Patent ID: 8794840

Claim:
A bearing apparatus, comprising: (a) an inner member comprising a rigid material and defining a first contact surface; (b) an outer member comprising a rigid material and defining a second contact surface; (c) an annular intermediate member disposed between the inner and outer members, the intermediate member having: (i) a third contact surface including a plurality of protruding first bearing elements formed therein contacting the first contact surface of the inner member to define a first bearing interface that transfers mechanical loads between the inner and intermediate members, while allowing relative translation and/or rotation therebetween, wherein each first bearing element includes a raised central portion flanked by a pair of beam portions; and (ii) a fourth contact surface including a plurality of protruding second bearing elements formed therein contacting the second contact surface of the outer member to define a second bearing interface that transfers mechanical loads between the outer and intermediate members, while allowing relative translation and/or rotation therebetween, wherein each second bearing element includes a raised central portion flanked by a pair of beam portions; (d) wherein the contact surfaces of each bearing interface are wear-resistant; and (e) wherein the bearing elements are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and conform in an irregular shape to the at least one contact surface.