Patent ID: 7254921

Claim:
A rocking bearing assembly for supporting a structure, the structure having a first support in a first position relative to a second support in a second position, the bearing assembly comprising: a first base plate mounted to the first support of the structure, the first base plate having a first aperture; a second base plate mounted to the second support of the structure, the second base plate having a second aperture, the first aperture alignable with the second aperture; a first compressible member positioned between the first and second base plates, the first compressible member having a compressible member aperture alignable with the first aperture and the second aperture; a pintle member having a pintle aperture, the pintle member mounted within the first aperture, the second aperture, and the compressible member aperture; and tensioning means extending through the pintle aperture for tensioning the first support to the second support in the first position; wherein upon rocking movement of the first support relative to the second support, the first support returns to the first position and the second support returns to the second position; and wherein the rocking bearing assembly is configured such that there is no relative horizontal movement between the first and second base plates.