US Patent 7306236 Cylinder head gasket

A metal laminate cylinder head gasket has a first metal plate having a first notched portion, a second metal plate having a folded projection extending therefrom, and a middle metal plate having, adjacent to the first notched portion, a second notched portion. The middle metal plate is clamped between the first metal plate and the second metal plate. The folded projection is located such that in an area defined by the first and second notched portions, the first and middle metal plates are clamped by the folded projection. The gasket combines the function of a shim for adjusting the thickness of the gasket, and the function of affixing the metal plates.