Rubber seal for semi-dynamic applications

Claim 1

A seal for installation into an annular groove of dovetail configuration, said groove having a mouth, two side walls depending from said mouth and extending away from each other and a base wall connecting the two side walls thereby forming the dovetail configuration; said seal in cross section comprising an element having a multi-arcual surface and a substantially flat surface; said multi-arcual surface comprising distinct first, second and third convex arcual surfaces; said first convex arcual surface of the seal being sized and shaped for positioning in the mouth of the annular groove of the dovetail configuration so that, while not under compression, a portion of said first convex arcual surface extends above the mouth of the annular groove of dovetail configuration when the seal is seated in said groove; said first convex arcual surface being directly connected to the substantially flat surface; said substantially flat surface being directly connected to said second arcual convex surface; said second convex arcual surface being in turn directly connected to a first concave arcual surface; said first concave arcual surface being in turn directly connected to said third convex arcual surface; said second and third convex arcual surfaces being shaped and sized so as to be in contact with the base wall of the annular groove of the dovetail configuration and said first concave arcual surface being shaped and sized so that a portion is not in contact with the base wall of the annual groove when the seal is seated in said groove; and said third convex arcual surface and said first convex arcual surface being directly connected by a second concave arcual surface; the region defined by said second concave arcual surface forming an insertion surface of approximate complementary shape to the mouth of said annular groove for mating engagement with a side wall of said annular groove during insertion of the seal into said groove.