Patent ID: 7290642

Claim:
A load supporting system comprising spring means having a positive spring stiffness and including a magnetic spring device that comprises: a first row with at least one magnet, a second row with at least one second magnet, a third row with at least one third magnet; each said magnet having magnetic poles of different polarities; said first, second and third magnets being arranged to form a magnet combination with magnetic poles of different polarities being opposite to one another and developing a magnetic flux therebetween; said first and second magnets taking a distance from one another in a predefined range with a volume therebetween; said third magnet being arranged in said volume; guiding means connected to said third magnet so as to guide same in said volume parallel to said magnetic flux; connecting means for connecting said guiding means to a load to be supported by said spring means having a positive spring stiffness; said magnetic spring device being constructed to develop an essentially constant negative stiffness when said third magnet moves parallel to said magnetic flux so as to lower said positive spring stiffness of said spring means.