MATTRESS STRUCTURE

A mattress (10) comprises a support plate (18) having mounting holes (19), independent spring assemblies (20) individually mounted to the support plate, and a cover (12) enclosing the support plate and spring assemblies. Each of the spring assemblies (20) includes a tubular mounting member (22) fixed to the support plate (18) preferably by snap-fit through a mounting hole (19), a sliding cap (26) axially movable relative to the mounting member, and a spring (30) acting between the mounting member and the sliding cap and being axially compressible when the sliding cap is forced in an axial direction toward the support plate (18). A spacer (28) can be provided to set preload on the spring. In a "flappable" embodiment, the mounting member (422) includes a mid-portion (422A) snap-fitted to the support plate (18) and upper and lower portions (422H, 422J) each having a sliding cap (426, 427), wherein the spring (430) acts between the sliding caps. In another embodiment, the sliding cap (26) is replaced by a bellows (525) attached to the mounting member (522).