Patent ID: 8337368

Claim:
A cushioning device comprising: a compression spring having a first end and a second end, said spring including a first region and a second region longitudinally aligned with said first region, said first and second regions being interposed between said first and second ends, said first region exhibiting a first spring rate, and said second region exhibiting a second spring rate that is greater than said first spring rate; a third region exhibiting a third spring rate that is greater than said first spring rate, and said first region of said spring is interposed between said second and third regions; wherein said spring is wound in a helix such that said first region has a first mean diameter and said second region has a second mean diameter, said second mean diameter being less than said first mean diameter; and wherein said spring is wound in a helix such that first coils of said first region have a first spacing between said first coils, and second coils of said second region have a second spacing between said second coils, said second spacing being greater than said first spacing.