Unitary deflection member for making fibrous structures having increased surface area and process for making same
A unitary deflection member. The unitary deflection member can have a fluid pervious reinforcing member and a patterned framework. The patterned framework can have a plurality of regularly spaced protuberances extending from the reinforcing member. At least two of said protuberances can be similar in size and shape, and each protuberance can have a transition portion having a transition portion width and a forming portion having a forming portion width. The transition portion width can be less than the forming portion width.
1. A unitary deflection member, the unitary deflection member comprising:
a fluid pervious reinforcing member;
a patterned framework comprising a plurality of regularly spaced protuberances extending from said reinforcing member, at least two of said protuberances being similar in size and shape;
wherein at least two of said protuberances have a stepped, multilevel shape; and
wherein said plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are linear segments, the linear segments having a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape being selected from the group consisting of key-hole-shaped, mushroom-shaped, circular, oval, inverted triangle, T-shaped, inverted L-shaped, egg- or pebble-shaped, and combinations thereof.
2. The deflection member of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of voids defining a plurality of deflection conduits.
3. The deflection member of claim 2 , wherein said plurality of deflection conduits are linear segments spaced apart in either the MD or CD.
4. The deflection member of claim 2 , wherein said plurality of deflection conduits are generally parallel linear segments oriented predominantly in the MD or CD.
5. The deflection member of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of deflection conduits are disposed in a regular, spaced apart configuration of discrete units in an X-Y plane and distributed in both the MD and CD in a regular, spaced pattern.
6. The deflection member of claim 2 , wherein at least two of the plurality of deflection conduits are substantially identical in size and shape.
7. The deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the framework is a semi-continuous framework.