Glossary

Abrasion Resistance

This term refers to the ability of a fabric to withstand the wear and rubbing related to normal use.

Bedding

Generally refers to mattresses and box springs. However, can be used to describe any type of product manufactured for sleeping upon.

Bed frame

A metal or other type of frame that supports a bedding set. Usually, headboards can be attached to the frame.

Bed rails

Metal or wood frames that connect the headboard and footboard together and also support the mattress set

Body impressions

Usually in the center of the bed, these depressions in the upholstery layers should recover over time and can be minimized by rotating and flipping the mattress. These are considered normal but should not exceed 1-1/2" on each side.

Bonnell Coil

An hourglass shaped mattress coil usually with five turns; cylindrical and the top and bottom, and tapered in the center.

Border Rod

The heavy wire that forms the outer perimeter of an innerspring product. The rod is normally attached to the outermost coils and helical ends.

Box Spring

The bottom piece of a mattress set. Engineered with heavier, modular coils to support the mattress. Think of it as a suspension system not unlike your car has. Shock put on the mattress coils are absorbed by the box spring, prolonging the life of your mattress.

Cambrick

Non-woven cloth that covers the bottom of the box spring unit. Also called a "dust cover".

Carbon

The major hardening element in steel. The higher the carbon content, the stronger the steel is.

Cellulose

This carbohydrate comprises the chief framework of plant cells and walls. It is the basis of rayon. Used in Tuflex padding.

Center Support

A steel or wood span that runs horizontally or vertically through the center of the bed frame. Required for most warranties.

Channel Quilt

Stitching in lines parallel to the length or width of the fabric.

Coil Count

The number of coils in a mattress, usually based on the FULL size unit.

Coirtex

Coconut fibers intertwined with synthetic rubber latex. Coirtex "breathes", i.e. it lets air enter and escape. Like Tuflex, Coirtex is odorless and mildew resistant. It is also inherently bacteria-free, and prohibits microbiological growth. The more Coirtex pads, the firmer the mattress will be.

Comfort Level

Refers to the degree of firmness or softness a mattress is designed to have.

Cone-Shaped Coil

Used in box springs. These coils are wide at the top, and pointed at the base. The special cone-shaped design allows even compression over the entire coil.

Continuous Quilt

Multi-needle quilting featuring a continuous pattern. The tighter (closer together) the pattern is, the less contouring feel the top will have.

Cover

Also known as ticking. The finished covering of a mattress. Can range from an inexpensive non- woven synthetic to an expensive knit or woven damasks.

Cushioning

Materials above the insulator and below the fabric in an innerspring mattress, normally polyurethane foam and/or cotton felt.

Damask Cover

An expensive, heavy woven fabric used to cover mattresses.

Felt

A product for cushioning, produced from cotton fibers combined and laced together by a "garnet" machine.

Filler

The cushioning material in quilting between the fabric and the backing. Also describes other materials.

Flipping

Refers to the turning over of the mattress so that the top becomes the bottom. Should also be rotated at the same time.

Foundation

Support base for a mattress made without coils and springs. A box spring may also be referred to as a foundation.

Garnett

To separate, straighten and cross-weave fibers.

Gauge

The measure, in thickness, of the wire used in a mattress. The LOWER the gauge, the heavier the wire.

Grid

Wires welded into a lattice to which box spring coils are affixed.

Hand

Refers to the touch and fell of fabrics.

Helical wire

Thin wire spirals that hold adjacent rows of coils together and also holds coils to the border rods. They may run horizontally or vertically.

Insulator

Separates mattress coils from cushioning. Comprised of fiber padding, netting, or wire.

Lacing wire

Helicals formed from finer gauges of wire.

Latex

A natural foam product used for some premium foam mattresses.

Mattress handles

Cords that are usually sewn into the padding that aid in positioning the mattress on the foundation. MOST ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE LIFTING, CARRYING AND FLIPPING OF THE MATTRESS, AND RIPPING ONE COULD VOID YOUR WARRANTY.

Mounting

Box spring attachment to a wood frame.

Offset coil

A mattress coil featuring an hourglass shape. When the rows are attached, the top and bottom sections are squared to fit together in parallel. Sealy Posturepedic® utilizes a form of the offset coil design.

Pillow Top Mattress

In finishing; a thick quilted layer of plush materials is sewn over the entire mattress surface.

Quilting

Any pattern sewn into the mattress ticking. To provide surface softness, the ticking is quilted to urethane foam of varying thickness or to other fiber materials.

Resiliency

The property of foam, fiber, or fabric, to spring back to it's original form.

Resin bonded synthetic pads

A type of insulator material. contains synthetic fiber as a major component. The fibers are sanitized, garneted, and treated with resin. It is then passed through an oven which activates and sets the resin. The end result is a tough but flexible multi-colored pad with loft as well as insulation.

Roll-together

The result of a worn out or defective mattress that sags in the center causing your body to want to roll towards the center.

Rotating

Turning your mattress so that the head of the bed becomes the foot.

Sagging

The loss of firmness and stability in a mattress due to compressed coils and/or defective or worn out upholstery layers.

Slats

Lumber sections that support box spring units within their frames. Also used in complete beds with wood rails and in bunk beds to support the mattress in place of a box spring.

Smooth Top

Industry term used to describe a mattress cover that isn't quilted.

Spiked coil

These springs are used some box springs and are cylindrical in shape, with a wide, flared top. Tight winding provides a firm feel and good support.

Tack and jump quilting

A specialized quilting pattern that starts and stops leaving a tufted surface to the mattress. Designed to add more surface softness to the mattress set.

Tempering

A heat or electronic treatment of mattress coils. Done after the spring unit is constructed. Tempering helps assure that the wires will return to their original shape after compression.

Torsion Bars

Rather than coils, some box springs have lengths of metal that are bent and then set vertically into the frame. The metal is often bent into a "Z" shape. Torsion Bar box springs are firm. Also called a minimal deflection box spring. Not to be confused with a foundation, which has no coils.

Tuflex

A relatively new material made from cellulose (wood) fibers, specially bonded into a blanket that is backed with a polypropylene netting that imparts greater strength and stability. It is odorless, noiseless, and it resists mold and mildew.

Ventilator

Screens of metal or plastic, or eyelets that are attached to the sides of mattresses and allow air to pass through.