US4834037A — Unitary molded plastic valve seal

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

A unitary assembly for sealing a valve stem in an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body defining a through passageway having a surface and a radially extending flange adjacent one end, said body molded of a first, plastic material, an annular seal of a second, elastomeric material received within and secured to said body, said seal having a generally irregular cross section of four convex surfaces alternating with concave surfaces and two inwardly directed ribs defining two annular sealing surfaces, and at least one valve guide engaging circumferential lip on said surface of said through passageway adjacent said end.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 102 words

A unitary assembly for sealing a valve stem in an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body defining a through passageway having a surface and a radially extending flange adjacent one end, said body molded of a first, plastic material, an annular seal of a second, elastomeric material received within and secured to said body, said seal having a generally irregular cross section of four convex surfaces alternating with concave surfaces and two inwardly directed ribs defining two annular sealing surfaces, and at least one valve guide engaging circumferential lip on said surface of said through passageway adjacent said end.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said seal defines at least three concave surfaces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said seal is fabricated of a fluoroelastomer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said seal is fabricated of Viton fluoroelastomer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said convex and concave surfaces have a radius of between about 0.007 and 0.025 inches.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said annular sealing surfaces have a width of between about 0.007 inches and 0.015 inches.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said circumferential lip is between about 0.025 inches and 0.040 inches in length and between about 0.010 inches and 0.018 inches in thickness.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical body is fabricated of a high temperature polyester elastomer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical body is fabricated of Hytrel polyester elastomer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 1 including at least three of said circumferential lips.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 109 words

A unitary assembly for sealing a valve stem in an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body defining a through passageway having an inside surface and a radially extending flange adjacent one end of said body, said body molded of a first, plastic material, an annular seal received within and secured to said body, said seal having a generally irregular X-shaped cross section of four convex surfaces in alternation with three concave surfaces and two inwardly directed ribs defining two annular sealing surfaces and at least one valve guide engaging circumferential lip on said inside surface of said cylindrical body and proximate said end of said body.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 109 words

A unitary assembly for sealing a valve stem in an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body defining a through passageway having an inside surface and a radially extending flange adjacent one end of said body, said body molded of a first, plastic material, an annular seal received within and secured to said body, said seal having a generally irregular X-shaped cross section of four convex surfaces in alternation with three concave surfaces and two inwardly directed ribs defining two annular sealing surfaces and at least one valve guide engaging circumferential lip on said inside surface of said cylindrical body and proximate said end of said body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 11 wherein said seal is fabricated of a fluoroelastomer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 11 wherein said convex and concave surfaces have a radius of between about 0.007 and 0.025 inches.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 11 wherein said annular sealing surfaces have a width of between about 0.007 and 0.015 inches.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 11 wherein said circumferential ribs are between about 0.025 inches and 0.040 inches in length and between about 0.010 and 0.018 inches in thickness.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 11 wherein said cylindrical body is fabricated of a high temperature polyester elastomer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 11 including at least three of said circumferential lips.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 11 wherein said circumferential lips are disposed in a region of enlarged inside diameter of said cylindrical body.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 137 words

A unitary assembly for sealing a valve stem in an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body defining an axis, a through passageway along said axis having an inside surface defining a first region of larger diameter and a second region of smaller diameter and a radially extending flange adjacent said first region, said body molded of a polyester elastomer, an annular fluoroelastomer seal received within and secured by in-situ molding to said cylindrical body, said seal having an irregular X-shaped cross section of four convex surfaces in alternation with three concave surfaces and two inwardly directed, spaced-apart ribs defining two adjacent annular sealing surfaces and a plurality of valve guide engaging circumferential lips on said first region of larger diameter than said inside surface of said region oriented at an angle to said axis.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 137 words

A unitary assembly for sealing a valve stem in an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body defining an axis, a through passageway along said axis having an inside surface defining a first region of larger diameter and a second region of smaller diameter and a radially extending flange adjacent said first region, said body molded of a polyester elastomer, an annular fluoroelastomer seal received within and secured by in-situ molding to said cylindrical body, said seal having an irregular X-shaped cross section of four convex surfaces in alternation with three concave surfaces and two inwardly directed, spaced-apart ribs defining two adjacent annular sealing surfaces and a plurality of valve guide engaging circumferential lips on said first region of larger diameter than said inside surface of said region oriented at an angle to said axis.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

The unitary valve seal assembly of claim 19 wherein said annular sealing surfaces are of equal diameter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-05-29	1992-11-28	1993-05-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-05-29	1996-11-28	1997-05-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-05-29	2000-11-28	2001-05-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Unitary molded plastic valve seal

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