Patent ID: 7810560

Claim:
An expansion joint, comprising: a first axially flexible cylinder; one or more additional axially flexible cylinders positioned within the first cylinder; a first annular member positioned at a first end of, and coupled to, the first cylinder and the one or more additional cylinders, the first annular member comprising one or more apertures through said member; and a second annular member positioned at a second opposite end of, and coupled to, the first cylinder and the one or more additional cylinders, the second annular member comprising one or more apertures through said member; wherein all cylinders concurrently extend and contract in axial length when the first and second annular members are respectively moved away from and towards each other, and each cylinder contracts by folding upon itself and extends by unfolding; and wherein annular spaces formed by each of the one or more additional cylinders and an externally adjacent cylinder, together with corresponding apertures of each of the first and second annular members, each provides at least one path for at least one communication medium.