subject: Modern Spring Mattresses [print this page] Mattresses are used to support the sleepers body and one of the most popular types of modern mattresses is the spring mattress. Modern spring mattresses are also called inner spring mattresses and are manufactured using steel coils. These coils are used to absorb body pressure during sleep and the gauge of these coils determines both the firmness and support offered by each individual mattress.
Mattress Coils
Mattress coils are an essential part of most modern mattresses and they are measured in quarter increments. This means that the lower the number used to indicate the coil type, the thicker the actual spring coil is. A good rule of thumb is that the best quality mattress coils will be about a gauge 14 inches diameter. This works out to be 1.63mm and offers the best mattress support and firmness.
Other mattress coil gauges are also available, but these are not as good as the 14-gauage coils. The reason for this is that coils of of over 14 inches give more easily under pressure, while coils that are under 14 inches tend to be too firm.
If a modern coil mattress is cut open it can be seen that there are connections between each coil. This is there more for the retention of shape than to add additional mattress support. Encased coils however differ from this in that they are not connected and the actual fabric used to manufacture the mattress preserves the mattress shape.
Different Types of Mattress Coils
In modern mattresses there are four types of mattress coils currently in use. These coils types are:
Bonnell Mattress Coils
These types of mattress coils are the oldest and most widely used coils around. They have changed little over the years and were first introduced in the late 19th century. These types of mattress coils are still found in mid-priced mattresses around the world.
Marshall Mattress Coils
Marshall mattress coils, also known within the bed and mattress manufacturing industry as wrapped, encased or pocketed mattress coils. They are thin-gauge coils with a barrel shape and each individual coil is encased in a pockets built into the mattress faric.
Offset Mattress Coils
Offset mattress coils have an hourglass shape on which have flat bottom and top convolutions (convolutions are the part of the coil that are folded or coiled). Each falt segment of the coil is hinged together with a helical wire that is designed to increase comfort as it conforms to body shape.
Continues Mattress Coils
Continues mattress coils use an innerspring configuration with rows of mattress coils that are formed from a single piece of wire. They are similar to offset mattress coils in the way that they respond to pressure.
