Sanitary door seal

Abstract

A compressible gasket is mounted on retainers in the space between the surfaces of first and second structures such as an apparatus and a door. The gasket can move axially on the retainers and can pivot transversely on the retainers, thereby affording access to the spaces around and behind the gasket for easy cleaning and inspection.

1 . A closure system comprising: 
 (A) first structure comprising a first surface and second structure comprising a second surface, wherein said structures are movable with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position in which said first and second surfaces define a space therebetween through which passage of gas is to be impeded;    (B) a gasket comprising first and second sections and being resiliently compressible, along an axis thereof between said sections, from a first position into and out of a compressed position in which said sections are closer to each other than when in said first position, there being at least one opening through said gasket;    (C) at least one retainer attached to said first structure or to said second structure, provided that if there are two or more retainers then they are all attached to said first structure or all attached to said second structure, each retainer comprising a body portion which is attached at its base to said structure and which extends from its base through an opening through the gasket to a head large enough that it cannot pass through the opening,    wherein the body portions are long enough and the openings are large enough that when the first and second structures are in an open position the gasket can move axially along the body portions and transversely with respect to the body portions, thereby permitting access to the space between the gasket and the surfaces of the structure to which the retainers are attached;    and wherein said gasket is dimensioned and positioned such that when said structures are in said closed position, said first and second surfaces contact the first and second sections respectively of said gasket and compress said gasket, whereby passage of gas through said space between said surfaces is impeded.    
   
   
       2 . A closure system according to  claim 1  wherein the gasket is made of spring steel.  
   
   
       3 . A closure system according to  claim 1  wherein the gasket is made of spring stainless steel.  
   
   
       4 . A closure system according to  claim 1  wherein said gasket has two or more retainers passing therethrough.  
   
   
       5 . A closure system according to  claim 1  further comprising seal-enhancing material adhered to the first, second, or both sections of said gasket that contacts, but is not adherent to, said first or second structure when said structures are in said closed position.  
   
   
       6 . A closure system according to  claim 1  further comprising seal-enhancing material adhered to said first or second structure that contacts, but is not adherent to, said first, second, or both sections of said gasket when said structures are in said closed position.  
   
   
       7 . A closure system comprising: 
 (A) first structure having an opening therethrough and comprising a first surface which extends completely around said opening and second structure comprising a second surface, wherein said structures are movable with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position in which said first and second surfaces define a space therebetween extending completely around said opening and through which passage of gas is to be impeded;    (B) a gasket comprising first and second sections and being resiliently compressible, along an axis thereof between said sections, from a first position into and out of a compressed position in which said sections are closer to each other than when in said first position, there being at least one opening through said gasket;    (C) at least one retainer attached to said first structure or to said second structure, provided that if there are two or more retainers then they are all attached to said first structure or all attached to said second structure, each retainer comprising a body portion which is attached at its base to said structure and which extends from its base through an opening through the gasket to a head large enough that it cannot pass through the opening,    wherein the body portions are long enough and the openings are large enough that when the first and second structures are in an open position the gasket can move axially along the body portions and transversely with respect to the body portions, thereby permitting access to the space between the gasket and the surfaces of the structure to which the retainers are attached;    and wherein said gasket is dimensioned and positioned such that when said structures are in said closed position, said first and second surfaces contact the first and second sections respectively of said gasket and compress said gasket, whereby passage of gas through said space between said surfaces is impeded.    
   
   
       8 . A closure system according to  claim 7  wherein the gasket is made of spring steel.  
   
   
       9 . A closure system according to  claim 7  wherein the gasket is made of spring stainless steel.  
   
   
       10 . A closure system according to  claim 7  wherein a gasket has two or more retainers passing therethrough.  
   
   
       11 . A closure system according to  claim 7  wherein said gasket comprises a unitary piece that extends completely around said opening.  
   
   
       12 . A closure system comprising: 
 (A) first structure having an opening therethrough and comprising a first surface which extends completely around said opening and second structure comprising a second surface, wherein said structures are movable with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position in which said first and second surfaces define a space therebetween extending completely around said opening and through which passage of gas is to be impeded;    (B) two or more gaskets each comprising first and second sections and being resiliently compressible, along an axis thereof between said sections, from a first position into and out of a compressed position in which said sections are closer to each other than when in said first position, there being at least one opening through said gasket;    (C) two or more retainers which are all attached to said first structure or all attached to said second structure, each retainer comprising a body portion which is attached at its base to said structure and which extends from its base through an opening through a gasket to a head large enough that it cannot pass through the opening, provided that each of said gaskets has at least one retainer passing therethrough;    wherein the body portions are long enough and the openings are large enough that when the first and second structures are in an open position each gasket can move axially along the body portions and transversely with respect to the body portions, thereby permitting access to the space between the gaskets and the surfaces of the structure to which the retainers are attached;    and wherein the gaskets are dimensioned and positioned such that when said structures are in said closed position, said first and second surfaces contact the first and second sections respectively of each gasket and compress said gaskets, whereby passage of gas through said space between said surfaces is impeded.    
   
   
       13 . A closure system according to  claim 12  wherein the gaskets are made of spring steel.  
   
   
       14 . A closure system according to  claim 12  wherein the gaskets are made of spring stainless steel.  
   
   
       15 . A closure system according to  claim 12  wherein a gasket has two or more retainers passing therethrough.