Patent ID: 8870488

Claim:
A joint assembly, comprising: a first joint member that has an axis; a second joint member connected to said first joint member; a bendable internal reinforcing member located within and enclosed by both said first joint member and said second joint member, said reinforcing member having an outer surface and a plurality of cavities that extend past the outer surface into an interior of said reinforcing member, wherein an inner surface of said reinforcing member defines said plurality of cavities, wherein said reinforcing member is made of the same material from said inner surface of said reinforcing member that defines said plurality of cavities to a center of said reinforcing member, wherein an outer perimeter of the material making up said reinforcing member has different sizes at different locations along a length of said reinforcing member from a terminal end of said reinforcing member to an opposite terminal end of said reinforcing member, wherein said terminal end of said reinforcing member is located in said first joint member and wherein said reinforcing member has a bend and wherein the axis of said first joint member extends through said center of said reinforcing member from said bend to said terminal end of said reinforcing member located in said first joint member such that the axis engages only the reinforcing member from said bend to said terminal end of said reinforcing member; and foam inserted and set in both said first joint member and said second joint member and around said reinforcing member, said foam engaging said reinforcing member such that said foam is located in said cavities of said reinforcing member, wherein said foam engages said reinforcing member such that said reinforcing member is surrounded by the foam on all sides and is contacted only by said foam and by no other components and such that said reinforcing member is free from direct engagement with said first joint member and said second joint member.