Abutment joint

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an abutment joint that includes a first abutment member and a second abutment member. The first abutment member includes a projection that extends from first abutment member shoulders and has a distal end from which a first surface and a second surface extend towards the first abutment member shoulders at an acute angle. The second abutment member has a socket into which the projection of the first abutment member releasably seats. The socket has a first surface and a second surface that extends away from a first end of the second abutment member at an acute angle. The first end of the second abutment member includes second abutment member shoulders that extend from the socket.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A jointed member, comprising:
 a first elongate section having a first surface defining a first oblong opening, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end joined to a first hinge;   a second elongate section having a second surface defining a second oblong opening, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end joined to a second hinge;   a fastener passing through the first oblong opening and the second opening to connect the first elongate section and the second elongate section; and   an abutment joint having a first abutment member and a second abutment member, where
 the first abutment member forms a part of the first elongate section, the first abutment member having a projection that extends from first abutment member shoulders, the projection having a distal end from which a first surface and a second surface extend towards the first abutment member shoulders at an acute angle; and where 
 the second abutment member forms a part of the second elongate section, the second abutment member having a socket into which the projection of the first abutment member releasably seats, the socket having a first surface and a second surface that extend away from a first end of the second abutment member at an acute angle and the first end of the second abutment member includes second abutment member shoulders that extends from the socket such that when the projection of the first abutment member seats in the socket of the second abutment member the second surface of the projection and the second surface of the socket touch, and the second abutment member shoulders and the first abutment member shoulders touch and where the first oblong opening and the second oblong opening move relative each other and the fastener as the jointed member transitions from a first predetermined state having a minimum overlap of the first oblong opening and the second oblong opening towards a second predetermined state having a maximum overlap of the first oblong opening and the second oblong opening relative the minimum overlap and where in the first predetermined state the first abutment member and the second abutment member are under a compressive force against each other while the first surface defining the first oblong opening and the second surface defining the second oblong opening apply a shearing stress to the fastener. 
   
     
     
         14 . The jointed member of  claim 13 , where the socket having the first surface and the second surface that extend away from the first end of the second abutment member has an acute angle that is equal to the acute angle of the first surface and the second surface of the first abutment member and when the projection of the first abutment member seats in the socket of the second abutment member the first surface of the projection and the first surface of the socket touch, the second surface of the projection and the second surface of the socket touch, and the second abutment member shoulders and the first abutment member shoulders touch. 
     
     
         15 . The jointed member of  claim 14 , where the first abutment member and the second abutment member have one degree of freedom when the projection of the first abutment member is seated in socket of the second abutment member. 
     
     
         16 . The jointed member of  claim 15 , where the first abutment member and the second abutment member have two degrees of freedom when the projection of the first abutment member un-seats from the socket of the second abutment member. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The jointed member of  claim 13 , where in the first predetermined state a distance between the second end of the first elongate section and the second end of the second elongate section provides a defined maximum length of the jointed member, where the distance between the second end of the first elongate section and the second end of the second elongate section does not exceed the defined maximum length as jointed member transitions from the first predetermined state towards the second predetermined state. 
     
     
         19 . The jointed member of  claim 13 , where the first abutment member and the second abutment member define a first point of rotation for the first elongate section and the second elongate section; and
 the second end of both the first surface and the second surface, when positioned against the fastener, define a second point of rotation for the first abutment member and the second abutment member that is different than the first point of rotation.   
     
     
         20 . The jointed member of  claim 19 , where the first elongate section and the second elongate section turn on the first point of rotation prior to turning on the second point of rotation as the jointed member transitions from the first predetermined state towards the second predetermined state. 
     
     
         21 .- 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The jointed member of  claim 19 , where the first end of each of the first surface and the second surface does not contact the fastener when the second end of both the first surface and the second surface are seated against the fastener. 
     
     
         64 . The jointed member of  claim 18 , where in the first predetermined state the fastener, the first abutment member and the second end of the first elongate section, all in a common plane, define a right triangle of the first elongate section, where a hypotenuse of the right triangle is between the fastener and the second end of the first elongate section, and a first leg of the right triangle is defined by the first abutment member end and a perpendicular intersection of a first line extending from the second end of the first elongate section and a second line extending from a geometric center of the fastener, where the first and second lines are in the common plane. 
     
     
         65 . The jointed member of  claim 64 , where in the first predetermined state the fastener, the second abutment member and the second end of the second elongate section, all in a common plane, define a right triangle of the second elongate section, where a hypotenuse of the right triangle is between the fastener and the second end of the second elongate section, and a first leg of the right triangle is defined by the second abutment member end and a perpendicular intersection of a first line extending from the second end of the second elongate section and a second line extending from a geometric center of the fastener, where the first and second lines are in the common plane. 
     
     
         66 . The jointed member of  claim 64 , where in the first predetermined state the hypotenuse has a length that is greater than a length of the first leg. 
     
     
         67 . The jointed member of  claim 66 , where the first abutment member and the second abutment member rotate about the second point of rotation a length between the fastener and the second end of the first elongate section, both in the common plane, is no greater than the length of the first leg of the right triangle of the first elongate section. 
     
     
         68 . The jointed member of  claim 66 , where the first abutment member and the second abutment member rotate about the second point of rotation a length between the fastener and the second end of the second elongate section, both in the common plane, is no greater than the length of the first leg of the right triangle of the second elongate section. 
     
     
         69 . The jointed member of  claim 13 , where the distal end of the projection defines a planar surface that forms an obtuse angle with the first surface of the projection and where the planar surface forms a ninety degree angle with the second surface of the projection. 
     
     
         70 . The jointed member of  claim 69 , where the socket of the second abutment member includes a second end having a planar surface that is a mirror image of the planar surface of the distal end of the projection. 
     
     
         71 . The jointed member of  claim 13 , where the first abutment member shoulders include a first shoulder surface that extends from the first surface of the projection and a second shoulder surface that extends from the second surface of the projection. 
     
     
         72 . The jointed member of  claim 71 , where the second shoulder surface and the second surface of the projection form a ninety degree angle. 
     
     
         73 . The jointed member of  claim 71 , where the first shoulder surface and the first surface of the projection form an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         74 . The jointed member of  claim 13 , where the first oblong opening and the second oblong opening have an obround shape.