Sealing apparatus and associated methods of manufacturing

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a seal element can include depositing a seal element material from an instrument at a location of the seal element, and depositing another seal element material from the instrument at another location of the seal element, the seal element materials being different from each other. A sealing system can include a seal element, the seal element having at least one seal element material about at least one void in the seal element, the seal element material enclosing the void. Another sealing system can include a seal element, the seal element having multiple different seal element materials deposited at respective multiple different locations in the seal element. Properties or characteristics may gradually change or vary from one seal element material to another seal element material in the seal element. The seal element materials may each include the same basic matrix material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.