Protective bellows for a marine stern drive universal joint

Abstract

A bellows for protecting a U-joint in a marine stern drive includes a flexible, hollow body defining an interior space and open at opposite ends, the body formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material to be self-supporting, having a first mating end and a second mating end and being pleated therebetween, a first sealing cuff formed of an elastomeric material, softer than the thermoplastic elastomer material, bonded to the first mating end and, a second sealing cuff formed of an elastomeric material, softer than the thermoplastic elastomer material, bonded to the second mating end.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The marine drive of  claim 15 , wherein the second sealing cuff is bonded to at least an exterior surface of the second retaining portion, and wherein the second sealing cuff is formed with a radially outwardly projecting T-shaped flange having an axially outwardly facing groove, the flange and groove being engageable between cooperating surfaces of the propulsion unit and transom shield. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The marine drive of  claim 15 , wherein the first sealing cuff formed on the first retaining portion is bonded to at least an interior surface of the first retaining portion, the first sealing cuff having a circumferentially extending, radially inwardly projecting bead formed on an interior surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first sealing cuff extends axially beyond an end of the first retaining portion. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The marine drive of  claim 15 , wherein, the second sealing cuff on the second retaining portion is bonded to least an interior surface of the second retaining portion, the second sealing cuff having a circumferentially extending, radially inwardly projecting bead formed on an interior surface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second sealing cuff extends axially beyond an end of the second retaining portion. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The marine drive of  claim 15 , wherein, the body includes at least one pleat between the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion. 
     
     
         13 . The marine drive of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a plurality of pleats between the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion. 
     
     
         14 . The marine drive of  claim 15 , wherein the body is self-supporting. 
     
     
         15 . A marine drive, comprising:
 A transom shield mountable on the stern of a boat, the transom shield having a first mating surface;   a propulsion unit pivotably mounted to the transom shield and having a second mating surface; and,   a flexible, hollow body defining an interior space and open at opposite ends, the hollow body defining a space for a drive shaft including a universal joint extending from the transom shield to the propulsion unit, the body formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material and having at a first end a first retaining portion, a first sealing cuff bonded to the first retaining portion and engaging the first mating surface associated with the transom shield and having at a second end a second retaining portion, a second sealing cuff bonded to the second retaining portion and engaging the second mating surface associated with the propulsion unit, wherein, the sealing cuffs are formed of an elastomeric material having a hardness less than that of the thermoplastic elastomer.