Patent ID: 7744093

Claim:
A seal formed from an elongated material having a first surface on a first side, a second surface on a second side opposite the first side, and an edge disposed between the first and second sides of the elongated material, the seal comprising: an inner seal edge constructed and arranged to surround and seal a relatively rotating surface; and an outer edge, the inner seal edge being reinforced by first creases and second creases that extend from said inner seal edge to said outer edge, the first creases disposed between first surfaces of the elongated material on opposite sides of the first creases that contact each other by the elongated material being in forward folded positions at the first creases, the second creases disposed between second surfaces of the elongated material on opposite sides of the second creases that contact one another by the elongated material being in backward folded positions at the second creases, angles of the first and second creases with the edge of the elongated material prior to forming the forward and backward folded positions selected so that the edge of the elongated material has a ring shape, the inner seal edge comprising the edge of the elongated material in the ring shape, wherein perforations are provided in the seal adjacent to the inner seal edge which are constructed and arranged to allow air leakage through the seal during use that provides a lifting force on the seal that pushes the inner seal edge away from said rotating surface, and wherein the first creases are at angles between 110 degrees and 120 degrees with the edge of elongated material and the second creases are at angles of between 60 degrees and 70 degrees from the edge of the elongated material.