Patent ID: 8646976

Claim:
A structural bearing apparatus comprising: (a) a lower bearing plate having a planar upper surface; (b) an upper bearing plate having a planar lower surface, said upper bearing plate being positioned such that said planar lower surface is above and parallel to the upper surface of the lower bearing plate; (c) lateral displacement means comprising roller means, said lateral displacement means being disposed between the lower and upper bearing plates with said roller means in direct rollable contact with the planar upper surface of the lower bearing plate and with the planar lower surface of the upper upper bearing plate, whereby when the upper bearing plate is subjected to a lateral load acting in a first direction: c.1 the lateral load will cause a lateral displacement of the upper bearing plate in the first direction, relative to the lateral displacement means, and a lateral displacement of the lateral displacement means in the first direction, relative to the lower bearing plate; and c.2 any downward vertical load acting on the upper bearing plate will be transferred through the lateral displacement means to the lower bearing plate; and (d) centering means, for returning the upper bearing plate and the first lateral displacement means to their neutral positions upon removal of the lateral load.