Seal and retainer for a fluid connection

1. A seal/retainer unit comprising an annular sealing gasket and one or more retaining legs extending generally perpendicularly therefrom;

wherein the sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s) are formed in one piece;

wherein the sealing gasket has an inner diameter ID gasket , an outer diameter OD gasket , and a thickness T gasket defined by the distance between its upper axial surface and its bottom axial surface;

wherein each retaining leg has a length L leg , a width W leg , and a thickness T leg ; and a distal edge which is an exposed edge of the seal/retainer unit;

wherein radially outermost surfaces of the retaining leg(s) define an outer diameter OD legs and radially innermost surfaces of the retaining leg(s), including the distal edge(s), define an inner diameter ID legs ;

wherein the inner diameter ID legs is not less than the outer diameter OD gasket , whereby a plurality of the seal/retainer units can be nested in a stacked arrangement;

wherein the intersection between the bottom axial surface of the gasket and the radially inner surface(s) of the retaining leg(s) is a corner; and

wherein the gasket thickness T gasket is approximately equal to the leg thickness T leg .

2. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter OD gasket is approximately equal to the outer diameter OD legs less twice the leg thickness T leg .

3. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the one or more retaining legs comprises a plurality of retaining legs.

4. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of retaining legs are uniformly arranged about the outer diameter OD gasket of the sealing gasket.

5. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of retaining legs comprises three retaining legs.

6. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the annular sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s) are made from a sealing material.

7. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the sealing material is a sealing metal.

8. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the sealing metal is nickel, steel, or copper.

9. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the distal edge of each retaining leg is rounded.

10. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one retaining leg includes a break-off notch extending across its width W leg , whereby the retaining leg can be selectively removed from the annular sealing gasket.

11. A plurality of the seal/retainer units set forth in claim 1 nested in a stacked arrangement.

12. A plurality of the seal/retainer units as set forth in claim 11 , wherein there is a gap G between the adjacent gaskets.

13. A plurality of the seal/retainer units as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the retaining legs of adjacent units are angularly rotated relative to each other.

14. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the corner between the bottom axial surface of the gasket and the radially inner surface(s) of the retaining leg(s) is a radiused corner.

15. A plurality of the seal/retainer units set forth in claim 14 nested in a stacked arrangement, wherein the radiused corner provides a gap G between adjacent gaskets.

16. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the annular sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s) are formed from a blank comprising an annular portion and one or more leg portions extending radially outward therefrom.

17. A method of forming the seal/retainer unit set forth in claim 1 in one piece, said method comprising the steps of:

stamping a blank comprising an annular portion and one or more leg portions extending radially outward from the annular portion; and

bending the leg portions generally perpendicularly relative to the annular portion to form the annular sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s);

wherein the stamping and/or bending steps are performed in such a manner that the inner diameter ID legs is not less than the outer diameter OD gasket .

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the stamping step comprises stamping the blank from a flat sheet of sealing material having a thickness equal to the desired thickness T gasket of the annular sealing gasket.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said stamping step comprises forming a break-off notch on at least one leg portion.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said bending step results in a rounded intersection between the annular portion and the leg portions, thereby forming an angled corner.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 , further comprising the step of nesting a plurality of the parts in a stacked arrangement and wherein the angled corners assure a gap G between adjacent units.

22. A method as set of forth in claim 17 , wherein the stamping step comprises forming a plurality of blanks with an automatic stamping operation.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the bending step is performed during the same automatic operation.

24. A method as set forth in claim 23 , further comprising the steps of cleaning the units and annealing the units after the bending step.

25. A method as set forth in claim 24 , wherein a plurality of the units are nested in a stacked arrangement for the cleaning step.

26. A method as set forth in claim 25 , further comprising the step of ultra-cleaning the units after said annealing step.

27. A method as set forth in claim 25 , wherein the units are nested in a stacked arrangement with a gap G between adjacent units.

28. A method as set forth in claim 24 , further comprising the step of polishing the units after said annealing step.

29. A method as set forth in claim 24 , further comprising the step of packaging the units after said annealing step.

30. A fluid connection including a first coupling component, a second coupling component, and the seal/retainer set forth in claim 1 ; wherein the seal/retainer unit is interposed between inner faces of the first and second coupling components.

31. A fluid connection as set forth in claim 30 , wherein the first and second coupling components each have axially protruding sealing beads which press into the sealing gasket.

32. A fluid connection as set forth in claim 30 , wherein the distal end of each retaining leg is positioned upon a ledge of one of the first or second coupling component.

33. A fluid connection as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the inner diameter ID gasket of the sealing gasket extends radially past the sealing beads and into a union between fluid passageways of the first and second coupling components.

34. A fluid connection as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the inner diameter ID legs defined by the retaining legs is the same or slightly less than the diameter of the ledge, whereby the retaining legs are urged radially outward so that a biasing-type of retaining force will be continuously exerted on the ledge.

35. A fluid connection as set forth in claim 30 , further comprising a nut used to draw together the first and second coupling components during assembly of the fluid connection.

36. A seal/retainer comprising an annular sealing gasket and one or more retaining legs extending generally perpendicularly therefrom; wherein:

the sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s) are formed in one piece;

the sealing gasket has an inner diameter ID gasket , an outer diameter OD gasket , and a thickness T gasket ;

each retaining leg has a length L leg , a width W leg , and a thickness T leg ; and a distal edge which is an exposed edge of the seal/retainer unit;

radially outermost surfaces of the retaining leg(s) define an outer diameter OD legs and radially innermost surfaces of the retaining leg(s), including the distal edge(s), define an inner diameter ID legs ;

the inner diameter ID legs is not less than the outer diameter OD gasket , whereby a plurality of the seal/retainer units can be nested in a stacked arrangement;

the gasket thickness T gasket is approximately equal to the leg thickness T leg ;

the one or more retaining legs comprises a plurality of retaining legs;

the sealing gasket and the retaining legs are made from nickel, steel, or copper;

each retaining leg is provided with a rounded distal edge; and

the intersection between the bottom axial surface of the gasket and the radially inner surface(s) of the retaining leg(s) is a radiused corner.

37. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 36 , wherein at least one retaining leg includes a break-off notch extending across its width W leg , whereby the retaining leg can be selectively removed from the annular sealing gasket.

38. A seal/retainer unit comprising an annular sealing gasket and one or more retaining legs extending generally perpendicularly therefrom;

wherein the annular sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s) are formed in one piece;

wherein the annular sealing gasket has an inner diameter ID gasket , an outer diameter OD gasket , and a thickness T gasket ;

wherein each retaining leg has a length L leg , a width W leg , and a thickness T leg ;

wherein radially outermost surfaces of the retaining leg(s) define an outer diameter OD legs and radially innermost surfaces of the retaining leg(s) define an inner diameter ID legs ;

wherein each retaining leg has a break-off notch extending across its width W leg for selective removal of the portion of the leg below the break-off notch.

39. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the break-off notch extends radially inward from the outer surface of the retaining leg.

40. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 39 , wherein the break-off notch is axially aligned with or above the lower surface of the sealing gasket.

41. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 40 , wherein the break-off notch extends radially inward from the outer surface of the retaining leg.

42. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the one or more retaining legs comprises a plurality of retaining legs and wherein some of the plurality of retaining legs include a break-off notch extending across the width W leg of the retaining leg.

43. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 42 , wherein each break-off notch is axially aligned with, just below, or above the lower surface of the sealing gasket.

44. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the one or more retaining legs comprises a plurality of retaining legs and wherein all of the plurality of retaining legs include a break-off notch extending across the width W leg of the retaining leg.

45. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 44 , wherein each break-off notch is axially aligned with, just below, or above the lower surface of the sealing gasket.

46. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the portion of the leg below the break-off notch has been removed for at least one retaining leg.

47. A fluid connection including a first coupling component, a second coupling component, and the seal/retainer set forth in claim 46 , wherein the seal/retainer unit is interposed between inner faces of the first and second coupling components.

48. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the one or more legs comprises a plurality of retaining legs and wherein the portion of the leg below the break-off notch has been removed from some of the retaining legs.

49. A fluid connection including a first coupling component, a second coupling component, and the seal/retainer set forth in claim 48 , wherein the seal/retainer unit is interposed between inner faces of the first and second coupling components.

50. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the one or more legs comprises a plurality of retaining legs and wherein the portion of the leg below the break-off notch has been removed from all of the retaining legs.

51. A fluid connection including a first coupling component, a second coupling component, and the seal/retainer set forth in claim 50 , wherein the seal/retainer unit is interposed between inner faces of the first and second coupling components.

52. A seal/retainer unit as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the annular sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s) are formed from a blank comprising an annular portion, one or more leg portions extending radially outward therefrom, and a break-off notch extending across the width of each leg portion.

53. A method of forming the seal/retainer unit set forth in claim 38 in one piece, said method comprising the steps of:

stamping a blank comprising an annular portion and one or more leg portions extending radially outward from the annular portion;

forming a break-off notch on at least one leg portion; and

bending the leg portions generally perpendicularly relative to the annular portion to form the annular sealing gasket and the retaining leg(s).

54. A method as set forth in claim 53 , wherein the stamping step and the notch-forming step are performed substantially simultaneously.