Patent ID: 6843183

Claim:
A telescoping assembly comprising: an exterior telescoping member including a length, a width, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface being separated by a generally constant distance so that the exterior telescoping member has a generally constant thickness; an interior telescoping member that is sized and configured to fit within an opening in the exterior telescoping member; an annular gap disposed between the interior telescoping member and the exterior telescoping member; a first plurality of projections inwardly extending from the inner surface of the exterior telescoping member, the first plurality of projections being integrally formed in the exterior telescoping member as part of a unitary, one-piece construction and the exterior telescoping member maintaining a generally constant thickness, the first plurality of projections extending across the annular gap and contacting an outer surface of the interior telescoping member, each of the first plurality of projections having a contact area that is sized and configured to contact the outer surface of the interior telescoping member, the contact area having a length and a width that is generally less than one-half of the width of the exterior telescoping member, the first plurality of projections being sized and configured to permit telescopic sliding of the interior and exterior telescoping members; a second plurality of projections inwardly extending from the inner surface of the exterior telescoping member, the second plurality of projections being integrally formed in the exterior telescoping member as part of a unitary, one-piece construction and the exterior telescoping member maintaining a generally constant thickness, the second plurality of projections extending across the annular gap and contacting the outer surface of the interior telescoping member, each of the second plurality of projections having a contact area that is sized and configured to contact the outer surface of the interior telescoping member, the contact area having a length and a width that is generally less than one-half of the width of the exterior telescoping member, the second plurality of projections being sized and configured to permit telescopic sliding of the interior and exterior telescoping members; and a distance along the length of the exterior telescoping member separating the first plurality of projections and the second plurality of projections, the distance allowing the interior and exterior telescoping members to remain generally aligned along an axis as the interior and exterior telescoping members are moved.