Patent ID: 7275351

Claim:
A piling assembly for a building comprising: a lower piling having a first and a second end and a first longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a lower hinge extending from said first end and defining at least one lower first hole on a first axis spaced from said end; an upper piling having a column and a second longitudinal axis extending therethrough; an upper hinge extending from said column and defining at least one upper first hole on said first axis, wherein said hinges are interleaved with one another, wherein said hinges include a first plurality of hinged knuckles disposed about said first pin with the knuckles of said upper hinge interleaved with a second plurality of knuckles of said lower hinge, wherein said first plurality of knuckles hold said first pin in spaced relationship to said pilings for transmitting longitudinal forces between said pilings through said first pin; one of said hinges including a plurality of plates in spaced and parallel relationship with a gap defined between each of said plates and said first hole of one of said hinges is defined through each of said plates along said first axis; a first pin extending through said upper and lower first holes, on said first axis for engaging and supporting said hinges when said longitudinal axes are aligned; and, said lower hinge defining a lower second hole on a second axis spaced transversely across said lower piling from said lower first hole and spaced from said first end and defining an upper second hole on said second axis spaced transversely across said upper piling from said upper first hole; and including a second pin extending through said upper and lower second holes, on said second axis for exchanging and supporting said hinges when said longitudinal axes are aligned.