Combination elastomeric and cylindrical plain bearing

A mechanical assembly comprising:

• a first, inner member;
• a second, outer member, a movable one of the first and second members being angularly displaceable with respect to the other one of the two members about a first axis extending centrally through the inner member and about at least one second axis generally intersecting the first axis or generally skewed with respect to the first axis;
• and
• a bearing assembly including:
• an inner plain bearing section including a generally cylindrical inner ring having a centerline at least generally coaxial with the first axis, the inner ring being connectable with the first member and having an outer circular cylindrical bearing surface, and an outer ring disposed about the inner ring and having an inner circular cylindrical bearing surface disposed against the inner ring bearing surface, one of the inner and outer ring bearing surfaces being slidable against the other one of the inner and outer ring bearing surfaces when the movable one of the first and second members angularly displaces about the first axis, the inner and outer rings being engageable with each other to substantially prevent relative displacement between the two rings when the movable member one of the first and second members angularly displaces about the at least one second axis;
• and
• an outer elastomeric bearing section disposed about the plain bearing section, connected with the second member and configured such that at least a portion of the elastomeric bearing section flexes when the movable one of the first and second members angularly displaces about the at least one second axis.