Boot for a rack and pinion steering gear assembly

An apparatus comprising:

• a tie rod for a vehicle steering system, said tie rod having a longitudinal axis, a first cylindrical portion with a first outer surface of a first diameter, and a second cylindrical portion coaxial with said first cylindrical portion, said second cylindrical portion having a second outer surface of a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter;
• and
• a boot seal encircling said second cylindrical portion,
• said tie rod having a torus-shaped ring portion projecting radially from said second outer surface of said second cylindrical portion, said torus-shaped ring portion extending circumferentially completely around said axis of said tie rod, said torus-shaped ring portion being spaced axially from said first cylindrical portion, said ring portion having a third outer surface extending axially along said second cylindrical portion, said torus-shaped ring portion curving radially outward from axially spaced locations on said second outer surface of said second cylindrical portion,
• said boot seal having a sealing surface in sealing contact with said third outer surface of said torus-shaped ring portion, said sealing surface defining a groove in said boot seal, said torus-shaped ring portion being located in said groove.

An apparatus comprising:

• a tie rod for a vehicle steering system, said tie rod having a longitudinal axis, a first cylindrical portion with a first outer surface of a first diameter, and a second cylindrical portion coaxial with said first cylindrical portion, said second cylindrical portion having a second outer surface of a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter;
• and
• a boot seal encircling said second cylindrical portion,
• said tie rod having a ring portion projecting radially from said second outer surface of said second cylindrical portion, said ring portion extending circumferentially completely around said axis of said tie rod, said ring portion being spaced axially from said first cylindrical portion, said ring portion having a third outer surface extending axially along said second cylindrical portion, said ring portion comprising at least part of male threads extending radially from said second cylindrical portion,
• said boot seal having a sealing surface in sealing contact with said third outer surface of said ring portion, said sealing surface defining a groove in said boot seal, said ring portion being located in said groove, said groove comprising at least part of female threads engaging said male threads of said tie rod.