into said second member; and c) a gasket sized and configured for placement within the annular recess; the seal assembly being at least further characterized by the end portion of the raised annular ring forming a first annular groove therein, thereby dividing the first sealing surface into an inner sealing surface and an outer sealing surface, each of the inner and outer sealing surfaces being convex relative to the first annular groove upon cross-sectional view and the end face of the annular recess forming a second annular groove therein, and wherein the raised annular ring is sized and configured to be removably received by the annular recess while leaving space between the raised annular ring and the second sealing surface when the first member and the second member are brought together, to thereby bring together the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface and place them into sealing relation with the gasket when the gasket is disposed within the annular recess.