Boot assembly for vehicle control members and the like

Claim 1

A boot for disposition at a passage through a structural member through which a movable element extends comprising: a sleeve formed from flat, non-elastomeric, flexible sheet material, said sheet material being formed into a substantially funnel shaped apex portion having a longitudinal linear opening along one side with juxtaposable edges at said linear opening, and which has a small diameter apex end and a relatively large diameter base end which is fittable against said structural member around said passage, wherein the portion of said flexible sheet material adjacent said base end thereof is slitted at a plurality of spaced apart points and folded relative to said funnel shaped apex portion thereof to form a plurality of flat outwardly extending tabs thereat, closure means for joining said juxtaposable edges of said sheet material together along said linear opening after said sleeve has been fitted against said passage and around the portion of said movable element thereat, said closure means being strips of fabric extending along facing overlapped surfaces of said edges wherein one of said strips of fabric has pile-like protuberances for engaging porosities in the threads of the other of said strips, means for securing said base end of said sleeve at said structural member around said passage including flat relatively less flexible reinforcing means attached to said tabs in parallel relationship thereto and having a central opening from which said funnel shaped apex portion of said sleeve extends and, means for securing said apex end of said sleeve to said movable element with said apex portion of said sleeve being partially collapsed to form irregular folds therein.