Mattress
Mattresses may consist of a quilted or similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, containing materials such as hair, straw, cotton, foam rubber, or a framework of metal springs.
Popular in Europe, a divan[2] incorporates both mattress and foundation in a single upholstered, footed unit.
A third-century BCE papyrus mentions a man named Krotos who is "waiting in Jaffa for an opportunity of exporting... and mattresses.
[6] The oldest known mattress dates to around 77,000 years ago from South Africa and consisted of layers of twigs and leaves, notably including the leaves from Cryptocarya woodii which serves as a natural insect repellent and is believed to have served the additional purpose of repelling mosquitos.
Preventing or reducing the number of mosquito bites would have reduced the chance malaria, which continues to be spread by mosquitos throughout Africa to this day and has been estimated to be the single most common cause of death among humans historically, estimated to have caused the death of roughly half of humans that have ever lived throughout history.
[7] Early mattresses contained a variety of natural materials including straw, feathers or horsehair.
In the first half of the 20th century, a typical mattress sold in North America had an innerspring core and cotton batting or fiberfill.
Modern mattresses usually contain either an inner spring core or materials such as latex, viscoelastic or other flexible polyurethane foams.
Many countries use non-numeric labels such as "King", "Queen", "Double", "Full" or "Single" to represent these dimensions.
But "mattress topper"s are usually sold for use on top of boxsprings (secured with straps or elasticated cloth corners[10]).
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 grid-top design also allows for better weight distribution and can reduce pressure points, which can be beneficial for people with back pain or joint issues.
[17] Additionally, the open design of the foundation can make it easier to move and store compared to bulkier box springs.
More expensive mattress fabrics may contain a combination of polyester with rayon, cotton, silk, wool or other natural yarns.
This was usually a damask ticking or, for inexpensive bedsets, a non-woven fabric covering all surfaces of the mattress and foundation.
A number of mattress manufacturers have incorporated polyurethane and visco-elastic foams with a portion of plant-based content.
These date to antiquity – goatskin bladders filled with water were used in Persia at least as early as 3600 BCE – and gained increased popularity in the 20th century with improved manufacturing.
Laboratory test methods have been established for some of these parameters, such as pressure distribution, skin microclimate, hygiene, edge support, and long-term stability.
Some of these have been developed by Duncan Bain, working on behalf of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Double mattresses are available with a softer and a firmer part, or with adjustable firmness levels, to accommodate sleepers with different preferences who share a bed.
[31] In 2015, a systematic review of studies concluded that medium-firm, custom-inflated mattresses were best for pain and neutral spinal alignment.
These are prevented by proper support, rotation and flipping, keeping it dry, and using a mattress pad or protector.
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.
[41] Simmons, founded in the late 1800s, was bought and sold multiple times and faced bankruptcy after a major decline in the bedding industry in the 2000s.
[42] Originally founded in 1881, the Sealy Corporation was purchased by Tempur-Pedic in 2012, which had introduced an all foam (TEMPUR-Material) brand into the United States in 1992.
[44] In the 2010s, affiliate marketing became a major part of the business model for direct-to-consumer online mattress companies such as Amerisleep.
[45] Later, companies like Casper and Purple, with venture capital and funding followed and helped grow the global mattress industry to $28.5 billion dollar in 2018.
