New L&P coil cushions top of mattress
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, June 22, 2009
Carthage, Mo. — Leggett & Platt has introduced a 2.5-inch tall coil designed to provide comfort on the top of a mattress.
The Softech coil comfortably cushions a sleeper while individually maintaining its original feel longer than traditional foam or fiber toppers, L&P officials said.
Engineers at Leggett & Platt's IDEA (Innovation, Design, Engineering, and Acceleration) Center designed the Softech coil from a thin-gauge wire made from recycled steel. They discovered that the tiny pocketed innersprings react like a pillow at a high coil count in that they conform, support and respond to a sleeper's body. In addition, the construction of the small, individually pocketed Softech coils minimizes disturbances by reducing motion transfer from partner to partner, according to L&P.
"Softech takes advantage of the comfort-inducing effects of coiled steel as a compressible, responsive element," said Tom Wells Jr., director of engineering strategy and technical support for Leggett & Platt. "The coils have a smaller diameter and a lighter gauge than standard innerspring wires. Using approximately 5.5 turns per coil, we're able to increase material efficiency in a vertical, flexible dimension."
Durability and longevity in bed toppers is an increasingly important issue to mattress shoppers, L&P said. Some foam and upholstery toppers compress or lose their comfort layer quickly, according to the company. In contrast, L&P said, the average lifespan of a Softech topper provides years of comfort without body impressions.
Softech's is also less costly than the high-density cushioning of some visco or latex comfort layers, according to L&P.
The introduction of the 2.5-inch Softech coil comes on the heels of L&P's Superlastic PRO, one of the tallest coils used in bedding manufacturing. The 7-inch PRO is a three-turn, alternating continuous coil system that can increase mattress profile height at a reduced cost to manufacturers and retailers, L&P said.
"We see an emerging trend of customizing a sleep set's vertical profile by using a variety of innerspring heights," said Wells. "Mattress shoppers want it all — the plush look of a pillow top, the comforting feel of Active Support technology, and all at an affordable price. Softech offers each of these."
L&P debuts Superlastic PRO
05/10/2008L&P offers high-profile innerspring
05/06/2008
