Mattress core

1. A mattress core arranged to be resiliently compressed for storage in a shipping container, the mattress core comprising:

(a) an inner spring section comprising side sections, end sections, and top and bottom sides;

(b) a crush section coupled to and extending beyond the periphery of the side sections and end sections of the inner spring section, wherein the thickness of the crush section is 15% to 20% of an end to end length of the mattress core, and

(c) top and bottom covering sections attached to the crush section and shaped to overlie and extend beyond the periphery of respective top and bottom sides of the inner spring section, wherein the portions of the top and bottom covering sections that extend beyond the periphery of respective top and bottom sides of the inner spring section comprise outer peripheral edge sections;

wherein the crush section includes top and bottom inner peripheral ledges that are shaped to receive the outer peripheral edge sections of respective ones of the top and bottom covering sections;

wherein the outer peripheral edge sections are coupled to the respective top and bottom inner peripheral ledges by fasteners; and

wherein the crush section is resiliently compressible so as to reduce the end to end length of the mattress core and a side to side width of the mattress core when compressed so that more mattress cores can be stored in a shipping container.

2. The mattress core claimed in claim 1 , wherein the crush section and the inner spring section are resiliently compressible to reduce a top and bottom thickness of the mattress core for transportation.

3. The mattress core claimed in claim 1 , wherein the crush section includes side members and end members overlying respective side and end sections of the inner spring section.

4. The mattress core claimed in claim 3 , wherein opposite end sections of each end member of said end members are coupled to corresponding end sections of the side members by fasteners.

5. The mattress core claimed in claim 4 , wherein the fasteners are adhesives.

6. The mattress core claimed in claim 3 , wherein opposite end sections of each end member of said end members interleave with corresponding end sections of the side members.

7. The mattress core claimed in claim 6 , wherein said opposite end sections of each end member of said end members are coupled to corresponding end sections of the side members with dovetail joints.

8. The mattress core claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are adhesives.

9. The mattress core claimed in claim 1 , wherein a top and bottom thickness of the crush section is four inches.

10. A mattress comprising the mattress core claimed in claim 1 .