Compression seal for variably spaced joints

Claim 1

A reinforced elastomeric seal adapted for installation in lateral compression within a longitudinal space defined between the face to face surfaces of adjacent members to effect a seal between the member surfaces, comprising in combination: (a) a hollow elongated resilient elastomeric body having two generally vertical side walls respectively opposed external sealing surfaces adapted for engagement with said member surfaces, a horizontally compressible upper buckling wall merging along its edges into the respective upper edges of said side walls, and a horizontally compressible lower buckling wall merging along its edges into the respective lower edges of said side walls, said buckling walls having relatively thick central portions that buckle under compression and exert resisting forces that force said sealing surfaces of said side walls into sealing engagement with said member surfaces and said buckling walls also having relatively thin sloping edge portions adjacent said upper edges of said side walls that allow inward flexing of said buckling walls toward said side walls during said compression of the buckling walls; (b) a respective series of vertical spaced apart metal reinforcing ribs disposed within each said side wall and along the length of each said side wall with the top and the bottom of each rib of said ribs being respectively formed to extend generally horizontally within and into both a portion of said upper support wall and a portion of said lower support wall and with the alternate adjacent top ends and the alternate bottom ends of each rib of said series of said ribs being joined together in a reverse curve configuration and forming a metal member of continuous length for each series of reinforcing ribs, said ribs as formed being adapted to distribute the said resisting forces exerted by said upper and lower compressible buckling walls across the sealing surface of each said side wall; and (c) a series of fibers extending along and within said elastomeric body and linking together the top, the midsection and the bottom of each rib of said series of reinforcing ribs to reinforce said elastomeric seal against stretch during both its fabrication and its use.