Patent ID: 8561692

Claim:
A downhole safety joint for use in a wellbore, comprising: an upper tubular member having an upper threaded end having a first number of threads per inch and a lower external threaded section having a second number of threads per inch; a lower tubular member having a lower threaded end having the first number of threads per inch and an upper interior threaded section having the second number of threads per inch for engaging with the lower external threaded section to form a break joint, the first number of threads per inch being greater than the second number of threads per inch, the break joint having one or more of a maximum compressive stress limit and a tensile stress limit; one or more circumferential recessed areas disposed into an outer diameter of the upper tubular member between the upper threaded end and the lower external threaded section; and one or more circumferential recessed areas disposed into an outer diameter of the lower tubular member between the lower threaded end and the upper interior threaded section, wherein the one or more circumferential recessed areas of the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member transmit a side load applied to the break joint to one or more of the circumferential recessed areas of the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member less than one or more of the maximum compressive stress limit and the tensile stress limit.