Flexible sealing ring

Claim 1

A seal assembly for establishing a fluidtight connection between a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface comprising: a continuous formed structure of a readily deformable resilient material, said material being of a nonmetallic composition; said structure comprising in cross section a first portion and an integrally connected second portion; said first portion comprising a substantially U-shaped perimeter insertable within a substantially U-shaped groove of said first exterior surface, said U-shaped groove having its open end facing said second exterior surface, a pair of annular ribs being integrally formed on said first portion, said ribs being located on and projecting from opposite sides of said U-shaped perimeter, each of said ribs being capable of establishing a snug-fitting relationship with said U-shaped groove of said first exterior surface and providing a fluidtight connection therebetween, said ribs spacing said U-shaped perimeter from said U-shaped groove when no pressure differential exists on said structure; said second portion being contractable with said second exterior surface in a fluidtight connection, the perimeter of said second portion being smoothly contoured and arcuate in configuration, said perimeter of said second portion being convexly curved outwardly toward said second exterior surface and being the only contact of said second portion with said second exterior surface, a groove dividing the perimeter of said second portion at its approximate midpoint, whereby two separate surfaces of contact with said second exterior surface are provided, said first and second exterior surfaces being spaced from one another and said arcuate perimeter being out of contact with said first exterior surface, the distance of any part of said arcuate perimeter from said second exterior surface being less than the distance of any part of said first exterior surface from said second exterior surface.