Gland and mount system and components thereof

• US 4,674,252 A
• Filed: 02/21/1986
• Issued: 06/23/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MM Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: MM Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Nicholas, John D., Attaway, Julian J., Petree, Larry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Application Number:
  US06/831,520
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 52/396, 52/403, 404/65, 404/66, 404/67, 404/64, 404/69, 277/205, 277/207 R
• US Class Current: 52/396.06
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/6804 specially adapted for floor parts

Abstract

Elastomeric glands are disclosed provided with a laterally central chevron wall member which is carried in the gland, rearwardly to narrow and forwardly to widen, by front and back pairs of connecting wall means of the gland which apply thrust against the chevron wall member from relatively movable bodies during the rearward carry, and relieve thrust against the chevron wall member from the relatively movable bodies during the forward carry, under conditions of opposite lateral ends of the gland being supported relatively to move with the bodies and the gland being inside a movement tolerance space between the bodies. Gland and mount systems involving use of the elastomeric glands, and mounts for accommodating elastomeric glands such as of the character indicated and provided with anchors are also disclosed.

Claims

1. Mount means for engaging longitudinal laterally rearwardly open-hooked anchor means on an elastomeric gland end with one of a pair of relatively movable bodies, and said mount means comprising:

base means to be secured to said body and including, abutment means having an outside face to be abutted by said gland end, a first land to be about flush with the outside surface of said body when said base means is secured to said body, a second land set back from said first land, a transition portion between said first and second lands to be contacted when said second land is being covered, and groove-forming means defining longitudinal grooves in said base means longitudinally parallel with said transition portion, having a first one of said grooves enter said second land, for said base means to be tapped inside said first groove, and a second one of said grooves enter between said second land and a forwardly projecting wall of said abutment means, for said longitudinal laterally rearwardly open-hooked anchor means of said gland to receive said forwardly projecting wall of said abutment means and extend into said second groove in said base means and be about flush with said second land while said gland end abuts said outside face of said abutment means; and

cover means comprising, front and rear surfaces for said front surface of said cover means to be about flush with said first land of said base means when said rear surface of said cover means is against said second land of said base means, and first and second lateral edges with there being a row of apertures from said front surface of said cover means to said rear surface of said cover means laterally offset from said first lateral edge of said cover means, and said first lateral edge of said cover means being adapted to be in contact with said transition portion of said base means, with said rear surface of said cover means being against said second land of said base means, to align said row of apertures in said cover means with said first groove in said base means, for screws to be inserted through said apertures and be driven to self-tap said base means inside said first groove and secure said cover means to said base means, having said cover means cover said second land of said base means and said anchor means between said first and second lateral edges of said cover means when said anchor means is engaged with said base means and said gland end abuts said outside face of said abutment means.

2. Mount means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transition portion of said base means includes laterally projecting detent means for detaining said first lateral edge of said cover means against forward movement while said cover means is against said second land of said base means and said cover means is secured to said base means by said screws through said apertures in said cover means.

3. Mount means as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base means further includes rest means having a forward surface, and said cover means laterally extends forwardly of said forward surface of said rest means to said second lateral edge of said cover means when said cover means is secured to said base means by said screws through said apertures and covers said gland end when said gland end abuts said abutment means and rests against said forward surfaces of said rest means, with said anchor means being engaged with said base means.

4. Mount means as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cover means has a bevel locally along said rear surface thereof and extending to said second lateral edge, for said bevel to be forwardly opposite a slanted front portion of said gland end and said second lateral edge to be contiguous to said gland when said cover means is secured to said base means by said screws through said apertures in said cover means and said anchor means is engaged with said base means having said gland end abut said abutment means and rest against said rest means.

5. An elastomeric gland for being used within a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies laterally to narrow and widen with said space, and said gland including:

a chevron wall member comprising, a pair of strut walls, and front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions interconnecting forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member;

an intermediate strut wall of said gland inside said chevron wall member about equilaterally between said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and connected with said front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions of said chevron wall member medially of said valley and said rib; and

front and back connecting wall and opposite outer lateral end means including, front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and opposite outer lateral end means connected with said forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member through said front and back pairs of connecting wall means, for said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member to be about perpendicular to said back pair of connecting wall means and said first pair of connecting wall means to converge with reference to said back pair of connecting wall means toward said opposite outer lateral end means when said gland is in a substantially fully relaxed condition, and for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved toward one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member along with said intermediate strut wall rearwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally narrows, and for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved away from one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member along with said intermediate strut wall forwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally widens.

6. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 5, wherein said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland includes a pair of laterally outer strut walls shorter between said front and back pairs of connecting wall means than said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and interconnecting said front and back pairs of connecting wall means, having said pair of laterally outer strut walls be about perpendicular to said back pair of connecting wall means, and said front pair of connecting wall means converge with reference to said back pair of connecting wall means leading toward said pair of laterally outer strut walls, when said gland is in said relaxed condition.

7. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 6, wherein said intermediate strut wall and said chevron wall member define a first pair of longitudinal passageways through said gland, and said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, said laterally outer pair of strut walls and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means define a second pair of passageways longitudinally through said gland, when said gland is in said relaxed condition.

8. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 6, wherein said opposite outer lateral end means further comprises hooked anchor means extending from forward lateral ends of said pair of laterally outer strut walls and laterally rearwardly opening outside said laterally outer pair of strut walls.

9. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 5, wherein said front valley-forming portion of said chevron wall member includes first and second pairs of front wall panels, said first pair of front wall panels having first lateral ends connected with a forward lateral end of said intermediate strut wall of said gland and having second lateral ends interconnected by said second pair of front wall panels with said forward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, with said second pair of front wall panels forming in said relaxed condition of said gland a pair of obtuse angles with said first pair of front wall panels inside said chevron wall member, and said rib-forming portion of said chevron wall member includes first and second pairs of back wall panels, said first pair of back wall panels having first lateral ends connected with a rearward lateral end of said intermediate strut wall of said gland and having second lateral ends interconnected by said second pair of back wall panels with said rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, with said second pair of back wall panels forming in said relaxed condition of said gland a pair of obtuse angles with said first pair of back wall panels outside said chevron wall member, and with said panels in all of said first pairs being about equilateral and said panels in all of said second pairs being about equilateral.

10. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 9, wherein said strut walls of said chevron wall member pair are about perpendicular to said front and back pairs of second wall panels of said chevron wall member in said relaxed condition of said gland.

11. An elastomeric gland for being used within a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies laterally to narrow and widen with said space, and said gland including:

a chevron wall member comprising, a pair of strut walls, and front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions interconnecting forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member;

an intermediate strut wall of said gland inside said chevron wall member about equilaterally between said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and connected with said front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions of said chevron wall member medially of said valley and said rib; and

front and back wall and opposite outer lateral end means including, front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and opposite outer lateral end means connected through said front and back pairs of connecting wall means with said forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, and said front pair of connecting wall means having inner lateral front wall portions adjacent to said chevron wall member, for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved toward one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member along with said intermediate strut wall rearwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally narrows, enabling said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means to be in a front facial confronting relation to one another forwardly of said chevron wall member and said intermediate strut wall when said gland laterally has been substantially fully narrowed between said opposite outer lateral end means, and for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved away from one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member along with said intermediate strut wall forwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally widens.

12. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 11, wherein said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means front facially bear against one another forwardly of said chevron wall member and said intermediate strut wall when said gland laterally is substantially fully narrowed between said opposite outer lateral end means.

13. An elastomeric gland for being used within a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies laterally to narrow and widen with said space, and said gland including:

a chevron wall member comprising, a pair of strut walls, and front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions interconnecting forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member; and

front and back connecting wall and opposite outer lateral end means comprising, front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and opposite outer lateral end means connected with said forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member through said front and back pairs of connecting wall means, for said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member to be about perpendicular to said back pair of connecting wall means and said front pair of connecting wall means to converge with reference to said back pair of back pair of connecting wall means toward said opposite outer lateral end means when said gland is in a substantially fully relaxed condition, and for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved toward one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member rearwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally narrows, and for said opposite lateral end means to be moved away from one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall forwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally widens.

14. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 13, wherein said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland comprises a pair of laterally outer strut walls shorter between said front and back pairs of connecting wall means than said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and interconnecting said front and back pairs of connecting wall means of said gland, having said pair of laterally outer strut walls be about perpendicular to said back pair of connecting wall means and said front pair of connecting wall means converge with reference to said back pair of connecting wall means as said front and back pairs of connecting wall means lead toward said laterally outer pair of strut walls in a relaxed condition of said gland.

15. An elastomeric gland for being used within a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies laterally to narrow and widen with said space, and said gland including:

a chevron wall member comprising, a pair of strut walls, and front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions interconnecting forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member; and

front and back wall and opposite outer lateral end means including, front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and opposite outer lateral end means connected through said front and back pairs of connecting wall means with said forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, and said front pair of connecting wall means having laterally inner front wall portions adjacent to said chevron wall member, for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved toward one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member rearwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally narrows, enabling said laterally inner front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means to be in a front facial confronting relation to one another forwardly of said chevron wall member when said gland laterally has been substantially fully narrowed between said opposite outer lateral end means, and for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved away from one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member forwardly in said gland as said chevron wall member laterally widens.

16. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 15, wherein said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means front facially bear against one another forwardly of said chevron wall member when said gland laterally is substantially fully narrowed between said opposite outer lateral end means.

17. A gland and mount system for use across a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies to have said gland laterally narrow and widen with said space, and said system comprising:

a pair of mount means to be securely on said bodies and be laterally aside from one another in said movement tolerance space relatively to move with said bodies as said bodies narrow and widen said movement tolerance space, and an elastomeric gland including, a chevron wall member, and front and back connecting wall and opposite outer lateral end means;

said chevron wall member comprising, a pair of strut walls, and front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions interconnecting forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, and said front and back connecting wall and opposite outer lateral end means comprising, front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and opposite outer lateral end means connected with said forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member through said front and back pairs of connecting wall means, for said opposite outer lateral end means to be carried with said pair of mount means and said back pair of connecting wall means to extend laterally beyond said pair of mount means into said movement tolerance space to said chevron wall member, when said gland and said pair of mount means are disposed inside said movement tolerance space having said pair of mount means secured to said bodies, and for said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member rearwardly in said gland with said chevron wall member laterally narrowing during a relative movement of said pair of mount means toward one another and carry said chevron wall member forwardly in said gland with said chevron wall member laterally widening during a relative movement of said pair of mount means away from one another.

18. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said front connecting wall means in said pair in said gland have inner lateral wall portions adjacent to said chevron wall member, for said inner lateral wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means to be moved relatively to one another in said gland into a front facial confronting relation to one another forwardly of said chevron wall member, incidental to said chevron wall member being carried rearwardly in said gland by said front and back pairs of connecting wall means and said gland laterally being substantially fully narrowed under thrust applied from said pair of mount means to said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland.

19. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said gland, whenever substantially fully relaxed, is characterized by said strut walls of said chevron wall member being approximately perpendicular to said connecting wall means in said back pair, having said connecting wall means in said front pair converge with reference to said back pair of connecting wall means as said front and back pairs of connecting wall means lead toward said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland.

20. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said pair of mount means includes a pair of laterally free-ended rest means as components thereof for said pair of rest means to support outer lateral wall portions of said back pair of connecting wall means of said gland and have inner lateral wall portions of said back pair of connecting wall means reach flexibly laterally beyond said free lateral ends of said pair of rest means to said chevron wall member when said chevron wall member is carried rearwardly in said gland between said lateral free ends of said pair of rest means by said front and back pairs of connecting wall means during a relative movement of said pair of mount means toward one another and when chevron wall member is carried forwardly in said gland between said lateral free ends of said pair of rest means by said front and back pairs of connecting wall means during a relative movement of said pair of mount means away from one another.

21. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said front connecting wall means in said pair in said gland have inner lateral front wall portions adjacent to said chevron wall member, for said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means to be moved relatively to one another in said system into a front facial confronting relation to one another forwardly of said chevron wall member incidental to said chevron wall member being carried rearwardly in said gland by said front and back pairs of connecting wall means and said gland laterally being substantially fully narrowed under thrust applied from said pair of mount means to said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland.

22. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 20, wherein laterally projecting frontal components of said pair of mount means are provided to be forward of said front pair of connecting wall means of said gland while said outer lateral wall portions of said back pair of connecting wall means are on said pair of rest means.

23. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said gland whenever in a substantially fully relaxed condition is characterized by said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member being about perpendicular to said back pair of connecting wall means of said gland, having said front pair of connecting wall means converge with reference to said back pair of connecting wall means leading toward said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland, and bevels of said laterally projecting frontal components of said pair of mount means lead to lateral ends of said pair of laterally projecting frontal components and provide slanted faces to confront said front pair of connecting wall means of said gland and have said gland be contiguous to said lateral ends of said laterally projecting frontal components when said outer lateral wall portions of said back pair of connecting wall means of said gland are on said pair of rest means and said gland laterally is being narrowed and widened.

24. A gland and mount system for use across a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies to have said gland laterally narrow and widen with said space, and said system comprising:

a pair of mount means to be securely on said bodies and be laterally aside from one another in said movement tolerance space relatively to move with said bodies; and

an elastomeric gland including, a chevron wall member, an intermediate strut wall, and front and back connecting wall and opposite outer lateral end means;

said chevron wall member comprising, a pair of strut walls and front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions interconnecting forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, and said intermediate strut wall of said gland being inside said chevron wall member about equilaterally between said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and connected with said front valley-forming and back rib-forming portions of said chevron wall member medially of said valley and said rib, and said front and back connecting wall and opposite outer lateral end means comprising, front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and opposite outer lateral end means connected through said front and back pairs of connecting wall means with said forward and rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, for said opposite outer lateral end means to be carried with said pair of mount means and said back pair of connecting wall means to extend laterally beyond said pair of mount means into said movement tolerance space to said chevron wall member, when said gland and said pair of mount means are disposed inside said movement tolerance space having said pair of mount means secured to said bodies, and for said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said chevron wall member and said intermediate strut wall rearwardly in said gland with said chevron wall member laterally narrowing during a relative movement of said pair of mount means toward one another and carry said chevron wall member and said intermediate strut wall forwardly in said gland with said chevron wall member laterally widening during a relative movement of said pair of mount means away from one another.

25. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said front connecting wall means in said pair in said gland have inner lateral front wall portions adjacent to said chevron wall member, for said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means to be moved relatively to one another in said gland into a front facial confronting relation to one another forwardly of said chevron wall member and said intermediate strut wall, incidental to said chevron wall member and said intermediate strut wall being carried rearwardly in said gland by said front and back pairs of connecting wall means and said gland laterally being substantially fully narrowed under thrust applied fron said pair of mount means to said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland.

26. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland comprises a pair of laterally outer strut walls shorter between said front and back pairs of connecting wall means than said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and said pair of laterally outer strut walls interconnecting said front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and said gland, whenever in a substantially fully relaxed condition, having said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and said pair of laterally outer strut walls be about perpendicular to said back pair of connecting wall means and said front pair of connecting wall means converge with reference to said back pair of connecting wall means as said front and back pairs of connecting wall means lead toward said pair of laterally outer strut walls of said gland.

27. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said intermediate strut wall and said chevron wall member define a first pair of longitudinal passageways through said gland, and said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member and said pair of laterally outer strut walls together with said front and back pairs of connecting wall means define a second pair of longitudinal passageways through said gland when said gland is in said relaxed condition.

28. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 27, wherein said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland further comprises hooked anchor means extending from forward lateral ends of said pair of laterally outer strut walls and laterally rearwardly opening outside said laterally outer pair of strut walls, and said pair of mount means includes engagable means for said pair of mount means to be engaged with said anchor means and thereafter be moved with said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland.

29. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said strut walls of said chevron wall member pair are about perpendicular to said back pair of connecting wall means of said gland having said front pair of connecting wall means of said gland converge with reference to said back pair of connecting wall means as said front and back pairs of connecting wall means lead toward said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland, whenever said gland is in a substantially fully relaxed condition, and said pair of mount means includes a pair of laterally free-ended rest means as components thereof for said pair of rest means to support outer lateral wall portions of said back pairs of connecting wall means of said gland and have inner lateral wall portions of said back pair of connecting wall means reach flexibly laterally beyond said free lateral ends of said pair of rest means to said chevron wall member, for said chevron wall member to be carried rearwardly in said gland between said lateral free ends of said pair of rest means by said front and back pairs of connecting wall means during a relative movement of said pair of mount means toward one another, and for said chevron wall member to be carried by said front and back pairs of connecting wall means forwardly in said gland during a relative movement of said pair of mount means away from one another.

30. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 29, wherein said front valley-forming portion of said chevron wall member includes first and second pairs of front wall panels, said first pair of front wall panels having first lateral ends connected with a forward lateral end of said intermediate strut wall of said gland and having second lateral ends interconnected by said second pair of front wall panels with said forward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, with said second pair of front wall panels forming in said relaxed condition of said gland a pair of obtuse angles with said first pair of front wall panels inside said chevron wall member, and said rib-forming portion of said chevron wall member includes first and second pairs of back wall panels, said first pair of back wall panels having first lateral ends connected with a rearward lateral end of said intermediate strut wall of said gland and having second lateral ends interconnected by said second pair of back wall panels with said rearward lateral ends of said pair of strut walls of said chevron wall member, with said second pair of back wall panels forming in said relaxed condition of said gland a pair of obtuse angles with said first pair of back wall panels outside said chevron wall member, and with all of said panels in all of said first pairs being about equilateral and said panels in all of said second pairs being about equilateral.

31. A gland and mount system for use across a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies to have said gland laterally narrow and widen with said space, and said system comprising:

a pair of mount means to be securely on said bodies and be laterally aside from one another in said movement tolerance space relatively to move with said bodies; and

an elastomeric gland including, a laterally collapsible and expansible central member having laterally opposite sides for said laterally opposite sides to move toward one another as said central member laterally is being narrowed and away from one another as said central member laterally is being widened; and

front and back connecting wall and opposite outer lateral end means including front and back pairs of connecting wall means, and opposite outer lateral end means connected through said front and back pairs of connecting wall means with forward and rearward lateral ends of said opposite sides of said central member, and said front pair of connecting wall means having inner lateral front wall portions adjacent to said central member, for said opposite outer lateral end means to be on said pair of mount means having said back pair of connecting wall means extend laterally beyond said pair of mount means into said movement tolerance space to said central member, and said pair of mount means to carry said opposite outer lateral end means of said gland toward one another as said front and back pairs of connecting wall means carry said central member rearwardly in said gland and said central member laterally narrows, enabling said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means to be in a front facial confronting relation to one another forwardly of said central member when said gland laterally has been substantially fully narrowed between said pair of mount means, and for said pair of mount means to carry said opposite outer lateral end means away from one another as said front and back pairs of connecting wall means carry said central member forwardly in said gland and said central member laterally widens.

32. A gland and mount system as set forth in claim 31, wherein said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means front facially bear against one another forwardly of said central member when said gland laterally is substantially fully narrowed between said opposite outer lateral end means.

33. An elastomeric gland for being used within a movement tolerance space between relatively movable bodies laterally to narrow and widen with said space, and said gland including:

a laterally collapsible and expansible central member having laterally opposite sides for said laterally opposite sides to move toward one another as said central member laterally is narrowed and away from one another as said central member laterally is widened; and

front and back wall and opposite outer lateral end means including, front and back pairs of connecting wall means exteriorily of said gland, and opposite outer lateral end means connected through said exterior front and back pairs of connecting wall means with forward and rearward ends of said laterally opposite sides of said central member, and said front pair of connecting wall means having inner lateral front wall portions adjacent to said central member, for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved toward one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said central member rearwardly in said gland as said central member laterally narrows, enabling said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means to be in a front facial confronting relation to one another forwardly of said central member when said gland laterally has been substantially fully narrowed between said opposite outer lateral end means, and for said opposite outer lateral end means to be moved away from one another, and said front and back pairs of connecting wall means to carry said central member forwardly in said gland as said central member laterally widens.

34. An elastomeric gland as set forth in claim 33, wherein said inner lateral front wall portions of said front pair of connecting wall means front facially bear against one another forwardly of said central member when said gland laterally is substantially fully narrowed between said opposite outer lateral end means.