Educated, Expert Advice and an Unbeatable Price.
Premium American Therapedic Mattresses.
Come In And Get A Beducation®!
|
 Check out our great reviews on Angie's List.
|
Air Bed - A type of mattress that uses air chambers for support instead of an innerspring or foam core. Some air mattresses offer controls to adjust comfort by adding and removing air.
Allergens - Certain substances that may cause allergic reactions to susceptible people upon contact. Mildew, dust and latex are known allergens. Some foams are made to be dust- and mildew-resistant for allergy sufferers. There have been no known cases of allergic reactions to mattresses featuring latex foams.
Alignment - The proper position and balance of the spine. A supportive mattress aids in proper spinal alignment and helps alleviate backaches.
Anti-microbial - Term used to identify foams and fibers that have been treated to prevent accumulation of dust mites, molds and other bacteria.
Bed Frame - A frame that supports the mattress and its foundation. For full, queen and king mattresses, it is recommended to use a frame with a center support that extends the entire length of the mattress.
Beducation® - A bed education. A unique grouping of educational materials, namely manuals, forms, handouts and videos, relating to mattresses and bedding materials. Specifically created by Mattress to Go.
Blowing - The process by which flexible polyurethane is foamed during production. In all cases, blowing occurs when water and TDI react to form CO2. [Also see Auxiliary Blowing Agent (ABA).]
Board Foot - A unit of foam measurement equal to a square foot of material one inch in thickness.
Body Impressions - Minor indentations formed on the surface of the mattress resulting from comfort layers contouring to the sleeper's body. To refresh the comfort layers, rotate your mattress monthly.
Body Pressure Points - Areas on the body where pressure builds up, typically the shoulders and hips. The result is uncomfortable pain or numbness that causes a sleeper to toss and turn. Tossing and turning does not promote a restful sleep.
Border - The term used to describe the side or perimeter of the mattress.
Border Rod - A wire used around the perimeter of a mattress to help the innerspring maintain its shape, while maintaining a firmer edge for sitting.
Box Spring - The bottom piece of your sleep set. It is usually a foundation made of wood and steel, designed to support a mattress. It is recommended to replace your box spring when purchasing a new mattress.
BoxTop - A type of mattress where the top layers of foam are made into what is essentially a mini-mattress, and this is attached to the base part of the mattress in a pillowtop fashion via a gusset and inner panel. Usually found on very plush mattresses that contain multiple layers of plush padding material.
Cast Iron - Made when you raise the carbon content of steel. It is any group of hard heavy alloys of iron containing more carbon than steel, and cast into a specific shape when molten. It is non-malleable. It contains 2% - 4.5% carbon, .5% - 3% silicone and lesser amounts of sulfur, manganese and phosphorus.
Catalyst - A chemical that changes the rate of reaction of a chemical process, but is not consumed or produced during the reaction. (Catalysts are required for foam production to balance rates of competing reactions and to attain desired physical properties.)
Cell - The cavity remaining in the structure of flexible polyurethane foam surrounded by polymer membranes or the polymer skeleton after blowing is complete.
Closed Cells - Foam cells having intact cell membranes thereby reducing or eliminating passageways for airflow.
Closed Cell Foam - This is flotation style foam, where the cell structure is completely closed.
Closed Pour - The case in molded foam production in which the mold lid is closed and locked and the foaming mixture is introduced through one or more special ports in the lid of the mold.
Coil Count - The total number of coils in an innerspring mattress. Usually interchanged with spring count; however, a coil actually represents a complete turn of wire within a spring.
Cold Molding - Molding process for the production of high-resiliency foam in which the foam is cured at or near room (ambient) temperature. Pouring is carried out without adding heat.
Comfort - An individual's preference based on the feel, support and conformance of the mattress. Many factors affect comfort, like the sleeper's weight and sleep position, the environment and the mattress construction.
Comfort: Foam - The ability of the cushioning structure to deflect at the surface and to conform to body shape, preventing a concentration of pressure on the body without bottoming out.
Comfort Layers - The quilting and upholstery layers that determine mattress comfort. The thickness, types of foams and fibers, and the order in which they are combined all affect the feel.
Comfort Life - The length of time a mattress will provide you with the proper support and your individual comfort.
Compression Set - A permanent partial loss of initial height of a flexible polyurethane foam sample after compression due to a bending or collapse of the cell framework within the foam sample. A high value of compression set will cause a flexible polyurethane foam cushion to quickly lose its original appearance with use, leaving its surface depressed or "hollowed out". Compression set is measured in the lab by compressing a foam sample 90% of its thickness (or down to 10% of its original thickness) and holding it at 70 degrees C (or 158 degrees F) for 22 hours. Compression set is most commonly expressed as a percentage of original compression. Other deflections, times, and temperatures can be used.
Conformance - The response to a sleeper's body. Optimum conformance is achieved when the sleeper has proper spinal alignment.
Continuous Coil - An innerspring construction in which each row of coils is made from one piece of wire.
Convoluted Foam - Also known as "egg-crate" foam because of its unique shape, its design is intended to allow for greater body conformance. A foam fabrication process involving the use of a special cutting equipment to produce a foam sheet with dimples. The base under the dimples can be varied in thickness. Peaks can be produced from 1/2" to over 4" in height. Foam dimples can be produced in a number of shapes including egg-like designs, waves, squares or sharply-defined points.
Core - The support system inside a mattress: typically an innerspring unit or foam.
Corner Guards - A plastic or metal fitting attached to the four corners of the foundation for protection.
Cover - Also known as ticking, it is the fabric surrounding the mattress.
Damask - A mattress cover that features a design woven into a thick fabric. Belgian and Jacquard are two types of premium Damask fabrics.
Density - the weight in pounds of a 1 cubic foot piece of foam.
Discoloration - The gradual yellowing of foam due to a photochemical reaction. It is faster in sunlight than in artificial light, although it occurs in both. Fresh foam may discolor in the center of the block as a result of thermal or chemical events. (Does not affect physical properties.)
Double Bed - Another name for a full or standard size mattress. Measures 54" x 74".
Dunlop Process - The old-style process of making latex, where the foam is mixed and poured into a mold where it hardens and is then sliced into sheets.
Durability - As applied to flexible foams, the term refers to how well a foam retains its load bearing capacity and shape with use. Most measures of durability are done with laboratory-scale tests.
Eurotop - A small extra side panel added to the top of a mattress via an additional tape edge, to allow extra padding material to be added to the mattress while minimizing roll-off. Differs from a pillowtop in that a eurotop does not contain an inner panel separator layer.
Filled Foam - The addition of inorganic materials such as marble dust, barium sulfate, silica or clay, in foam to increase the density. Fillers are often added to increase the Support Factor. Filled polyurethane foam may be inappropriate for some applications, if the polymer content of the filled foam is not sufficient for the intended application before fillers are added. The fillers are not chemically bonded into the foam polymer. They are instead mechanically trapped within the molecular structure of the polymer. Filled foams with low polymer content or a high percentage of filler material tend to have less strength and durability.
Firmness - A general term used to describe a range of mattress surface feels. The four common firmness ranges are firm, cushion firm, plush and ultra plush.
Foam - A common mattress component that can be used for comfort, durability and, in some cases, as the support layer. There are a variety of foam technologies, using different formulas, unique designs and various densities. A lightweight cellular material resulting from the introduction of gas bubbles into a reacting polymer.
Foam Encasing - Additional foam support around the perimeter of the mattress that provides a firm sitting edge and expands the usable sleep surface, minimizing the feeling of roll-off when you approach the edge of the bed.
Foundation - See box spring.
FR Compliant - As of 2007, all mattresses manufactured and imported in the U.S. are required to pass strict flammability rules. Review the mattress tag to confirm compliance. For more information, visit the Consumer Products Safety Council.
Full - A mattress measuring 54" x 74".
Gauge - The measurement of the thickness of the wire used in a spring. A lower gauge number equates to a heavier wire; a higher gauge is a thinner wire.
Hand - Is the feel of the foam as the hand is rubbed lightly over the surface. For most furniture, bedding and textile applications, foam having a stiff or hard feel to the touch is described as having poor hand. In home furnishings, foam with a good hand has a springy, velvet feel, while abrasive pads, firm filler, and some packaging require a hand that is quite the opposite.
Hypoallergenic - Term used to describe certain foams, fibers or fabrics that reduce allergens.
Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) - Measures the softness/firmness of foam. A 15" x 15" x 4" piece of foam is compressed 25% of its original height, and the force required to indent the foam this distance is measured in pounds. The higher the ILD, the harder the foam. Also referred to as the IFD (Indention Force Deflection).
King - A mattress measuring 76" x 80".
Knit - A type of mattress cover fabric that is knitted rather than woven and has a soft feel.
Laminating - The bonding of layers of foam and/or other materials together into a single composite. This may be accomplished through adhesives or through heat processes like flame lamination.
Latex Foam - A vulcanized rubber foam derived naturally from rubber trees. Latex foam is naturally anti-microbial and resistant to dust mites. It is the only foam that provides both support and conformance. May be 100% natural, 100% man-made or a combination of both.
Low-Profile Foundation - A shorter height box spring (foundation) used to lower the overall height of a sleep set.
Marshall Coils - Springs individually wrapped in cloth, usually glued together in rows to create an innerspring unit. Also referred to as pocketed coils.
Memory Foam - See Visco Elastic Memory Foam.
Motion Disturbance - A term used to define the movement one feels from their sleep partner getting out of bed or moving in bed. Many technologies work to minimize motion disturbance.
Non-Prorated Warranty - This type of warranty covers full repair or replacement of a defective mattress for the entire length of the warranty period.
Open-Cell Foam - Generally latex and polyurethane foam. The foam cell structure is not closed and is very breathable, and is not temperature sensitive. A permeable structure in flexible foam in which there is no barrier between cells, and gases or liquids can pass through the foam. Most cell walls have been ruptured to varying extent.
Pillowtop Mattress - A type of mattress that features an inner panel and gusset allowing additional layers of comfort to be added to a mattress. Generally used to help minimize edge roll-off of more thickly padded mattresses.
Plush - Describes a mattress with a soft feel.
Pocketed Coils - See Marshall Coils.
Polyurethane - Generally, a polymer connected by urethane groups. Urethane linkage and its supplements result from the reaction of polyol with isocyanate.
Pressure Points - See body pressure points.
Prorated Warranty - A warranty that does not cover the full purchase price or replacement value after a certain period of time.
Queen - A mattress measuring 60" x 80".
Quilt - The top layers of padding in the mattress, consisting of foam and fibers stitched directly to the panel fabric.
Recovery Time - A term referring to the amount of time it takes a specific foam to return to its original shape once pressure has been applied. Visco memory foam has a long recovery time, whereas the recovery of latex foam is immediate.
Resilience - An indicator of the surface elasticity or "springiness" of foam. It is measured by dropping a steel ball onto the foam cushion and measuring how high the ball rebounds.
Rotate - To turn your mattress. It is recommended that you do so once a month to help renew the comfort layers and maintain optimum performance.
Semi-Closed Cell Foam - Generally this is visco-elastic memory foam. this foam is temperature sensitive. The cell structure is almost closed, but with small openings in the cell wall.
Semi-Flex - A foundation that uses a combination of wood and a wire grid to support the mattress. Semi-Flex foundations generally maintain a flat, firm surface.
Sleep Set - A mattress and box spring.
Single-Sided Mattress - A mattress construction that has been designed with only one sleep surface, thus eliminating the need to flip your mattress.
Spring Count - The total number of individual springs within a mattress. Commonly confused with coil count.
Spring-on-Spring - A specific mattress construction that features an innerspring unit with a second similar or smaller unit placed on top.
Springs - Wire shaped into spirals to provide support and resistance when weight is applied. A spring consists of coils, or the individual turns within the spring.
Steel - A variety of iron, intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron. Steel can be tempered and retains magnetism. Steel contains between .5% and 1.5% carbon (carbon being the major alloying material), not more than 1.65% manganese .6% silicon and .6% copper. It can also contain chromium, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium and other metals. Nickel is added for tensile strength. Chromium increases hardness. Vanadium increases hardness while reducing the effects of metal fatigue. Sulfur and phosphorus create gaps in steel and are commonly removed from the ore to create a better steel. Mild steel contains less than .25% carbon; medium steel contains .25% - .45% carbon; high carbon steel contains between .45% - 1.5% carbon. When you increase the content of carbon in steel, it becomes less malleable and more fusible. Adding more carbon to the steel turns it into cast iron.
Supersoft Foam - Foams that have an IFD measurement within the 4 to 10 pound range having a comparable feel to fiber.
Talalay Process - A more modern way of making latex foam, where the liquid material is injected into a mold that is then vacuumed sealed and flash frozen, then heated and cured. This creates a foam which is very consistent and easily produced in a wide range of ILDs (softness).
Tape Edge - A sewn seam along the edges of the mattress that attaches the top and side panels, and encases the comfort and support layers.
TDI - An abbreviation for toluene diioscyanate.
Tempering - The process of giving the requisite hardness or softness to a substance, such as steel. Usually accomplished through heating. Some innerspring units are tempered twice to resist fatigue and to help maintain their shape over time.
Ticking - The fabric that encases the mattress and the foundation.
Tight Top - A mattress type that does not have an inner panel and an extra gusset to contain the upholstery padding material.
Tufting - Hand tufting pre-compresses the foam layers and support layers of a mattress by running a very stout cord through the entire mattress, from the top quilt panel through to the bottom of the mattress. This helps prevent body impressions and lends toward a more solid nature of the mattress.
Twin - A mattress measuring 38" x 74". Also referred to as a single.
Upholstery - These are the layers of foam and cushioning materials placed on top of the innerspring unit and beneath the quilt panel.
Urethane - Actually a misnomer as applied to polyurethane foam. A colorless, crystalline substance used primarily in medicines, pesticides, and fungicides. Urethane is not used in the production of urethane polymers or foams. The urethanes of the plastics industry are so named because the repeating units of their structures resemble the chemical urethane.
Visco Elastic Memory Foam - Also known as memory foam or visco memory foam, it is a motion-deadening material that has been applied to the mattress industry. The foam responds to the sleeper's temperature, getting softer as the foam gets warmer.
Warranty - A statement by the manufacturer that indicates under what terms they will fix and replace a mattress. Warranties can be wither prorated or non-prorated.
Wrought Iron - A mixture of refined metallic iron with 1% - 3% siliceous slag. It is easily welded and forged. It has less carbon than steel, making it easier to shape, but is not as strong as steel.
Zoning - A term used to describe areas on a mattress that have been reinforced with additional support or padding. Zoning is often found through the center third of the mattress.
