A deflection member that includes a reinforcing member and a plurality of tiles fastened to the reinforcing member.

A deflection member that includes a reinforcing member and a plurality of tiles fastened to the reinforcing member.

A process for foam forming tissue or paper webs is disclosed. A foamed suspension of fibers is deposited onto a forming fabric and contacted with a gas flow prior to drying the web. For instance, the web can contact the gas flow prior to dewatering the web. The gas flow can have a volumetric flow rate and/or a velocity sufficient to rearrange the fibers within the web. In one embodiment, for instance, the gas flow can increase the caliper of the web, the stretch properties of the web, and/or the absorbency characteristics of the web. In one embodiment, the gas flow can be pulsed for producing a web with a distinctive pattern.

A process for foam forming tissue or paper webs is disclosed. A foamed suspension of fibers is deposited onto a forming fabric and contacted with a gas flow prior to drying the web. For instance, the web can contact the gas flow prior to dewatering the web. The gas flow can have a volumetric flow rate and/or a velocity sufficient to rearrange the fibers within the web. In one embodiment, for instance, the gas flow can increase the caliper of the web, the stretch properties of the web, and/or the absorbency characteristics of the web. In one embodiment, the gas flow can be pulsed for producing a web with a distinctive pattern.

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).

A method for manufacturing a deflection member is disclosed. The method may include the steps of providing an additive manufacturing apparatus that includes at least one and/or two radiation sources and photopolymer resin, providing a reinforcing member, contacting a surface of the reinforcing member with the photopolymer resin, and directing radiation from the radiation source(s) towards a surface of the reinforcing member to at least partially cure photopolymer resin in contact with the surface of the reinforcing member.

A seamless unitary deflection member. The seamless unitary deflection member can have a backside defining an X-Y plane and a thickness in a Z-direction. The seamless unitary deflection member can also have a reinforcing member and a plurality of protuberances positioned on the reinforcing member. Each protuberance can have a three-dimensional shape such that any cross-sectional area of the protuberance parallel to the X-Y plane can have an equal or lesser area than any cross-sectional area of the protuberance being a greater distance from the X-Y plane in the Z-direction.

A seamless unitary deflection member. The seamless unitary deflection member can have a backside defining an X-Y plane and a thickness in a Z-direction. The seamless unitary deflection member may also have a reinforcing member and a plurality of protuberances positioned on the reinforcing member. Each protuberance may have a three-dimensional shape such that any cross-sectional area of the protuberance parallel to the X-Y plane can have an equal or lesser area than any cross-sectional area of the protuberance being a greater distance from the X-Y plane in the Z-direction.

A unitary deflection member. The unitary deflection member can have a backside defining an X-Y plane and a thickness in a Z-direction. The unitary deflection member can also have a reinforcing member and a plurality of protuberances positioned on the reinforcing member. Each protuberance can have a three-dimensional shape such that any cross-sectional area of the protuberance parallel to the X-Y plane can have an equal or greater area than any cross-sectional area of the protuberance being a greater distance from the X-Y plane in the Z-direction.

A unitary deflection member. The unitary deflection member can have a backside defining an X-Y plane and a thickness in a Z-direction. The unitary deflection member can also have a reinforcing member and a plurality of protuberances positioned on the reinforcing member. Each protuberance can have a three-dimensional shape such that any cross-sectional area of the protuberance parallel to the X-Y plane can have an equal or greater area than any cross-sectional area of the protuberance being a greater distance from the X-Y plane in the Z-direction.