Seal element for installation in an annular dove-tail groove

Claim 1

A seal element for installation in an annular groove having a mouth, first and second side walls, and a base wall axially extending between the side walls, the side walls extending toward each other as each side wall respectively approaches the mouth to form a dove-tail shape in toroidal cross-section, the first side wall meeting the base wall at a generally inwardly rounded surface, the seal element for sealing a sealed fluid and comprising a generally annularly shaped element formed of an elastomeric material and having an external seal surface including, in toroidal cross-section: a first generally arcual portion having a first radius and a first radial center, the first radius being sized to allow the first arcual portion to contact the side walls and the base wall and to partially protrude through the mouth of the groove; a second generally arcual portion having a second radius smaller than the first radius and a second radial center, the second radius being sized and the second radial center being offset from the first radial center to allow the second arcual portion to be complementarily received by a portion of the inwardly rounded surface of the groove; and a pair of mold flashing points generally oppositely situated on the external seal surface, each flashing point being positioned on a part of the external seal surface located away from contact with the sealed fluid.