Patent ID: 8069615

Claim:
A hollow seal for use in sealing to a first member, the hollow seal comprising a base portion configured for attachment to a second member, the base portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and an upper portion for forming with the base portion a hollow interior space allowing the upper portion to collapse toward the base portion when the hollow seal is engaged between the first and second members, the upper portion having a compressible sealing portion for sealing against an adjacent surface of the first member, the compressible sealing portion being joined to the base portion by a buckle portion extending upward from the proximal end of the base portion, and a foldable portion adjacent the sealing portion that collapses inwardly and upon itself when the compressible sealing portion is compressed downwardly toward the base portion by engagement with the first member, and the base portion having a nesting recess for receiving and supporting the foldable portion so as to maintain a seal between the compressible sealing portion and the first member when subjected to external fluid pressure acting on the upper portion, wherein the nesting recess has a side surface extending substantially perpendicular to a major planar extent of the base portion and facing the distal end of the base portion, and wherein the side surface is disposed in the path of the foldable portion when the upper portion is exposed to external fluid pressure at a distal side of the compressible sealing portion so that movement of the foldable portion is restricted by engagement with the side surface to prevent the compressible sealing portion from being blown out, wherein the hollow seal is formed by molding as a single piece generally having a C-shape, wherein the base portion and upper portion have at distal ends thereof mating surfaces that engage to form the hollow seal, and wherein one of the mating surfaces has a locking recess and the other has a correspondingly sized projection for mating with the locking recess for locking the distal ends of the base portion and upper portion against relative lateral movement.