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A pillow top queen-size mattress.

A mattress is a mat or pad, usually placed atop a bed, upon which to sleep or lie. The cover of the first novel in the Hitchhikers series, from a late 1990s printing. ... This is a list of races, fauna, and flora (as well as creatures without category) featured in various incarnations of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1487x1451, 434 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Mattress Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1487x1451, 434 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Mattress Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... For other uses, see Bed (disambiguation). ...

The word mattress is derived from Arabic words meaning "to throw" and "place where something is thrown" or "mat, cushion." During the Crusades, Europeans adopted the Arabic method of sleeping on cushions thrown on the floor, and the word materas eventually descended into Middle English through the Romance languages.^[1] Arabic redirects here. ... Middle English is the name given by historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of 1066 and the mid-to-late 15th century, when the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English, began to become widespread, a process aided by the... The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family that comprises all the languages that descend from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. ...

Though a mattress may be placed directly on the floor, it is usually placed atop a platform (such as a bed or a metal spring foundation) to be further from the ground. Historically, mattresses have been filled with a variety of natural materials, including straw and feathers. Modern mattresses usually contain either an innerspring core or materials such as latex, viscoelastic, or other polyurethane-type foams. Mattresses may also be filled with air or water, or a variety of natural fibres, such as in futons. For other uses, see Spring. ... This article is about the typesetting system. ... Viscoelasticity, also known as anelasticity, describes materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing plastic deformation. ... A polyurethane, commonly abbreviated PU, is any polymer consisting of a chain of organic units joined by urethane links. ... Sea foam on the beach Foam on a cappuccino Fire-retardant, foamed plastic being used as a temporary dam for firestop mortar in a cable penetration in a pulp and paper mill on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ...

History

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Photo on a 1940 USDA circular promoting home production of cotton mattresses

• Neolithic period: The mattress and bed are invented. Beds are raised off the ground to avoid drafts, dirt, and pests. The first mattress probably consists of a pile of leaves, grass, or possibly straw, with animal skins over it.
• 3600 B.C.: Beds made of goatskins filled with water are used in Persia.
• 3400 B.C.: Egyptians sleep on palm boughs heaped in the corners of their homes.
• 200 B.C.: Mattresses in Ancient Rome consist of bags of cloth stuffed with reeds, hay, or wool; the wealthy use feather stuffing.
• 15th century: During the Renaissance, mattresses are made of pea shucks, straw, or sometimes feathers, stuffed into coarse ticks, and covered with velvets, brocades, or silks.
• 16th and 17th centuries: Mattresses are stuffed with straw or down and placed atop a bed consisting of a timber frame with support latticeworks of rope or leather.
• Early 18th century: Mattresses are stuffed with cotton or wool.
• Mid 18th century: Mattress covers begin to be made of quality linen or cotton. The mattress cane box is shaped or bordered, and fillings include natural fibers such as coconut fibre, cotton, wool, and horsehair. The mattress is tufted or buttoned to attach the stuffing to the cover and the edges are stitched.
• 1855: Tyler Howe patented the the Spring Bed in Spencer, Massachusetts.
• 1857: The steel coil spring is invented and is first patented for use in chair seats.
• 1865: The first coil spring construction for bedding is patented.
• 1871: The German Heinrich Westphal invents the inner spring mattress. He later died in poverty, never having profited from his invention.
• 1873: Sir James Paget presents a waterbed designed by Neil Arnott to St. Bartholomew's Hospital as a treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers.
• 1885: J.P. Leggett patents improvements to the steel coil bedspring. His innovative method of coupling the springs and attaching them to wooden bed slats launched a successful partnership with C.B. Platt, which eventually became Leggett & Platt, Inc.
• 1895: A few waterbeds, which resemble large hot water bottles, are sold via mail order by the British store Harrod’s.
• Late 19th century: The box-spring is invented, making mattresses less lumpy.
• 1900: James Marshall of Simmons Bedding Company invents the pocket coil mattress
• 1906: Sealy Mattress Company forms after buying all patents and knowledge from a local inventor.
• 1929: The most expensive mattresses are constructed of latex rubber and are produced by Dunlopillow.
• 1930s: Innerspring mattresses and upholstered foundations become widely used, and artificial fillers become common. Pocket spring mattresses, which consist of individual springs sewn into linked fabric bags, are introduced.
• 1931: Orders' Mattress is established in South Carolina
• 1940s: The futon is introduced in North America.
• 1950: Sealy introduced the Posturepedic mattress designed in conjunction with Orthopedic surgeons.
• 1950s: Foam rubber mattresses and pillows are available for purchase.
• 1953: Howard Hughes invents first adjustable bed.
• 1958: The Simmons Company introduces the Queen size and King size mattress.
• 1960s: The modern waterbed is introduced and gains its first widespread use with the invention of vinyl. Adjustable beds gain popularity.
• 1970s: NASA invents material that later becomes known as memory foam^[2].
• 1971: Selther is established in Mexico City.
• 1980s: Air mattresses constructed of Vulcanized Rubber or vinyl are introduced.
• 1981: Comfortaire invents the air bed mattress with remote control.
• 1987: Select Comfort creator of the Sleep Number is introduced in North America.
• 1992: Tempur-Pedic introduces a mattress made from memory foam.
• 2003: Zero Gravity Bed introduces changeable and replaceable components in their adjustable mattresses.
• 2005: Selther introduces in Mexico, Latin America and the US a mattress made from dispersion chambers and latex foam known as Flotek.
• 2007: Park Place Corporation invents a aroma therapy mattress infused with lavender.

Copied from http://www. ... Copied from http://www. ... USDA redirects here. ... An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. ... A goatskin is a container for wine, so called for being traditionally made of goatskin. ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... For other uses, see number 200. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... This article is about the European Renaissance of the 14th-17th centuries. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700 in the Gregorian calendar. ... The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. ... Fiber or fibre[1] is a class o f materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. ... Year 1855 (MDCCCLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1865 (MDCCLXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Sir James Paget (1814-1899) was a British surgeon and pathologist who is best remembered for Pagets disease and who is considered, together with Rudolf Virchow, as one of the founders of scientific medical pathology. ... A waterbed or water mattress is a bed or mattress filled with water. ... Neil Arnott (b. ... Bedsores, also called pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, are ulcers (sores) caused by prolonged pressure or rubbing on vulnerable areas of the body. ... Leggett & Platt (L&P) (NYSE: LEG) is a manufacturer that specializes in bedding components, home furniture components, foam, fiber, non-fashion construction fabrics, ornamental beds, steel bedding support, coated fabrics, adjustable beds, carpet underlay, steel wire, aluminum products such as aluminum grills, chair parts, shelving racks, lighting fixtures, display fixtures... Leggett & Platt (L&P) (NYSE: LEG) is a manufacturer that specializes in bedding components, home furniture components, foam, fiber, non-fashion construction fabrics, ornamental beds, steel bedding support, coated fabrics, adjustable beds, carpet underlay, steel wire, aluminum products such as aluminum grills, chair parts, shelving racks, lighting fixtures, display fixtures... Harrods is an upmarket department store on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London. ... A box-spring is a hard sturdy wooden frame, covered in cloth, containing springs or some other form of torsion. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Sealy Mattress Company is a major mattress manufacture. ... The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known as the [[. In East Asia, the rise of militarism occurred. ... A futon in Japan A futon in the U.S. A futon )   is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. ... Chemical structure of the vinyl functional group. ... For other uses, see NASA (disambiguation). ... How memory foam reacts to heat Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals that add to its viscosity level, thereby increasing its density. ... Nickname: Location of Mexico City Coordinates: , Country Federal entity Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded c. ... An air mattress is an inflatable mattress, usually made of plastic or textile-reinforced plastic or rubber. ... Select Comfort (NASDAQ: SCSS) is the leading U.S. manufacturer of adjustable firmness air mattresses and the creator of the Sleep Number bed. ... Tempur-Pedic International, Inc. ... How memory foam reacts to heat Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals that add to its viscosity level, thereby increasing its density. ...

Mattress dimensions

Most mattresses have a thickness from 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm).

Components of an innerspring mattress

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

A common innerspring mattress consists of three components: the spring core, the foundation, and the upholstery layers.

Spring mattress core

The core of the mattress supports the sleeper’s body. Modern spring mattress cores, often called "innersprings," are made up of steel coil springs, or "coils." A compression coil spring A tension coil spring A selection of conical coil springs A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces. ...

The gauge of the coils is another factor which determines firmness and support. Coils are measured in quarter increments. The lower the number, the thicker the spring. In general, higher-quality mattress coils have a 14-gauge (1.63 mm) diameter. Coils of 14 to 15.5-gauge (1.63 to 1.37 mm) give more easily under pressure, while a 12.5-gauge (1.94 mm) coil, the thickest typically available, feels quite firm. American wire gauge (AWG), also known as the Brown and Sharpe wire gauge, is used in the United States and other countries as a standard method of denoting wire diameter, especially for nonferrous, electrically conducting wire. ...

Connections between the coils help the mattress retain its shape. Most coils are connected by interconnecting wires; pocketed coils are not connected, but the pockets preserve the mattress shape.

There are four different types of mattress coils:

• Bonnell coils are the oldest and most common. First adapted from buggy seat springs of the 19th century, they are still prevalent in less expensive mattresses. Bonnell coils are hourglass-shaped, and the ends of the wire are knotted or wrapped around the top and bottom circular portion of the coil and self-tied.
• Marshall coils, also called "pocketed coils," are each wrapped in a fabric encasement and usually are tempered, or in the case of the Simmons Beautyrest carbon magnesium is added. Some manufacturers pre-compress these coils, which makes the mattress firmer and allows for motion separation between the sides of the bed.
• Offset coils are designed to hinge, thus conforming to body shape. They are very sturdy, stable innersprings that provide great support.
• Continuous coils Or Mira-coils, Work by a hinging effect, similar to that of offset coils. In a basic sense a continuous coil is simply that, one continuous coil in and up and down fashion forming one row (usually from head to toe) of what appear to be individual coils. The advantages of how firm a support the continuous coil provides it is somewhat tempered with the 'noise' associated from a typical mira coil unit.

A horse and buggy circa 1910 The horse and buggy was a carriage drawn by a horse. ...

Air mattresses

Air mattresses use one or more air chambers instead of springs to provide support. Quality and price can range from inexpensive ones used occasionally for camping, all the way up to high-end luxury beds. Air mattresses designed for typical bedroom use cost about the same as inner-spring mattresses with comparable features.

Several companies currently produce adjustable firmness air mattresses. In 1981, Comfortaire began manufacturing and marketing air mattresses that looked conventional but allowed users to adjust the firmness. Select Comfort patented a variant and began marketing them in 1987.

Adjustable air mattresses come in a variety of models from basic, no-frills ones that measure about 7" in height, to high-profile, 15" tall hybrids that contain several types of foam, pillow tops, and digital pumps with memory, for individual pressure settings.

Air bladder construction varies from a simple polyethylene bag to internally baffled, multiple chambers of latex (vulcanized rubber) with bonded cotton exteriors. Mattresses have a layer of foam above the air chambers for added cushioning. The air chambers, top and sidewall foam all sit inside a removable two piece cover that looks like the outside of a standard innerspring mattress. These high-end luxury Air Beds are also known as soft sided Air Beds.

Medical versions of these adjustable firmness mattresses have even greater control mechanisms which include features like frequently changing pressure to prevent bed sores.

Foam mattresses

Foam mattresses use shape-conforming latex or viscoelastic memory foam rather than springs to provide support. Mattresses manufactured using memory foam or latex are generally hypoallergenic.^{[citation needed]} Since foam varies in quality, prices can vary widely. Most name brand mattress manufacturers offer a line of memory foam mattresses. This article is about the typesetting system. ... How memory foam reacts to heat Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals that add to its viscosity level, thereby increasing its density. ... Look up hypoallergenic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Foundation

There are three main types of foundations.

• Box-springs consist of a rigid frame which contains extra-heavy-duty springs. This type of foundation contributes to softer support and a bouncier mattress. Because box-springs can cause mattresses to sag, many manufacturers add high-density block foam underneath the coils or provide a rigid foundation instead.

• Traditional wood foundations are usually made of soft woods, such as pine, or hard woods, such as poplar. They usually consist of seven or eight support slats covered with cardboard or beaverboard. This type of foundation, called a zero deflection unit or an "Ortho Box" in the bed industry, increases the feeling of firmness and stability.

• Grid foundations are a combination of steel and wood.

This article is about woody plants of the genus Populus. ... Cardboard is a generic non-specific term for a heavy duty paper based product. ...

Upholstery layers

Upholstery layers cover the mattress and provide cushioning and comfort. Some manufacturers call the mattress core the "support layer" and the upholstery layer the "comfort layer." The upholstery layer consists of three parts: the insulator, the middle upholstery, and the quilt.

The insulator separates the mattress core from the middle upholstery. It is usually made of fiber or mesh and is intended to keep the middle upholstery in place.

The middle upholstery comprises all the material between the insulator and the quilt. It is usually made from materials which are intended to provide comfort to the sleeper, including regular foam, viscoelastic foam, felt, polyester fibers, cotton fibers, convoluted (“egg-crate”) foam, and non-woven fiber pads.

The quilt is the top layer of the mattress. Made of light foam or fibers stitched to the underside of the ticking, it provides a soft surface texture to the mattress and can be found in varying degrees of firmness. The protective fabric cover which encases the mattress is called ticking. It is usually made to match the foundation and comes in a wide variety of colors and styles. Most ticking is made of synthetic fibers like polyester, or acrylic; or of natural materials such as latex, cotton, silk, and wool.

Quality

Many parameters determine mattress quality. Laboratory test methods have been established for some of these parameters, such as pressure distribution, skin microclimate, hygiene, edge support, and long-term stability. Many of these have been developed by Dr. Duncan Bain, working on behalf of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.^[4] The logo of the MHRA. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe. ...

Other parameters, such as firmness, are more specific to the sleeper. In general, firm mattresses are recommended for stomach and some back sleepers, soft mattresses are recommended for side sleepers, and medium mattresses are recommended for the majority of back sleepers. Some brands offer mattresses with one softer side and one firmer side, or with adjustable firmness levels, to accommodate sleepers who share a bed.

Mattresses in hospitals

"Not all the anti-decubitus mattresses really succeed in reducing the interface pressure. The foam and gel mattresses have no or limited pressure reducing qualities. The polyether mattress and especially the polyurethane slow foam mattress reduce pressure best and are preferable in the prevention of pressure ulcers on an operating table. None of the mattresses tested reduced the pressure sufficiently in lateral position."[1]

Maintenance and care

A quality innerspring mattress should last between 10 and 15 years before it needs to be replaced. Memory foam and latex models should last between 15 and 20 years depending on the manufacturer and the quality of the bedding. This is an approximation, as many different things may factor into the lifespan one may expect to receive from their mattress.

Mattresses should be placed atop a firm base to prevent sagging. Mattresses should be rotated approximately once every three months to ensure even wear; in addition, two sided mattresses should be turned over (flipped) twice per year. Folding and bending of the mattress should be avoided if possible, as should heavy wear in one spot and excessive weight on the handles. Mattresses should not be soaked, lest mildew develop inside the upholstery; instead, they can be cleaned with a vacuum or with mild surface cleanser and a slightly damp cloth. Mattress Protectors help prevent stains and soiling of the ticking. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Once a mattress no longer feels supportive and instead seems to contribute to body pain or stiffness, it should be replaced. Some symptoms of a broken or worn out mattress include springs which can be felt poking through the upholstery layer, visible permanent sagging or deformity, lumpiness, and excessive squeaking.

See also

• Bed
• Bed frame
• Bedding
• Cushion
• International Sleep Products Association
• Law label – The "Under Penalty of Law" label
• Mattress protector
• Platform bed
• Selther
• Sleep
• Standard sizes of commercial bedding
• TEMPUR
• Underpad

For other uses, see Bed (disambiguation). ... A bed frame or bedstead is the part of a bed used to position a mattress or box spring set off from the ground. ... Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for warmth. ... Cushion: makes a lounge or rug softer A cushion (from Old French coisson, coussin; from Latin culcita, a quilt), is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments. ... A law label is the term used by the United States mattress, upholstery and stuffed article (eg: pillows, plush toys, Comforters, etc) industry for the legally required tag or label on new items describing the fabric and filling. ... Platform beds are beds whose base consists of a raised, flat, hard, horizontal surface meant to support a mattress. ... For other uses, see Sleep (disambiguation). ... Modern manufacturing conventions have resulted in a limited number of standard sizes of commercial bedding for mattresses and box springs. ... TEMPUR is the material originally developed by NASA to relieve the pressure built up from the G-Force experienced by astronauts during lift offs. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mattress protector. ...

Notes

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