Shelter expandable component supports

Abstract

A portable shelter including an expandable component and an expandable component support. The expandable component including at least one structural element, e.g., a wall, configured to extend from, and retract into, an opening in a wall of the portable shelter. The expandable component support including a first non-roller bearing assembly affixed to the portable shelter to bear at least a portion of the weight of the at least one structural element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable shelter comprising:
 an expandable component comprising at least one structural element configured to extend from, and retract into, an opening in a wall of the portable shelter; and   an expandable component support:
 comprising a first non-roller bearing assembly, 
 affixed to the portable shelter to bear at least a portion of the weight of the at least one structural element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable shelter of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one structural element is a wall. 
 
     
     
         3 . The portable shelter of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first non-roller bearing assembly comprises a first self-lubricating engineering plastic. 
 
     
     
         4 . The portable shelter of  claim 2  wherein:
 the expandable component support further comprises a displacement inhibiting member adjacent at least one longitudinal vertical side of the first self-lubricating engineering plastic. 
 
     
     
         5 . The portable shelter of  claim 2  wherein:
 the expandable component support further comprises a deformation inhibiting member adjacent at least one longitudinal vertical side of the first self-lubricating engineering plastic. 
 
     
     
         6 . The portable shelter of  claim 2  wherein:
 the self-lubricating engineering plastic is a nylon plastic containing first lubricant powder. 
 
     
     
         7 . The portable shelter of  claim 4  wherein:
 the first lubricant powder is molybdenum disulfide. 
 
     
     
         8 . The portable shelter of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first non-roller bearing assembly comprises a first low friction coating. 
 
     
     
         9 . The portable shelter of  claim 8  wherein:
 the first low friction coating is a ceramic-filled abrasion-resistant epoxy. 
 
     
     
         10 . The portable shelter of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one structural element is characterized by a curved horizontal cross section, and 
 the expandable component is configured to pivot about a first axis substantially at the center of the curve of the at least one structural element. 
 
     
     
         11 . The portable shelter of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one structural element comprises a second non-roller bearing assembly at the surface of the at least one structural element that contacts the expandable component support. 
 
     
     
         12 . The portable shelter of  claim 11  wherein:
 the second non-roller bearing assembly comprises a second self-lubricating engineering plastic. 
 
     
     
         13 . The portable shelter of  claim 12  wherein:
 the second self-lubricating engineering plastic is a nylon plastic containing second lubricant powder. 
 
     
     
         14 . The portable shelter of  claim 13  wherein:
 the second lubricant powder is molybdenum disulfide. 
 
     
     
         15 . The portable shelter of  claim 11  wherein:
 the second non-roller bearing assembly comprises a second low friction coating. 
 
     
     
         16 . The portable shelter of  claim 15  wherein:
 the second low friction coating is a ceramic-filled abrasion-resistant epoxy. 
 
     
     
         17 . The portable shelter of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one structural element comprises first feature, and 
 the expandable component support comprises a second feature; 
 wherein the second feature is configured to mate with the first feature to align the at least one structural element and the expandable component support. 
 
     
     
         18 . The portable shelter of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first feature comprises a keel, and the second feature comprises a groove.