Protector for universal joints

Abstract

A protector for use around the universal joint in the power take-off of a motor vehicle has a rigid tubular section which is made of a synthetic plastic material and surrounds one of the shafts in the joint, a rigid frustoconical section which is made of a synthetic plastic material and spacedly surrounds the fork that is rigid with the one shaft and the smaller-diameter end portion of which is bonded to the respective end of the rigid tubular section, and a deformable tubular section which is made of a synthetic plastic material and spacedly surrounds the other fork of the joint and is permanently connected to the larger-diameter end portion of the frustoconical section. The protector further employs a split ring which is made of a synthetic plastic material and has an internal tongue receivable in the external circumferential groove of the fork as well as a set of deformable plastic lugs, or metallic lugs secured thereto by screws or rivets, which are anchored in the frustoconical section. The split ring is installed in the smaller-diameter end portion of the frustoconical section. The larger-diameter end portion of the frustoconical section has a radially outwardly extending flange with one or more annuli of holes for reception of the material of the deformable tubular section.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.