MATTRESS STRUCTURE

A mattress comprises a support plate having a plurality of mounting holes, a plurality of independent spring assemblies individually mounted to the support plate, and a cover enclosing the support plate and the plurality of spring assemblies. Each of the spring assemblies includes a tubular mounting member fixed to the support plate preferably by snap-fit through a mounting hole in the support plate, a sliding cap axially movable relative to the mounting member, and a spring acting between the mounting member and the sliding cap, wherein the spring is axially compressible when the sliding cap is forced in an axial direction toward the support plate. A spacer of chosen length can be provided to set preload on the spring. In a "flippable" embodiment, the mounting member includes a mid-portion snap-fitted to the support plate and upper and lower portions each having a sliding cap associated therewith, wherein the spring acts between the two sliding caps. In yet another embodiment, the sliding cap is replaced by a bellows attached to the mounting member.