Patent ID: 8540224

Claim:
A spring assembly comprising at least one variable amplitude sine wave spring, each of the at least one variable amplitude sine wave springs comprising: a lower platen having first and second spring stops located at a predetermined distance apart on the face thereof; a flat flexible spring material having a length greater than the predetermined distance between the first and second spring stops, the flat flexible material placed on the lower platen between the first and second spring stops and fixed only to the first and second spring stops such that the spring material forms at least one bowed portion extending away from the lower platen, when the flat flexible spring material is placed on the first and second spring stops, the at least one bowed portion not fixed to either of the upper or lower platen; and an upper platen, hinged to and non-parallel to the lower platen and placed atop the flat flexible spring material and in contact with the at least one bowed portion of the flat flexible spring material, the upper platen being hinged to the lower platen at one end such that another end of the upper platen may move relative to the lower platen such that, as force is applied to the upper platen toward the lower platen, the flat flexible spring material is compressed to thereby form additional bowed portions over the length of the flat flexible spring material of variable height extending between the lower platen and upper platen in response to the force applied between the upper platen and lower platen, and as the force is removed from the upper platen, the flat flexible spring material rebounds, forming fewer bowed portions of variable height in response to release of the force applied between the upper platen and the lower platen.