Patent ID: 8500130

Claim:
A radial shaft seal configured for receipt in a housing and about a shaft to sealingly isolate an air side of the shaft seal from an oil side of the shaft seal, comprising: an annular mounting portion; a seal lip having an annular sealing surface extending between an oil side end and a free air side end, said sealing surface being configured to extend axially relative to the shaft; an annular bridge connected to said oil side end of said seal lip by a first hinge and to said mounting portion by a second hinge, said bridge extending from said first hinge to said second hinge in radially overlying relation to said seal lip; and at least one projection extending from said first hinge away from said bridge toward said oil side of said seal, wherein said at least one projection has a radially inwardly facing inner surface with a minimum diameter that is greater than said diameter of said sealing surface and wherein said radially inwardly facing inner surface of said at least one projection diverges radially outwardly from said first hinge away from said sealing surface.