Patent ID: 8083595

Claim:
A propshaft assembly comprising: a first shaft member that is adapted to be coupled to a first power transmitting component; a second shaft member that is adapted to be coupled to a second power transmitting component; a bearing assembly having a support, which is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle structure, and a bearing; a joint coupling the first and second shaft members to one another, the joint having a joint structure that is received into the bearing such that the bearing supports the joint structure for rotation about an axis of the bearing; and a deflector having an annular body portion that is mounted on the joint structure, the body portion extending radially outwardly from the joint structure and tapering axially toward the bearing with increasing radial distance from the axis of the bearing, the body portion terminating at a radially outwardly edge that is disposed axially apart from the support by a predetermined gap distance, the deflector and the support cooperating to form a labyrinth that shields the bearing on a first axial side, wherein the deflector includes a plurality of radially extending, arcuate ribs that are formed on the body portion and extend from a side of the body portion opposite the bearing.