Supportive coupling system

A releasable coupling system between a first and second member comprising:

• a first member including a lengthwise dimension, a widthwise dimension, and a first body;
• a stiff member having a lengthwise dimension and a widthwise dimension corresponding to the lengthwise and widthwise dimensions of the first member, wherein the lengthwise dimension is greater than the widthwise dimension, and wherein the stiff member is fixably coupled on a first lengthwise end to the first member, and wherein the stiff member is releasably coupled to the first member on a second lengthwise end, and wherein the releasable coupling includes a coupled state and a released state, and wherein the first member includes a cover hingeably coupled to the first member in proximity to the second end of the stiff member, wherein the cover is configured to releasably couple the second end of the stiff member to the first member in the coupled state;
• and wherein the stiff member includes a rigidity along the lengthwise dimension which is greater than any rigidity of the first member, and wherein the fixable and releasable couplings between the stiff member and the first member are configured to allow the stiff member to pivot with respect to the first member in the released state;
• a second member including a second body;
• a channel fixably coupled to the second member having an internal region corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the stiff member, wherein the channel includes a first opening on one side of the internal region and a second opening on an opposite side of the internal region;
• and
• wherein the coupled state between the stiff member and the first member includes a first coupled state including the first member independent of the second member, and a second coupled state including the first member joined with the second member via an engagement of the stiff member through the channel.

A method of coupling a first member to a second member comprising the acts of:

• providing a first member including a lengthwise dimension, a widthwise dimension, and a first body;
• providing a stiff member having a lengthwise dimension and a widthwise dimension corresponding to the lengthwise and widthwise dimensions of the first member, wherein the lengthwise dimension is greater than the widthwise dimension, and wherein the stiff member is fixably coupled on a first lengthwise end to the first member, and wherein the stiff member is releasably coupled to the first member on a second lengthwise end, and wherein the releasable coupling includes a coupled state and a released state, and wherein the stiff member includes a rigidity along the lengthwise dimension which is greater than any rigidity of the first member, and wherein the fixable and releasable couplings between the stiff member and the first member are configured to allow the stiff member to pivot with respect to the first member in the released state;
• providing a second member including a second body;
• providing a channel fixably coupled to the second member having an internal region corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the stiff member, wherein the channel includes a first opening on one side of the internal region and a second opening on an opposite side of the internal region;
• wherein the coupled state between the stiff member and the first member includes a first coupled state including the first member independent of the second member, and a second coupled state including the first member joined with the second member via an engagement of the stiff member through the channel;
• releasing the releasable coupling of the stiff member from the first member thereby engaging the released state;
• routing the stiff member through the channel of the second member;
• and
• engaging the releasable coupling of the stiff member to the first member thereby engaging the coupled state.