Resilient slip friction joint

A connection joining together first and second members of a structure end to end, the connection allowing for axial movement between the first and second members when axial forces exceed a threshold slip force and the connection allowing the first and second members to return to their original relative positions when the axial forces are less than the threshold slip force, the connection comprising:

• a first member of a structure having a first longitudinal axis and a first member end, the first member end including a first connection component, the first connection component having at least one first ramped surface extending lateral to the first longitudinal axis;
• a second member of a structure having a second longitudinal axis and a second member end, the second member end including a second connection component, the second connection component having at least one second ramped surface extending lateral to the second longitudinal axis;
• a third member having a third longitudinal axis, and opposing third and fourth connection components, the third connection component having at least one third ramped surface extending lateral to the third longitudinal axis, the fourth connection component having at least one fourth ramped surface extending lateral to the third longitudinal axis, a portion of the third connection component overlapping a portion of the first connection component such that the at least one third ramped surface complimentary engages with the at least one first ramped surface, a portion of the fourth connection component overlapping a portion of the second connection component such that the at least one fourth ramped surface complimentary engages with the at least one second ramped surface;
• a resiliently expandable clamp including at least one biasing member applying a compression force to the overlapping portions of the first and third connection components and applying a compression force to the overlapping portions of the second and fourth connection components, the compression force being perpendicular to the first, second and third longitudinal axes;
• whereby, the compression force in combination with the complimentary engaged at least one first and at least one third ramped surfaces and the complimentary engaged at least one second and at least one fourth ramped surfaces resist axial forces applied to the first and second members until the axial forces exceed a threshold slip force, whereupon the resilient expandable clamp expands and the at least one biasing member is compressed as the complimentary engaged at least one first and at least one third ramped surfaces and the complimentary engaged at least one second and at least one fourth ramped surfaces respectively slide along one another as the first and second members move axially from their respective original positions;
• and
• whereby, upon ceasing of the axial forces, the compression force applied by the at least one biasing member in combination with the complimentary engaged at least one first and third ramped surface and the complimentary engaged at least one second and fourth ramped surfaces cause the first and second members to return to their respective original positions.