Patent ID: 7086952

Claim:
A mechanical joint consisting of: a first shaft having an axial end and an annular groove proximate the axial end, the annular groove having a first sidewall and a second sidewall that is spaced axially apart from the first sidewall; a second shaft; a housing having an aperture formed therein, the first shaft extending through the aperture and being rotatably supported by the housing; a set of splines coupled to one of the first and second shafts; a mating set of splines coupled to the other one of the first and second shafts, the mating set of splines being matingly engaged with the set of splines such that the first and second shafts are slidably but non-rotatably connected; a boot seal having a coupling end, a body portion, and a flange end, the coupling end being disposed about the second shaft and including a annular clamp flange, the coupling end being coupled to a first axial end of the body portion, the body portion including a plurality of convolutions, the flange end being coupled to a second, opposite end of the body portion and including a flange seal and an annular lip, the flange seal being received into the annular groove and abutting the first sidewall to thereby axially retain the flange seal to the first shaft in an axial direction, the flange seal constricting about the first shaft solely through resilient clampless constriction to thereby sealingly engage the first shaft, the annular lip having a first portion that extends generally radially outwardly of the flange seal and a second portion that is coupled to a distal end of the first portion and which extends circumferentially about the first shaft radially outwardly of the aperture in the housing, the second portion terminating at a location that is axially spaced apart from the housing; and a single boot clamp received in the annular clamp flange and non-rotatably coupling the coupling end to the second shaft.