Seal and seal assembly

Claim 2

A seal (16), comprising: a body (38); a leg (40) having first, second and third sides (46,48,50), a middle portion (56) and first and second end portions (52,54) and being connected at the first end portion (52) to the body (38) ,said first side (46) being linear and generally opposed to said second side (48), said second side (48) having a linear portion (64) intersecting the third side (50) and being parallel to the first side (46) and an arcuate portion (62) defining an arcuate surface (58) extending curvilinearly inwardly in a direction generally toward the first side (46) and defining a reduced cross-sectional area of said leg (40) at the middle portion (56) relative to the second end portion (54), said third side (50) being linear and intersecting said first and second sides (46,48) at the second end portion (54), said second end portion (54) being of a construction sufficient for being controllably deflectable relative to said first end portion (52) in response to a force exerted on at least one of the first and third sides (46,50); and first and second sealing areas (42,44) positioned on said leg (40) adjacent the intersection of the first and third sides (46,50), and the intersection of the second and third sides (48,50), respectively.

Claim 3

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second sealing areas (42,44) are located at the intersection of the first and third sides (46,50) and second and third sides (48,50), respectively.

Claim 4

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal (16) has only a single leg (40).

Claim 5

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third side (50) intersects the first side (46) at an angle (A 1 ) of about 90°.

Claim 6

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third side (50) intersects the second side (48) at an angle (50) of about 90°.

Claim 7

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third side (50) is substantially linear.

Claim 8

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first side (56) is substantially linear.

Claim 9

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first side (46) of the leg (40) is substantially parallel to said linear portion (64) of the second side (48).

Claim 10

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first sealing area (42) is on said leg (40) at a location immediately adjacent a point (66) on said second side (48) from which said arcuate surface (58) extends inwardly toward said first side (46).

Claim 11

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg (40) has a width (W 1 ) defined by the distance between the first and second sides (46,48) and the arcuate surface (58) of said second side (48) extends inwardly about one-half of said width (W 1 ).

Claim 12

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arcuate surface (58) extends outwardly from the middle portion (56) toward the first end portion (52) in a direction from the first side (46) and intersects the body (38) of the seal (16) at a location (60) at which said leg (40) connects at the second side (48) to said body (38).

Claim 13

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein the length (L 1 ) of the linear portion (64) of the second side (48) is about one-third the length (L 2 ) of the first side (46).

Claim 14

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal (16) has a carrier element (68) connected to the body (38).

Claim 15

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body (38), leg (40) and first and second sealing areas (42,44) are of unitary, elastomeric construction.

Claim 16

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal (16) is of an annular configuration.

Claim 17

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, including means (63) for biasing said second end portion (54) of the leg (40) relative to said first end portion (52) of the leg (40) in a direction (D 1 ) from the second (34) toward the first side (32) of the leg (40).

Claim 18

The seal (16), as set forth in claim 16, wherein said biasing means (63) is a spring (65) positioned on the second side (34) of the leg (40).

Claim 19

A seal assembly (10) for blocking passage of foreign matter through an annular opening (36), comprising: a first member (12) having first and second surfaces (32,34) oriented substantially perpendicular one relative to the other; a second member (14) positioned adjacent said first member (12), said first and second members (12,14) being rotatable one relative to the other and defining the annular opening (36) between said second member (14) and the first and second surfaces (32,34) of said first member (12); means (28) for supporting said first and second members (12,14) in rotation one relative to the other; a seal body (38) connected to said second member (14) and positioned adjacent and extending about said annular opening (36); a seal leg (40) having first, second and third sides (46,48,50) and first and second end portions (52,54) and being connected at the first end portion (52) to the body (38) and extending outwardly from said body (38) about the annular opening (36) and in a direction toward said first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (14), said first and second sides (46,48) being generally opposed, said third side (50) intersecting said first and second sides (46,48) at the second end portion (54), said second end portion (54) being of a configuration sufficient for being controllably deflectable in response to a force exerted on at least one of the first and third sides (46,50) of said leg (40); and first and second sealing areas (42,44) positioned on said leg (40) adjacent the intersection of the first and third sides (46,48) and the second and third sides (48,50), respectively, and being in sealing, slidable contact with said first surface (32) and said second surface (34), respectively, of the first member (12) at a location sufficient for blocking access through the annular opening (36) in response to forces exerted on the second side (48) of the leg (40), said first and second sealing areas (42,44) being both removable together from contact with said respective first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (14) in response to controllably deflecting said second end portion (54).

Claim 20

A seal assembly (10) for blocking passage of foreign matter through an annular opening (36), comprising: a first member (12) having first and second surfaces (32,34) oriented substantially perpendicular one relative to the other; a second member (14) positioned adjacent said first member (12), said first and second members (12,14) being rotatable one relative to the other and defining the annular opening (36) between said second member (14) and the first and second surfaces (32,34) of said first member (12); means (28) for supporting said first and second members (12,14) in rotation one relative to the other; a seal body (38) connected to said second member (14) and positioned adjacent and extending about said annular opening (36); a seal leg (40) having first, second and third sides (46,48,50) and first and second end portions (52,54) and being connected at the first end portion (52) to the body (38) and extending outwardly from said body (38) about the annular opening (36) and in a direction toward said first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (14), said first and second sides (46,48) being generally opposed, said third side (50) intersecting said first and second sides (46,48) at the second end portion (54), said second end portion (54) being of a configuration sufficient for being controllably deflectable in response to a force exerted on at least one of the first and third sides (46,50) of said leg (40); and first and second sealing areas (42,44) positioned on said leg (40) adjacent the intersection of the first and third sides (46,48) and the second and third sides (48,50), respectively, and being in sealing, slidable contact with said first surface (32) and said second surface (34), respectively, of the first member (12) at a location sufficient for blocking access through the annular opening (36) in response to forces exerted on the second side (48) of the leg (40), said first and second sealing areas (42,44) being both removable together from contact with said respective first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (14) in response to controllably deflecting said second end portion (54).

Claim 21

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said leg (40) has a middle portion (56) and said second side of the leg (40) is of a configuration sufficient for defining a reduced crosssectional area of said leg (40) at the middle portion (56) relative to the second end portion (54) of said leg (40).

Claim 22

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 19, wherein said second side (48) has an arcuate surface (58) extending curvilinearly inwardly from the second end portion (54) toward the middle portion (56) in a direction generally toward the first side (46).

Claim 23

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein the first and second sealing areas (42,44) are located at the intersection of the first and third sides (46,50) and the second and third sides (48,50), respectively.

Claim 24

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said seal assembly (10) has only a single leg (40).

Claim 25

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, including a line (78) passing through said first and second sealing areas (42,44), said line (78) intersecting the first surface (32) of the first member (12) at an angle (A 5 ) in a range of about 45° to about 90°.

Claim 26

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 23, wherein said angle (A 5 ) is about 45°.

Claim 27

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 23, wherein said third side (50) defines the line (78) passing through said first and second sealing surfaces (42,44).

Claim 28

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first side (46) intersects the first surface (32) of the first member (12) at an angle (A 6 ) of about 60°.

Claim 29

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 20, wherein said second side (48) has a substantially linear portion (64) intersecting the third side (50) and an arcuate portion (62) defining the arcuate surface (58) of said second side (48).

Claim 30

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 27, wherein said linear portion (64) of the second side (48) intersects the second surface (34) of the first member (12) at an angle (A 7 ) of about 60°.

Claim 31

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (12) define first and second substantially perpendicular intersecting planes (32',34'), respectively, and including a line (78) passing between said first and second sealing areas (42,44), said line (78) defining a chord (80) of a circle (82) having a radial line (84), said radial line (84) substantially bisecting said chord (80) and passing immediately adjacent the intersection (86) of said planes (32',34').

Claim 32

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 27, said first side (46) of the leg (40) is substantially parallel to said linear portion (64) of the second side (48).

Claim 33

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first and second sealing areas (42,44) urge against said first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (12), respectively.

Claim 34

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said seal body (38), leg (40) and first and second sealing areas (42,44) are of unitary, elastomeric construction.

Claim 35

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein the third side (50) of the leg (40) extends between said first and second sealing areas (42,44) and said leg (40) forms an annular chamber (88) with said first member (12), said annular chamber (88) being defined by the first and second surfaces (32,34) of said first member (12) and the third side (50) of the leg (40).

Claim 36

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 33, wherein the leg (40) forms first and second channels (90,92) with said first member (12), said first and second channels (90,92) being defined by the first side (46) of the leg (40) and first surface (32) of the first member (12) and the second side (48) of the leg (40) and the second surface (34) of the first member (12), respectively, and being of a construction sufficient for being positionable in communication one with the other in response to removing the first and second sealing areas (42,44) from contact with the first and second surfaces (32,34), respectively.

Claim 37

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, including means (63) for biasing the second end portion (54) of the leg (40) relative to the first end portion (52) of the leg (40) in a direction (D 2 ) toward the first surface (32) of the first member (12).

Claim 38

The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 35, wherein said biasing means (63) is a spring (65) positioned on the second side (48) of the leg (40).