The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 11, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1999
Randy W. Masters, Houston, TX (US);
Cecil M. Brandon, Jr., Spring, TX (US);
Advanced Industrial & Marine Services, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A flexible mechanical joint is disclosed for joining a first elongated structural section with a second elongated structural section. The joint is compressible and expandable at least along a substantially longitudinal direction upon movement of at least one of the first and second sections. The joint includes a first connecting portion fixedly attached to the first section and a second connecting portion fixedly attached to the second section. The joint also has a flexible member that connects the first connecting portion with the second connecting portion and is positioned between the two connecting portions. The flexible member is shiftable upon relative longitudinal movement between the first and second sections. At least one of the first and second connecting portions includes an anchoring member frictionally engaging one of the first and second sections and including a lip that is secured into the one section. Further, the first and second connecting portions define at least one variable space therebetween and the variable space has a longitudinal length or volume that varies in response to relative movement between the first and second sections along the substantially longitudinal direction. Further, the flexible member is rotatable within the variable space upon relative substantially longitudinal movement between the first and second sections. Further yet, the mechanical joint may be positioned within the variable space to divide the variable space into a first variable subspace and a second variable subspace.