Retainer gasket construction

A method of making a sealing gasket of a variety which includes a retainer having a first groove, and a resilient seal element formed of an elastomeric material which is received within the first groove, the first groove having a first bottom wall and a first sidewall which adjoins the first bottom wall, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a retainer blank formed of a metal material, the blank having opposing surfaces which define in an axial direction a thickness dimension of the blank therebetween, each of the opposing blank surfaces extending in a radial direction generally normal to the axial direction, and the blank being provided as further having a tab-like process formed through the first and the second surface;
• (b) disposing a first punch over a first one of the blank surfaces, the first punch having a first punch surface confronting the first one of the blank surfaces;
• (c) moving the first punch in the axial direction towards the first one of the blank surfaces;
• and
• (d) contacting the first one of the blank surfaces with the first punch surface, such contact being effected at a pressure sufficient to impart the impression of the first side and bottom walls of the first groove in the first one of the blank surfaces, wherein the method further comprises the additional steps after step (a) of:
• disposing a second punch over the process, the second punch confronting one of the first and second surfaces;
• moving the second punch in the axial direction towards the confronted one of the first and second surfaces;
• contacting the confronted one of the first and second surface with the second punch surface, such contact being effected at a pressure sufficient to impart the impression of a pin within the thickness dimension of the blank;
• and
• bending the pin such that the pin is disposed upstandingly relative to one of the first and second surfaces.