IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,503,815
Granted Patent B2
US 12,503,815 · App. 18/451,398 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Seamless unitary deflection member for making fibrous structures having increased surface area and process for making same

Inventors: John Allen Manifold (Sunman, IN); John Leslie Brent, Jr. (Springboro, OH); James Michael Singer (Liberty Township, OH)
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
D21F1/009D21F11/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,503,815
App. No.
18/451,398
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seamless unitary deflection member may comprise a plurality of regularly spaced protuberances, which may be semi-continuous units disposed in a regular, spaced apart configuration in at least one of a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD).

Claims (13)

1 . A seamless belt unitary deflection member comprising a plurality of regularly spaced protuberances, wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are semi-continuous units disposed in a regular, spaced apart configuration in at least one of a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD).

2 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are adjacent to one another and separated by a void defining a deflection conduit.

3 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are linear segments spaced apart in either the MD or CD.

4 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are generally parallel linear segments oriented predominantly in the MD or CD.

5 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances have a cross-sectional shape selected from smooth rounded, pointed, ridged, and stepped, multilevel.

6 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances have a cross-sectional shape being selected from key-hole-shaped, mushroom-shaped, circular, oval, inverted triangle, T-shaped, inverted L-shaped, egg- or pebble-shaped and combinations thereof.

7 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances 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.

8 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are discrete units disposed in a regular, spaced apart configuration in both the MD and CD, each discrete unit having a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape being selected from smooth rounded, pointed, ridged, and stepped, multilevel.

9 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are discrete units disposed in a regular, spaced apart configuration in both the MD and CD, each discrete unit having a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape being selected from key-hole-shaped, mushroom-shaped, circular, oval, inverted triangle, T-shaped, inverted L-shaped, egg- or pebble-shaped and combinations thereof.

10 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , the seamless belt unitary deflection member having a patterned framework comprising a plurality of regularly spaced protuberances extending from the reinforcing member.

11 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are substantially identical in size and shape.

12 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are spaced apart configuration in the machine direction (MD).

13 . The seamless belt unitary deflection member of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regularly spaced protuberances are spaced apart configuration in the cross-machine direction (CD).

Continuity (7)
Continuation 17936504 · Sep 29, 2022
Continuation 17124996 · Dec 17, 2020
Continuation 16503749 · Jul 5, 2019
Continuation 15892508 · Feb 9, 2018
Continuation 15180211 · Jun 13, 2016
Provisional Application 62181794 · Jun 19, 2015
Related Publication 20240068163A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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