US Patent 7478842 Coupled connection with an externally supported pin nose seal

A threaded connection includes a first tubular, a second tubular, and a coupling. The first and second tubulars include external threads, a pin nose, a pin nose surface, a pin shoulder surface, and a pin seal surface located between the pin nose and pin shoulder surfaces. The coupling includes two internal threads corresponding to the external threads of the first and second tubulars and an inner seal support. Upon selected make-up, the pin noses overlap and contact occurs between the pin nose seal surfaces and the inner seal support is in an overlapping axial position with respect to the pin noses such that a diametrical gap exists therebetween.