Bearing unit for a vehicle wheel

A bearing unit (1) for a vehicle wheel, the bearing unit (1) having an axis of rotation (A) and comprising:

• a radially outer stationary ring (10) provided with a tubular axial lug (14′) delimited by an outer cylindrical surface (12), and with a flange (14) transverse to the axis of rotation (A) and axially delimited, on the side where the axial lug (14′) is located, by an axial front surface (15);
• a radially inner rotatable ring (20) defining, together with the stationary ring (10), a space (3);
• an encoder (30) fixed onto the inner ring (20) and extending outside of the space (3) and in front of the axial lug (14′);
• and
• a protective cover (40) mounted on the axial lug (14′) to protect the encoder (30) and close off the space (3) and having a side wall (42) mounted on the outer cylindrical surface (12);
• wherein
• the stationary ring (10) includes an annular channel (16) formed across the axial surface (15) and delimited axially by a bottom surface (17);
• wherein
• the side wall (42) of the cover (40) is provided with a bent edge (43) arranged axially in abutment against the bottom surface (17) of the annular channel (16);
• and wherein
• sealing means (50) are arranged between the bent edge (43) and the bottom surface (17) to seal in a leak tight manner the annular channel (16), preventing the infiltration of impurities between the cover (40) and the axial lug (14′).