Joint assembly

摘要

An improved joint assembly includes a housing (12) and movable member (24) having a ball end portion (26) which is disposed in the housing. An annular seal (42) is disposed between an inner side surface (16) of the housing (12) and the ball end portion (26) of the movable member (24). The annular seal (42) has bilateral symmetry about a central plane (46) extending perpendicular to a central axis (38) of the annular seal to enable the annular seal to be positioned in the housing (12) with either one of two sides (50 or 52) of the annular seal (42) facing the ball end portion (26) of the movable member (24). The seal (42) includes an annular metal reinforcing ring (72) and an annular body (74) of polymeric material which encloses the metal reinforcing ring. The annular body (74) of polymeric material has a cylindrical outer side surface (62) which is disposed in sealing engagement with a cylindrical inner side surface (16) of the housing (12) and an inner side (52) disposed in sealing engagement with an outer side surface (28) of the ball end portion (26) of the movable member (24).