Glide bearing arrangement for telescoping support columns

A glide bearing arrangement for telescoping columns, comprising:

• an inner elongated support column having an outer surface,
• an outer elongated support column having an inner surface, the outer column axially receiving the inner column therein with a space defined about the inner column between the outer surface of the inner column and the inner surface of the outer column, and
• a plurality of inner glide bearings mounted to and about the inner column adjacent to or spaced apart from one end thereof, each inner glide bearing including:
• a first contact surface in contact with the outer surface of the inner column,
• a second contact surface in contact with the outer surface of the inner column, the second contact surface spaced longitudinally apart from the first contact surface relative to the outer surface of the inner column, and
• a first resilient wall extending between the first and second contact surfaces and having an outer convex surface, opposite the first and second contact surfaces, defining a first apex, the inner glide bearing defining a span between the first apex and a first non-resilient plane defined by the first and second contact surfaces that is greater than a width of the space defined between the inner and outer columns, the inner glide bearing disposed within the space with the first and second contact surfaces contacting the outer surface of the inner column, with the first apex contacting the inner surface of the outer column and with the first resilient wall deflecting inwardly toward the outer surface of the inner column against the first non-resilient plane defined by the first and second contact surfaces to accommodate the space as a force of the inner surface of the outer column acts against the first apex,
• wherein at least the first apex of the outer convex surface of the inner glide bearing forms a first bearing surface to guide relative axial movement between inner and outer telescoping columns.

A glide bearing for guiding relative axial movement between inner and outer telescoping columns, comprising:

• a first contact surface,
• a second contact surface spaced apart from the first contact surface, the first and second contact surfaces together defining a first plane,
• a first resilient wall extending between the first and second contact surfaces and having an outer convex surface, opposite the first and second contact surfaces, defining a first apex, the glide bearing defining a span between the first plane and the first apex that is greater than a width of a space defined between the inner and outer columns, the glide bearing configured to be disposed within the space with the first and second contact surfaces contacting one of the inner and outer columns, with the first apex contacting the other of the inner and outer columns and with the first resilient wall deflecting inwardly toward the first plane to accommodate the space in response to a force of the other of the inner and outer columns acting against the first apex,
• a third contact surface,
• a fourth contact surface spaced apart from the third contact surface, the third and fourth contact surfaces together defining a second plane, the first and second planes non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, and
• a second resilient wall extending between the third and fourth contact surfaces and having an outer convex surface, opposite the third and fourth contact surfaces, defining a second apex, the glide bearing defining a second span between the second plane and the second apex that is greater than the width of a space defined between the inner and outer columns, the glide bearing configured to be disposed within the space with the third and fourth contact surfaces contacting the one of the inner and outer columns, with the second apex contacting the other of the inner and outer columns and with the second resilient wall deflecting inwardly toward the second plane to accommodate the space in response to a force of the other of the inner and outer columns acting against the second apex,
• wherein at least the first and second apices of the outer convex surfaces of the respective first and second resilient walls form bearing surfaces to guide relative axial movement between inner and outer telescoping columns.