A dispensing pump (100; 400; 500; 600; 700) comprising: a pump base (602; 702); and a dispensing head (116; 408; 510; 604; 704) including a piston stem (112; 410; 512; 616; 716) which is axially guided within the pump base; characterized by the dispensing pump including: a compression spring assembly (10; 300; 518; 606; 706) comprising: a slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722) formed from a tensile polymer material; a first loading cone (14; 304; 522; 622; 724) received at a first end of said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), said first loading cone being fixed relative to said pump base; and a second loading cone (16; 306; 524; 624; 726) received at said second end of said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), said second loading cone being movable relative to said pump base, said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722) being received coaxially about the piston stem between said first and second loading cones (14, 16; 304, 306; 522, 524; 622, 624; 724, 726), said second loading cone (16; 306; 524; 624; 726) being axially compressible with said piston stem (112; 410; 512; 616; 716) and/or dispensing head (116; 408; 510; 604; 704) toward the first loading cone (14; 304; 522; 622; 724) and within said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), whereby said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722) radially expands in tension to create an opposing axial extension spring force. a pump base (602; 702); and a dispensing head (116; 408; 510; 604; 704) including a piston stem (112; 410; 512; 616; 716) which is axially guided within the pump base; characterized by the dispensing pump including: a compression spring assembly (10; 300; 518; 606; 706) comprising: a slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722) formed from a tensile polymer material; a first loading cone (14; 304; 522; 622; 724) received at a first end of said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), said first loading cone being fixed relative to said pump base; and a second loading cone (16; 306; 524; 624; 726) received at said second end of said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), said second loading cone being movable relative to said pump base, a slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722) formed from a tensile polymer material; a first loading cone (14; 304; 522; 622; 724) received at a first end of said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), said first loading cone being fixed relative to said pump base; and a second loading cone (16; 306; 524; 624; 726) received at said second end of said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), said second loading cone being movable relative to said pump base, said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722) being received coaxially about the piston stem between said first and second loading cones (14, 16; 304, 306; 522, 524; 622, 624; 724, 726), said second loading cone (16; 306; 524; 624; 726) being axially compressible with said piston stem (112; 410; 512; 616; 716) and/or dispensing head (116; 408; 510; 604; 704) toward the first loading cone (14; 304; 522; 622; 724) and within said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722), whereby said slotted tubular spring element (12; 202; 302; 620; 722) radially expands in tension to create an opposing axial extension spring force. <EOS>