Patent ID: 7654537

Claim:
A gasket for sealing a rod disposed in a guide element of a valve for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a tubular support element having a first portion terminating at a first end and a second portion terminating at a second end opposite the first end; said tubular support having a first segment connected to said first end with a first outer circumferential surface, a second segment connected to said second end with a second outer circumferential surface, an intermediate segment connecting said first segment and said second segment, said second outer circumferential surface extending radially outward of said first outer circumferential surface, an elastomeric seal element secured to said tubular support element, said elastomeric seal element having a static sealing portion proximate said first end capable of sealing engagement with the guide element and a dynamic sealing portion proximate said second end capable of sealing engagement with the rod, said first end extends radially inward toward a longitudinal axis of the gasket, wherein said second portion of said tubular support element includes a first radial portion that entirely extends radially inward toward the longitudinal axis, a second radial portion that entirely extends radially outward away from said longitudinal axis and terminates at said second end, and a rounded edge portion directly and axially connecting said first radial portion and said second radial portion and being seated in a notch formed in said dynamic sealing portion, said first radial portion extends radially inward toward the longitudinal axis to a greater extent than said first end, said second radial portion extends radially outward from said longitudinal axis to a greater extent than said second outer circumferential surface.