Patent ID: 8550433

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: (a) an outer tube comprising a rectangular cross section; (b) an inner tube comprising a rectangular cross section, wherein the shape of the cross section of the inner tube is configured to complement the cross section of the outer tube, wherein the inner tube is positioned within the outer tube such that the outer tube and the inner tube are telescopically movable in relation to one another; (c) a gas spring comprising a jack tube and a piston rod, wherein the piston rod is configured to be concentrically positioned in relation to the jack tube, wherein the gas spring is positioned within the outer tube, wherein the gas spring is further positioned within the inner tube, wherein the piston rod is in communication with the inner tube, wherein the jack tube is in communication with the outer tube; (d) a pair of inner bearing blocks, wherein the inner tube is communicatively coupled to the pair of inner bearing blocks, wherein the pair of inner bearing blocks comprise a substantially square-shaped cross section, wherein the pair of inner bearing blocks are positioned adjacent to one another, wherein the pair of inner bearing blocks are positioned parallel to one another, wherein the pair of inner bearing blocks may be adjustably positioned in relation to each other thereby changing the coefficient of friction between the outer tube and the inner tube; and (e) an outer bearing block assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the outer bearing block is in communication with the inner tube, wherein the first wherein the outer bearing block comprises at least one bolt hole extending through the first portion and the second portion, wherein the at least one bolt hole is configured to be larger than a bolt extending through the at least one bolt hole such that the positional relationship between the first portion and the second portion can be adjusted, thereby changing the coefficient of friction between the outer bearing block assembly and the inner tube.