Patent ID: 7909290

Claim:
A joint for use in aircraft construction comprising: (i) a cover skin having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a distal portion, said distal portion having an exterior-facing surface; (ii) a butt-strap having a first portion for connection to the skin, said first portion having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a distal end; wherein the first portion of the butt-strap is connected to the distal portion of the skin such that a junction is formed between the exterior surface of the skin and the exterior surface of the first portion of the butt-strap and wherein the exterior-facing surface of the distal portion of the skin is of a shape complementary to the shape of the interior surface of the first portion of the butt-strap and wherein the first portion of the butt-strap tapers towards its distal end such that, at said junction, the exterior surface of the skin and the exterior surface of the first portion of the butt-strap form a substantially continuous exterior surface.