The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 29, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2003
Steven L. Garrett, State College, PA (US);
The Penn State Research Foundation, University Park, PA (US);
Abstract
One embodiment of a spring with an integral dynamic gas seal according to the present invention includes a spring with a pair of spaced-apart ends and a spring body extending therebetween. The spring body includes a perimeter wall formed of a first material and extending in a longitudinal direction. The wall has a plurality of openings defined therein. The openings are provided in a plurality of transverse tiers. Each tier includes a plurality of separate openings each extending along a portion of the perimeter. The openings in each tier are spaced apart so as to define a post between each adjacent opening such that each tier includes a plurality of posts. The openings in each tier are staggered with respect to the openings in adjacent tiers such that each of the openings in each tier overlie one of the posts in an adjacent tier. A closure member closes each of the openings such that the spring body is sealed. The closure member is formed of a second material having a different degree of flexibility than the first material.