Sealing structures embodying closed cell elastomeric material

Claim 1

A PRESSURE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A PAIR OF SEPARABLE SUBTANTIALLY RIGID MEMBERS WITH FLAT PLANAR CONFRONTING PARTING FACES PROVIDING A PARTING JOINT TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY SEALED AGAINST FLUID PRESSURE THERETHROUGH IN AT LEAST ONE DIRECTION; SAID MEMBERS HAVING BETWEEN AND ENGAGING THE PARTING FACES A STATIONARY SEAL AGAINST PRESSURE FLUID ESCAPE THEREBY COMPRISING A STRIP OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATE, INDEPENDENTLY ACTING, SMALL, GENERALLY BUBBLE-LIKE GAS CELLS HAVING FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTING WALLS OF THE ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL; SAID STRIP HAVING OPPOSITELY FACING SEALING SURFACES WHICH ARE RESPECTIVELY ENGAGED SEALINGLY AGAINST SAID PARTING FACES; AND A CONFINING BLOW-OUT PREVENTING MEMBER RIGID RELATIVE TO AND SECURED TO THE STRIP ON THE SIDE THEREOF WHICH IS OPPOSITE TO THE SIDE TOWARD WHICH SAID FLUID PRESSURES IS DIRECTED AND HAVING SURFACES WHICH OPPOSE SAID PARTING FACES AND BEYOND AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH RIGID MEMBER SURFACES A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE STRIP HAVING THEREON ONE OF SAID SEALING SURFACES NORMALLY PROJECTS SUBSTANTIALLY; SAID PARTING FACES BEING ENGAGED UNDER PRESSURE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND AGAINST SAID STRIP;