Patent ID: 8499395

Claim:
A damage-resistant bridge assembly comprising: a support column supported at a support surface; a saddle member positioned at an upper end portion of said support column, said saddle member having a main body portion defining a lower bearing surface configured to engage said support column, and said saddle member further having a movable slide member that is repositionable along said main body portion and defining an upper bearing surface of said saddle member; a cross beam having first and second opposite end portions, wherein said first opposite end portion includes a lower bearing surface for pivoting engagement with said upper bearing surface of said saddle member when said first opposite end portion is positioned at said saddle member; and wherein said movable slide member and said first opposite end portion of said cross beam are configured to translate together, relative to said main body portion of said saddle member, via sliding engagement of said movable slide member along said main body portion of said saddle member, when said support column is moved relative to said cross beam.