US 12,359,739 B1
Expandable sealing sleeve with rigid support
Mark Friedman, Portage, MI (US); and Matthew Welker, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Assigned to Humphrey Products Company, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Humphrey Products Company, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/147,800.
Application 18/147,800 is a division of application No. 16/741,312, filed on Jan. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,662,038.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/865,368, filed on Jun. 24, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/791,480, filed on Jan. 11, 2019.
Int. Cl. F16J 15/46 (2006.01); F16K 11/22 (2006.01); F16K 11/24 (2006.01); F16K 27/00 (2006.01); F16K 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 27/003 (2013.01) [F16J 15/46 (2013.01); F16K 11/22 (2013.01); F16K 11/24 (2013.01); F16K 27/029 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expandable seal for adjoiningly sealing components together, said seal comprising:
an elongate rigid body having a pair of distally opposed support ends, wherein each support end comprises an opening with said openings defining a longitudinal passage through said body for the flow of fluid there through, wherein said support ends are connected together by a wall portion joined to and extending between said support ends with at least one aperture in said wall portion between said support ends, and wherein said support ends each define a solid outer perimeter surface about the respective said openings; and
a unitary flexible outer cover surrounding said body and extending between said support ends, wherein said cover comprises a pair of distally opposed cover ends with each cover end being disposed at and contacting the outer perimeter surface of the respective ones of said support ends, and wherein said cover comprises a central section disposed between said cover ends with said central section being disposed over said at least one aperture;
wherein said central section is disposed against said wall portion in an unexpanded state, and wherein said central section is configured to expand away from said wall portion in an expanded state, and wherein each said cover end comprises a circumferential sealing projection, and wherein said circumferential sealing projections define diameters that are larger than a diameter defined by said central section when said central section is disposed against said wall portion in the unexpanded state;
said seal being configured for insertion into cavities of adjoined components to seal there between wherein fluid is able to flow through said passage between the adjoined components.