Seal member for joint assembly of a machine and systems, methods, and assemblies thereof

A method comprising:

• providing a seal having a first end portion to be sealingly coupled to a boss of a joint assembly and a second end portion opposite the first end portion to be sealingly coupled to a pivot of the joint assembly,
• wherein the seal includes:
• a rubber body defining a first opening at the first end portion of the seal and a second opening at the second end portion of the seal,
• a first ring fixed to the rubber body at the first end portion of the seal, the first ring being made of material more rigid than a rubber of the rubber body, and
• a second ring fixed to the rubber body at the second end portion of the seal, the second ring being made of material more rigid than the rubber of the rubber body,
• wherein a first width of the first end portion of the seal is less than a second width of the second end portion of the seal,
• wherein the rubber body has a flange extending radially outward, away from a central longitudinal axis of the seal, at a second end of the rubber body associated with the second end portion of the seal,
• wherein the second ring has a bottom end surface and a radially inward facing side surface perpendicular to each other,
• wherein each of the bottom end surface and the radially inward facing side surface of the second ring is exposed from the rubber body such that the rubber body does not cover any portion of the bottom end surface and any portion of the radially inward facing side surface, and
• wherein the bottom end surface of the second ring forms a bottom most portion of the seal.

A sealing member having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the sealing member comprising:

• a semi-flexible body defining a first opening at the first end portion of the sealing member and a second opening at the second end portion of the sealing member;
• a first ring fitted to the semi-flexible body at the first end portion of the sealing member, the first ring being made of material more rigid than material of the semi-flexible body;
• and a second ring fitted to the semi-flexible body at the second end portion of the sealing member, the second ring being made of material more rigid than material of the semi-flexible body, wherein a first diameter of the first ring is less than a second diameter of the second ring, wherein the semi-flexible body has a flange that extends radially outward, away from a central longitudinal axis of the sealing member, at a second end of the semi-flexible body associated with the second end portion of the sealing member, wherein the second ring has a bottom end surface and a radially inward facing side surface perpendicular to each other, an upper end surface opposite the bottom end surface, and a radially outward facing surface opposite the radially inward facing surface, wherein the upper end surface of the second ring is covered by the semi-flexible body, no portions of the bottom end surface and the radially inward facing surface are covered by the semi-flexible body, and a bottom portion of the radially outward facing surface is not covered by the semi-flexible body, and wherein the bottom end surface of the second ring forms a bottom most portion of the sealing member,
• wherein the radially inward facing side surface of the second ring faces a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and
• wherein the bottom end surface of the second ring forms a bottom most portion of the seal.