Gasket assembly for sealing electromagnetic waves

Claim 2

A gasket assembly for sealing electromagnetic waves, said gasket assembly comprising: coil spring means for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves therepast, said coil spring means comprising a plurality of individual coils canted along a centerline thereof; and groove means for supporting said coil spring means in a position enabling loading of the coil spring means along a selected direction, said groove means comprising surface means for causing the individual coils to always turn in a selected angular direction in order to control electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the coil spring means, said groove means comprising a bottom grove surface disposed aslant to said loading direction and generally parallel side grove surfaces adjoining said bottom groove surface and disposed at right angles therewith.

Claim 3

The gasket assembly according to claim 1 wherein a groove width, defined by a distance between said generally parallel side surfaces, is smaller than coil height, measured along a minor axis of the individual coils.

Claim 4

The gasket assembly according to claim 1 wherein said coil spring means is filled with an elastomer.

Claim 5

The gasket assembly according to claim 1 wherein said groove means is linear.

Claim 6

The gasket assembly according to claim 4 wherein said coil spring means is filled with an elastomer.

Claim 7

An axially loadable gasket assembly for sealing electromagnetic waves, said gasket assembly comprising: coil spring means for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves therepast, said coil spring means comprising a plurality of individual coils canted along a centerline thereof; and groove means for supporting said coil spring means in a position enabling axial loading of the coil spring means, said groove means comprising surface means for causing individual coils to always turn in a selected angular direction in order to control electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the coil spring means, said groove means comprising a bottom groove surface disposed aslant to said loading direction and sidewalls disposed at an angle to an adjoining surface.

Claim 8

An axially loadable gasket assembly for sealing electromagnetic waves, said gasket assembly comprising: coil spring means for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves therepast, said coil spring means comprising a plurality of individual coils canted along a centerline thereof; and groove means for supporting said coil spring means in a position enabling axial loading of the coil spring means, said groove means comprising surface means for causing individual coils to always turn in a selected angular direction in order to control electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the coil spring means, said groove means comprising a bottom groove surface disposed aslant to said loading direction and sidewalls disposed at an angle to an adjoining surface.

Claim 9

The gasket assembly according to claim 6 wherein said surface means further comprises generally parallel side groove surfaces adjoining said bottom groove surface and disposed at right angles therewith.

Claim 10

An axially loadable gasket assembly for sealing electromagnetic waves, said gasket assembly comprising: continuous coil spring means for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves therepast, said coil spring means comprising a plurality of individual coils canted along a centerline thereof, each individual coil being oval and having a major and a minor axis; and groove means for supporting said coil spring means in a position enabling loading of the coil spring means along the major axis of the individual coils and deflection of the individual coils along the minor axis thereof, said groove means comprising surface means for causing individual coils to always turn in a selected angular direction in order to control electromagnetic shielding effectiveness if the coil spring means, said groove means comprising a bottom groove surface disposed aslant to said loading direction and sidewalls disposed at an angle to an adjoining surface.

Claim 11

An axially loadable gasket assembly for sealing electromagnetic waves, said gasket assembly comprising: continuous coil spring means for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves therepast, said coil spring means comprising a plurality of individual coils canted along a centerline thereof, each individual coil being oval and having a major and a minor axis; and groove means for supporting said coil spring means in a position enabling loading of the coil spring means along the major axis of the individual coils and deflection of the individual coils along the minor axis thereof, said groove means comprising surface means for causing individual coils to always turn in a selected angular direction in order to control electromagnetic shielding effectiveness if the coil spring means, said groove means comprising a bottom groove surface disposed aslant to said loading direction and sidewalls disposed at an angle to an adjoining surface.

Claim 12

The gasket assembly according to claim 8 wherein said surface means further comprises generally parallel side groove surfaces adjoining said bottom groove surface and disposed at right angles therewith.

Claim 13

The gasket assembly according to claim 8 wherein said coil spring means is filled with an elastomer.