Glossary
Have you ever wondered about some of the technical or specialist terms used in our Mattress Shop? We've built a glossary of easy-to-understand definitions to help you..
A-D
- Allergens
- Dust and other substances that can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Foam is often a good choice for allergy sufferers, especially if the foam is mildew and dust-resistant. Be on the lookout for mattresses that are part of our SEARS-O-PEDIC® Wellness Series.
- Bed Support
- The bed rails and frame that help prevent the mattress from warping, twisting or sagging.
- Border Wires
- Heavy-gauge wires that help the mattress retain its shape and increase its durability.
- Box Spring
- A foundation that has cone-shaped wire coils. These wire coils provide a soft feel.
- Chintz
- A glazed, plain weave cotton fabric, generally woven with hard spun fine warp and coarser, slack twist filling.
- Chiropractic® Mattress System
- Endorsed by the Canadian Chiropractic Association for providing correct back support. Chiropratic® is the registered trademark of Springwall Sleep Products International Inc.
- Comfort Zone
- The layers of upholstery between the support system and the ticking of the mattress.
- Continuous Coil
- A mattress construction in which a single wire is formed into a row of coils. Also called integrated coil.
- Corner Guard
- Made of plastic, its purpose is to protect the corners of the foundation.
- Damask
- A rich, silky fabric with woven floral designs. Made of linen, cotton, wool, worsted silk, rayon, acetate and other man-made fibres.
- Edge Guards
- Heavy-gauge wires at the mattress edges that help prevent sagging edges. They also increase the usable sleeping surface and maintain structural integrity.
- Foundation
- The bottom component of a sleep set that transfers and distributes the weight of the mattress.
- Frame
- The structural system that supports a sleep set, often including the headboard, footboard and rails.
- Helical
- A small coil wire used to join inner spring coils together.
- Innerspring Mattress
- A mattress with wire coils as its support system.
- Independent Coil
- A mattress construction that uses individually-wrapped coils. Coils move independently of each other, so if your partner moves, you are less likely to be disturbed. Also called pocket-coil.
- Integrated Coil
- A coil system that distributes your body weight evenly across the mattress, supporting and cushioning the shoulders, back, hips and legs.
- Modular Coil/Modular Grid
- Also known as a torsion grid, this refers to a square wire coil used in foundations to absorb weight and reduce lateral sway.
- Offset Coil
- A wire coil similar to an open coil, but with squared ends.
- Open Coil
- This is an hourglass-shaped wire coil.
- Pillow top
- The semi-attached foam layer at the top of a mattress that provides additional softness and support.
- Pocket-Coil
- A cylindrical wire coil that is wrapped in its own cloth sleeve.
- Posture Box
- A foundation that has no wire coil support system. It is made entirely of wood.
- Posture Zone
- Added support in the centre third of an innerspring mattress. This added support is from either the use of heavier gauge coil, the use of more coils or the use of firmer upholstery layers.
- Semi-Flex
- A foundation with a grid of wires that firmly supports a mattress.
- Support
- Several things are referred to as support:
- The support system of a mattress, such as coils or foam
- The structure that supports the sleep set, such as a bed frame
- The foundation of a sleep set that supports the mattress
- The level of firmness provided to the user
- Support System
- The basic supporting structure of the mattress. This structure could consist of various types of wire coils, foam, water or air.
- Ticking
- The fabric covering of a mattress or foundation.
- Upholstery Layers
- The foam, padding and fibres used between the support system and ticking of a mattress to provide cushioning and comfort (see What to Look For in a Mattress - Comfort).