Patent Publication Number: US-6706152-B2

Title: Fabric for use in the manufacture of tissue products having visually discernable background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to the field of paper manufacturing. More particularly, the present invention relates to the manufacture of absorbent tissue products such as bath tissue, facial tissue, napkins, towels, wipers, and the like. Specifically, the present invention relates to improved fabrics used to manufacture absorbent tissue products having visually discernible background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements, methods of tissue manufacture, methods of fabric manufacture, and the actual tissue products produced. 
     In the manufacture of tissue products, particularly absorbent tissue products, there is a continuing need to improve the physical properties and final product appearance. It is generally known in the manufacture of tissue products that there is an opportunity to mold a partially dewatered cellulosic web on a papermaking fabric specifically designed to enhance the finished paper product&#39;s physical properties. Such molding can be applied by fabrics in an uncreped through air dried process as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,248 issued on Sep. 30, 1997 to Wendt et al., or in a wet pressed tissue manufacturing process as disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,859 issued on Jan. 20, 1987 to Trokhan. Wet molding typically imparts desirable physical properties independent of whether the tissue web is subsequently creped, or an uncreped tissue product is produced. 
     However, absorbent tissue products are frequently embossed in a subsequent operation after their manufacture on the paper machine, while the dried tissue web has a low moisture content, to impart consumer preferred visually appealing textures or decorative lines. Thus, absorbent tissue products having both desirable physical properties and pleasing visual appearances often require two manufacturing steps on two separate machines. Hence, there is a need to combine the generation of visually discernable background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements with the paper manufacturing process to reduce manufacturing costs. There is also a need to develop a paper manufacturing process that not only imparts visually discernable background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements to the sheet, but also maximizes desirable physical properties of the absorbent tissue products without deleteriously affecting other desirable physical properties. 
     Previous attempts to combine the above needs, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,805 issued on Nov. 6, 1990 to Chiu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,565 issued on Jul. 12, 1994 to Rasch et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,730 issued on Oct. 13, 1998 to Phan et al., have manipulated the papermaking fabric&#39;s drainage in different localized regions to produce a pattern in the wet tissue web in the forming section of the paper machine. Thus, the texture results from more fiber accumulation in areas of the fabric having high drainage and fewer fibers in areas of the fabric having low drainage. Such a method can produce a dried tissue web having a non-uniform basis weight in the localized areas or regions arranged in a systematic manner to form the texture. While such a method can produce textures, the sacrifice in the uniformity of the dried tissue web&#39;s physical properties such as tear, burst, absorbency, and density can degrade the dried tissue web&#39;s performance while in use. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to generate aesthetically pleasing combinations of background texture regions and curvilinear decorative elements in the dried or partially dried tissue web, while being manufactured on the paper machine, using a method that produces a substantially uniform density dried tissue web which has improved performance while in use. 
     Numerous woven fabric designs are known in papermaking. Examples are provided by Sabut Adanur in  Paper Machine Clothing , Lancaster, Pa.: Technomic Publishing, 1997, pp. 33-113, 139-148, 159-168, and 211-229. Another example is provided in Patent Application WO 00/63489, entitled “Paper Machine Clothing and Tissue Paper Produced with Same,” by H. J. Lamb, published on Oct. 26, 2000. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention comprises paper manufacturing processes that may satisfy one or more of the foregoing needs. For example, a paper manufacturing fabric of the present invention, when used as a throughdrying fabric in an uncreped tissue making process, produces an absorbent tissue product having a substantially uniform density as well as possessing visually discernable background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements. The present invention is also directed towards fabrics for manufacturing the absorbent tissue product, processes of making the absorbent tissue product, processes of making the fabric, and the absorbent tissue products themselves. 
     Therefore in one aspect, the present invention relates to a fabric for producing an absorbent tissue product with visually discernible background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements comprising: a woven fabric having background texture regions formed by MD warp floats alternating with MD warp sinkers woven into a support structure (i.e., at least a single layer of CD shutes) below the MD floats; the warps and shutes at the borders of the background texture regions are arrayed to form transition regions comprising the curvilinear decorative elements. 
     In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent tissue product with visually discernable background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements comprising: forming the wet tissue web, partially dewatering the wet tissue web, rush transferring the wet tissue web, wet molding the wet tissue web into a fabric having visually discernible background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements, and throughdrying the web. 
     In an additional aspect, the present invention relates to a tissue product with background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements that form aesthetically pleasing repeating patterns comprising: visually discernable background texture regions of MD ripples, ridges, or the like, corresponding to a image of the background texture regions of the fabric, bordered by curvilinear decorative elements, corresponding to an image of the curvilinear transition regions of the fabric, where the curvilinear decorative elements in the tissue web are visually distinct from the background texture regions in the tissue. 
     Unlike U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,248 issued on Sep. 30, 1997 to Wendt et al., where the warp knuckles are closely spaced or contacting and arranged into patterns, the present invention produces the curvilinear decorative elements in the absorbent tissue product at a substantially continuous transition region which forms borders between background texture regions. The curvilinear decorative elements comprise geometric configurations with the leading end of one or more raised MD floats adjacent to or in proximity to the trailing end of another raised MD float. The decorative pattern consists of the visually discernable background texture regions, such as corrugations, lines, ripples, ridges, and the like, and the curvilinear decorative elements which form transition regions between the background texture regions. It is the arrangement of the transition regions in the present invention that provide the decorative pattern. Because the curvilinear decorative elements are produced at the transition region (rather than from a decorative pattern resulting from shoulder to shoulder or side by side positioning of warp knuckles of other fabrics) the raised MD floats can be purposely distributed more uniformly across the sheet side surface of the fabric to improve the uniformity and CD stretch properties of the tissue web with respect to physical properties while still imparting a distinctive texture highlighted by curvilinear decorative elements as a decorative pattern to the tissue web. In addition, because the curvilinear decorative elements producing the distinctive pattern occurs at the relatively small transition area, it is possible to weave the fabric with more intricate patterns than possible in the fabrics disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,248. 
     The background texture regions are designed to impart preferred finished product properties when used as an UCTAD throughdrying fabric, including roll bulk, stack bulk, CD stretch, drape, and durability. The curvilinear decorative elements may provide additional hinge points to enhance finished product drape. The background texture regions in the finished product contrast visually with the curvilinear transition regions, providing the decorative effect. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the curvilinear decorative elements form woven transition regions which allow the warps to alternate function between MD warp float and MD warp sinker. When finished so the warps are parallel to the MD, the background texture regions across each transition region are out of phase with each other, with the highest parts of one background texture region corresponding to the lowest part of the other. This out of phase alternation results in improved anti-nesting behavior, significantly improving the roll firmness—roll bulk relationship at a given one-sheet caliper. 
     In some embodiments, all of the floats (or elevated regions) in a background region are surrounded by sinkers (or depressed regions), with the possible exception of floats adjacent to a transition region or fabric edge, and all of the sinkers (or depressed regions) in a background region are surrounded by floats (or elevated regions), with the possible exception of sinkers adjacent to a transition region or fabric edge. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a surface profile and corresponding material lines of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a CADEYES display screen shot of a putty impression of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a CADEYES display screen shot of dried tissue molded on one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a CADEYES display screen shot of dried tissue molded on one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a CADEYES display screen shot of dried tissue molded on one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a CADEYES display screen shot of dried tissue molded on one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is a CADEYES display screen shot of dried tissue molded on one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a CADEYES display screen shot of a putty impression of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 is a CADEYES display screen shot of a putty impression of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 23 is a CADEYES display screen shot of a putty impression of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 24 is a CADEYES display screen shot of a putty impression of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 26A is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 26B is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 26C is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 26D is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 26E is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram for making an uncreped dried tissue web in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 28 is a photograph of one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 29 is a photograph of the air side of a dried tissue web made using one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
     FIG. 30 is a photograph of the fabric side of a dried tissue web made using one embodiment of the fabric of the present invention. 
    
    
     DEFINITIONS 
     As used herein, “curvilinear decorative element” refers to any line or visible pattern that contains either straight sections, curved sections, or both that are substantially connected visually. Thus, a decorative pattern of interlocking circles may be formed from many curvilinear decorative elements shaped into circles. Similarly, a pattern of squares may be formed from many curvilinear decorative elements shaped into individual squares. It is understood that curvilinear decorative elements also may appear as undulating lines, substantially connected visually, forming signatures or patterns as well as multiple warp mixed with single warp to generate textures of more complicated patterns. 
     Also, as used herein “decorative pattern” refers to any non-random repeating design, figure, or motif. It is not necessary that the curvilinear decorative elements form recognizable shapes, and a repeating design of the curvilinear decorative elements is considered to constitute a decorative pattern. 
     As used herein, the term “float” means an unwoven or non-interlocking portion of a warp emerging from the topmost layer of shutes that spans at least two consecutive shutes of the topmost layer of shutes. 
     As used herein, a “sinker” means a span of a warp that is generally depressed relative to adjacent floats, further having two end regions both of which pass under one or more consecutive shutes. 
     As used herein, “machine-direction” or “MD” refers to the direction of travel of the fabric, the fabric&#39;s individual strands, or the paper web while moving through the paper machine. Thus, the MD test data for the tissue refers to the tissue&#39;s physical properties in a sample cut lengthwise in the machine-direction. Similarly, “cross-machine direction” or “CD” refers to a direction orthogonal to the machine-direction extending across the width of the paper machine. Thus, the CD test data for the tissue refers to the tissue&#39;s physical properties in a sample cut lengthwise in the cross-machine direction. In addition, the strands may be arranged at acute angles to the MD and CD directions. One such arrangement is described in “Rolls of Tissue Sheets Having Improved Properties”, Burazin et al., EP 1 109 969 A1 which published on Jun. 27, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference to the extent it is not contradictory herewith. 
     As used herein, “plane difference” refers to the z-direction height difference between an elevated region and the highest immediately adjacent depressed region. Specifically, in a woven fabric, the plane difference is the z-direction height difference between a float and the highest immediately adjacent sinker or shute. Z-direction refers to the axis mutually orthogonal to the machine direction and cross-machine direction. 
     As used herein, “transfer fabric” is a fabric that is positioned between the forming section and the drying section of the web manufacturing process. 
     As used herein, “transition region” is defined as the intersection of three or more floats on three or more consecutive MD strands. The transition regions are formed by deliberate interruptions in the textured background regions, which may result from a variety of arrangements of intersections of the floats. The floats may be arranged in an overlapping intersection or in a non-overlapping intersection. 
     As used herein, a “filled” transition region is defined as a transition region where the space between the floats in the transition region is partially or completely filled with material, raising the height in the transition area. The filling material may be porous. The filling material may be any of the materials discussed hereinafter for use in the construction of fabrics. The filling material may be substantially deformable, as measured by High Pressure Compressive Compliance (defined hereinafter). 
     As used herein, the term “warp” can be understood as a strand substantially oriented in the machine direction, and “shute” can be understood to refer to the strands substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction of the fabric as used on a papermachine. The warps and shutes may be interwoven via any known fabric method of manufacture. In the production of endless fabrics, the normal orientation of warps and shutes, according to common weaving terminology, is reversed, but as used herein, the structure of the fabric and not its method of manufacture determine which strands are classified as warps and which are shutes. 
     As used herein “strand” refers a substantially continuous filament suitable for weaving sculptured fabrics of the present invention. Strands may include any known in the prior art. Strands may comprise monofilament, cabled monofilament, staple fiber twisted together to form yarns, cabled yarns, or combinations thereof. Strand cross-sections, filament cross sections, or stable fiber cross sections may be circular, elliptical, flattened, rectangular, oval, semi-oval, trapezoidal, parallelogram, polygonal, solid, hollow, sharp edged, rounded edged, bi-lobal, multi-lobal, or can have capillary channels. Strand diameter or strand cross sectional shape may vary along its length. 
     As used herein “multi-strand” refers to two or more strands arranged side by side or twisted together. It is not necessary for each side-by-side strand in a multi-strand group to be woven identically. For example, individual strands of a multi-strand warp may independently enter and exit the topmost layer of shutes in sinker regions or transition regions. As a further example, a single multi-strand group need not remain a single multi-strand group throughout the length of the strands in the fabric, but it is possible for one or more strands in a multi-strand group to depart from the remaining strand(s) over a specific distance and serve, for example, as a float or sinker independently of the remaining strand(s). 
     As used herein, “Frazier air permeability” refers to the measured value of a well-known test with the Frazier Air Permeability Tester in which the permeability of a fabric is measured as standard cubic feet of air flow per square foot of material per minute with an air pressure differential of 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) of water under standard conditions. The fabrics of the present invention can have any suitable Frazier air permeability. For example, thoughdrying fabrics can have a permeability from about 55 standard cubic feet per square foot per minute (about 16 standard cubic meters per square meter per minute) or higher, more specifically from about 100 standard cubic feet per square foot per minute (about 30 standard cubic meters per square meter per minute) to about 1,700 standard cubic feet per square foot per minute (about 520 standard cubic meters per square meter per minute), and most specifically from about 200 standard cubic feet per square foot per minute (about 60 standard cubic meters per square meter per minute) to about 1,500 standard cubic feet per square foot per minute (about 460 standard cubic meters per square meter per minute). 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The Process 
     Referring to FIG. 27, a process of carrying out the present invention will be described in greater detail. The process shown depicts an uncreped through dried process, but it will be recognized that any known papermaking method or tissue making method can be used in conjunction with the fabrics of the present invention. Related uncreped through air dried tissue processes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,132 issued on Aug. 12, 1997 to Farrington et al. and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,417 issued on Jan. 25, 2000 to Wendt et al. Both patents are herein incorporated by reference to the extent they are not contradictory herewith. In addition, fabrics having a sculpture layer and a load bearing layer useful for making uncreped through air dried tissue products are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,686 issued on Jul. 4, 1995 to Chiu et al. also herein incorporated by reference to the extent it is not contradictory herewith. Exemplary methods for the production of creped tissue and other paper products are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,739, issued on Jan. 5, 1999 to Ampulski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,745, issued on Apr. 27, 1999 to Ampulski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,965, issued on Apr. 13, 1999 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,813 issued on Oct. 26, 1999 to Polat et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,715, issued on Apr. 2, 1996 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,381, issued on Aug. 10, 1999 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,480, issued on Jul. 16, 1985 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,345, issued on Apr. 30, 1985 to Johnson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,239, issued on Jul. 9, 1985 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,522, issued on Mar. 24, 1992 to Smurkoski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,171, issued on Nov. 9, 1993 to Smurkoski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,700, issued on Jan. 4, 1994 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,565, issued on Jul. 12, 1994 to Rasch et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,289, issued on Aug. 2, 1994 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,786, issued on Jul. 11, 1995 to Rasch et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,624, issued on Mar. 5, 1996 to Stelljes, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,277, issued on Mar. 19, 1996 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,523, issued on May 7, 1996 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,467, issued on Sep. 10, 1996, to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,724, issued on Oct. 22, 1996 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,790, issued on Apr. 29, 1997 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,598, issued on Jan. 4, 2000 to Boutilier et al.; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,876, issued on May 13, 1997 to Ayers et al., the specification and claims of which are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that they are not contradictory herewith. 
     In FIG. 27, a twin wire former  8  having a papermaking headbox  10  injects or deposits a stream  11  of an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers onto a plurality of forming fabrics, such as the outer forming fabric  12  and the inner forming fabric  13 , thereby forming a wet tissue web  15 . The forming process of the present invention may be any conventional forming process known in the papermaking industry. Such formation processes include, but are not limited to, Fourdriniers, roof formers such as suction breast roll formers, and gap formers such as twin wire formers and crescent formers. 
     The wet tissue web  15  forms on the inner forming fabric  13  as the inner forming fabric  13  revolves about a forming roll  14 . The inner forming fabric  13  serves to support and carry the newly-formed wet tissue web  15  downstream in the process as the wet tissue web  15  is partially dewatered to a consistency of about 10 percent based on the dry weight of the fibers. Additional dewatering of the wet tissue web  15  may be carried out by known paper making techniques, such as vacuum suction boxes, while the inner forming fabric  13  supports the wet tissue web  15 . The wet tissue web  15  may be additionally dewatered to a consistency of at least about 20%, more specifically between about 20% to about 40%, and more specifically about 20% to about 30%. The wet tissue web  15  is then transferred from the inner forming fabric  13  to a transfer fabric  17  traveling preferably at a slower speed than the inner forming fabric  13  in order to impart increased MD stretch into the wet tissue web  15 . 
     The wet tissue web  15  is then transferred from the transfer fabric  17  to a throughdrying fabric  19  whereby the wet tissue web  15  preferably is macroscopically rearranged to conform to the surface of the throughdrying fabric  19  with the aid of a vacuum transfer roll  20  or a vacuum transfer shoe like the vacuum shoe  18 . If desired, the throughdrying fabric  19  can be run at a speed slower than the speed of the transfer fabric  17  to further enhance MD stretch of the resulting absorbent tissue product  27 . The transfer is preferably carried out with vacuum assistance to ensure conformation of the wet tissue web  15  to the topography of the throughdrying fabric  19 . This yields a dried tissue web  23  having the desired bulk, flexibility, CD stretch, and enhances the visual contrast between the background texture regions  38  and  50  and the curvilinear decorative elements which border the background texture regions  38  and  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the throughdrying fabric  19  is woven in accordance with the present invention, and it imparts the curvilinear decorative elements and background texture regions  38  and  50 , such as substantially broken-line like corduroy, to the wet tissue web  15 . It is possible, however, to weave the transfer fabric  17  in accordance with the present invention to achieve similar results. Furthermore, it is also possible to eliminate the transfer fabric  17 , and transfer the wet tissue web  15  directly to the throughdrying fabric  19  of the present invention. Both alternative papermaking processes are within the scope of the present invention, and will produce a decorative absorbent tissue product  27 . 
     While supported by the throughdrying fabric  19 , the wet tissue web  15  is dried to a final consistency of about 94 percent or greater by a throughdryer  21  and is thereafter transferred to a carrier fabric  22 . Alternatively, the drying process can be any noncompressive drying method that tends to preserve the bulk of the wet tissue web  15 . 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the wet tissue web  15  is pressed against a Yankee dryer by a pressure roll while supported by a woven sculpted fabric  30  comprising visually discernable background texture regions  38  and  50  bordered by curvilinear decorative elements. Such a process, without the use of the sculpted fabrics  30  of the present invention, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,730 issued on Oct. 13, 1998 to Phan et al. The compacting action of a pressure roll will tend to densify a resulting absorbent tissue product  27  in the localized regions corresponding to the highest portions of the sculpted fabric  30 . 
     The dried tissue web  23  is transported to a reel  24  using a carrier fabric  22  and an optional carrier fabric  25 . An optional pressurized turning roll  26  can be used to facilitate transfer of the dried tissue web  23  from the carrier fabric  22  to the carrier fabric  25 . If desired, the dried tissue web  23  may additionally be embossed to produce a combination of embossments and the background texture regions and curvilinear decorative elements on the absorbent tissue product  27  produced using the throughdrying fabric  19  and a subsequent embossing stage. 
     Once the wet tissue web  15  has been non-compressively dried, thereby forming the dried tissue web  23 , it is possible to crepe the dried tissue web  23  by transferring the dried tissue web  23  to a Yankee dryer prior to reeling, or using alternative foreshortening methods such as microcreping as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,877 issued on Apr. 24, 1990 to Parsons et al. 
     In an alternative embodiment not shown, the wet tissue web  15  may be transferred directly from the inner forming fabric  13  to the throughdrying fabric  19  and the transfer fabric  17  eliminated. The throughdrying fabric  19  is constructed with raised MD floats  60 , and illustrative embodiments are shown in FIGS. 1A,  1 B,  2 ,  9 , and  28 . The throughdrying fabric  19  may be traveling at a speed less than the inner forming fabric  13  such that the wet tissue web  15  is rush transferred, or, in the alternative, the throughdrying fabric  19  may be traveling at substantially the same speed as the inner forming fabric  13 . If the throughdrying fabric  19  is traveling at a slower speed than the speed of the inner forming fabric  13 , an uncreped absorbent tissue product  27  is produced. Additional foreshortening after the drying stage may be employed to improve the MD stretch of the absorbent tissue product  27 . Methods of foreshortening the absorbent tissue product  27  include, by way of illustration and without limitation, conventional Yankee dryer creping, microcreping, or any other method known in the art. 
     Differential velocity transfer from one fabric to another can follow the principles taught in any one of the following patents, each of which is herein incorporated by reference to the extent it is not contradictory herewith: U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,636, issued on Sep. 16, 1997 to Engel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,321, issued on Nov. 3, 1998 to Lindsay et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,597, issued on Apr. 3, 1984 to Wells et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,199, issued on Nov. 5, 1985 to Weldon; and, U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,054, issued on Jul. 18, 1989 to Klowak. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the inner forming fabric  13 , the transfer fabric  17 , and the throughdrying fabric  19  can all be traveling at substantially the same speed. Foreshortening may be employed to improve MD stretch of the absorbent tissue product  27 . Such methods include, by way of illustration without limitation, conventional Yankee dryer creping or microcreping. 
     Any known papermaking or tissue manufacturing method may be used to create a three-dimensional web  23  using the fabrics  30  of the present invention as a substrate for imparting texture to the wet tissue web  15  or the dried tissue web  16 . Though the fabrics  30  of the present invention are especially useful as through drying fabrics and can be used with any known tissue making process that employs throughdrying, the fabrics  30  of the present invention can also be used in the formation of paper webs as forming fabrics, transfer fabrics, carrier fabrics, drying fabrics, imprinting fabrics, and the like in any known papermaking or tissue making process. Such methods can include variations comprising any one or more of the following steps in any feasible combination: 
     web formation in a wet end in the form of a classical Fourdrinier, a gap former, a twin-wire former, a crescent former, or any other known former comprising any known headbox, including a stratified headbox for bringing layers of two or more furnishes together into a single web, or a plurality of headboxes for forming a multilayered web, using known wires and fabrics or fabrics of the present invention; 
     web formation or web dewatering by foam-based processes, such as processes wherein the fibers are entrained or suspended in a foam prior to dewatering, or wherein foam is applied to an embryonic web prior to dewatering or drying, including the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,729, issued on Jan. 12, 1993 to Janda, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,060, issued on Aug. 15, 2000 to Munerelle et al., both of which are herein incorporated by reference to the extent they are not contradictory herewith; 
     differential basis weight formation by draining a slurry through a forming fabric having high and low permeability regions, including fabrics of the present invention or any known forming fabric; 
     rush transfer of a wet web from a first fabric to a second fabric moving at a slower velocity than the first fabric, wherein the first fabric can be a forming fabric, a transfer fabric, or a throughdrying fabric, and wherein the second fabric can be a transfer fabric, a throughdrying fabric, a second throughdrying fabric, or a carrier fabric disposed after a throughdrying fabric (one exemplary rush transfer process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,597 to Wells et al, herein incorporated by reference to the extent it is not contradictory herewith), wherein the aforementioned fabrics can be selected from any known suitable fabric including fabrics of the present invention; 
     application of differential air pressure across the web to mold it into one or more of the fabrics on which the web rests, such as using a high vacuum pressure in a vacuum transfer roll or transfer shoe to mold a wet web into a throughdrying fabric as it is transferred from a forming fabric or intermediate carrier fabric, wherein the carrier fabric, throughdrying fabric, or other fabrics can be selected from the fabrics of the present invention or other known fabrics; 
     use of an air press or other gaseous dewatering methods to increase the dryness of a web and/or to impart molding to the web, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,169, issued on Aug. 1, 2000 to Hermans et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,154, issued on Mar. 6, 2001 to Chen et al.; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,135, issued on Nov. 7, 2000 to Hada et al., all of which are herein incorporated by reference to the extent they are not contradictory herewith; 
     drying the web by any compressive or noncompressive drying process, such as throughdrying, drum drying, infrared drying, microwave drying, wet pressing, impulse drying (e.g., the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,521, issued on Oct. 11, 1994 to Orloff and U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,642, issued on Feb. 4, 1997 to Orloff et al.), high intensity nip dewatering, displacement dewatering (see J. D. Lindsay, “Displacement Dewatering To Maintain Bulk,”  Paperi Ja Puu , vol. 74, No. 3, 1992, pp. 232-242), capillary dewatering (see any of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,598,643; 5,701,682; and 5,699,626, all of which issued to Chuang et al.), steam drying, etc. 
     printing, coating, spraying, or otherwise transferring a chemical agent or compound on one or more sides of the web uniformly or heterogeneously, as in a pattern, wherein any known agent or compound useful for a web-based product can be used (e.g., a softness agent such as a quaternary ammonium compound, a silicone agent, an emollient, a skin-wellness agent such as aloe vera extract, an antimicrobial agent such as citric acid, an odor-control agent, a pH control agent, a sizing agent; a polysaccharide derivative, a wet strength agent, a dye, a fragrance, and the like), including the methods of U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,763, issued on Feb. 16, 1999 to Luu et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,692, issued on Feb. 10, 1998 to Warner et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,637, issued on Nov. 12, 1996 to Ampulski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,980, issued on Mar. 4, 1997 to McAtee et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,293, issued on Mar. 25, 1997 to Krzysik et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,588, issued on Jul. 1, 1997 to Roe et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,218, issued on Jul. 22, 1997 to Krzysik et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,377, issued on Nov. 23, 1999 to Chen et al.; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,242, issued on Jul. 13, 1993 to Walter et al., each of which is herein incorporated by reference to the extent they are not contradictory herewith; 
     imprinting the web on a Yankee dryer or other solid surface, wherein the web resides on a fabric that can have deflection conduits (openings) and elevated regions (including the fabrics of the present invention), and the fabric is pressed against a surface such as the surface of a Yankee dryer to transfer the web from the fabric to the surface, thereby imparting densification to portions of the web that were in contact with the elevated regions of the fabric, whereafter the selectively densified web can be creped from or otherwise removed from the surface; 
     creping the web from a drum dryer, optionally after application of a strength agent such as latex to one or more sides of the web, as exemplified by the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,257, issued on Apr. 22, 1975 to Gentile et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,418, issued on Mar. 23, 1999 to Anderson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,768, issued on Nov. 21, 2000 to Hepford, all of which are herein incorporated by reference to the extent they are not contradictory herewith; 
     creping with serrated crepe blades (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,416, issued on Mar. 23, 1999 to Marinack et al.) or any other known creping or foreshortening method; and, 
     converting the web with known operations such as calendering, embossing, slitting, printing, forming a multiply structure having two, three, four, or more plies, putting on a roll or in a box or adapting for other dispensing means, packaging in any known form, and the like. 
     The fabrics  30  of the present invention can also be used to impart texture to airlaid webs, either serving as a substrate for forming a web, for embossing or imprinting an airlaid web, or for thermal molding of a web. 
     Fabric Structure 
     FIG. 1A is a schematic showing the relative placement of the floats  60  on the paper-contacting side of the woven sculpted fabric  30  according to the present invention. The floats  60  consist of the elevated portions of the warps  44  (strands substantially oriented in the machine direction). Not shown for clarity are the shutes (strands substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction) and depressed portions of the warps  44  interwoven with the shutes, but it is understood that the warps  44  can be continuous in the machine direction, periodically rising to serve as a float  60  and then descending as one moves horizontally in the portion of the woven sculpted fabric  30  schematically shown in FIG.  1 A. 
     In a first background region  38  of the woven sculpted fabric  30 , the floats  60  define a first elevated region  40  comprising first elevated strands  41 . Between each pair of neighboring first elevated strands  41  in the first background region  38  is a first depressed region  42 . The depressed warps  44  in the first depressed region  42  are not shown for clarity. The combination of machine-direction oriented, alternating elevated and depressed regions forms a first background texture  39 . 
     In a second background region  50  of the woven sculpted fabric  30 , there are second elevated strands  53  defining a second elevated region  52 . Between each pair of the neighboring second elevated strands  53  in the second background region  50  is a second depressed region  54 . The depressed warps  44  in the second depressed region  54  are not shown for clarity. The combination of machine-direction oriented, alternating second elevated and depressed regions  52  and  54  forms a second background texture  51 . 
     Between the first background region  38  and the second background region  50  is a transition zone  62  where the floats  44  from either the first background region  38  or the second background region  50  descend to become sinkers (not shown) or depressed regions  54  and  42  in the second background region  50  or first background region  38 , respectively. In the transition region  62 , ends or beginning sections of the floats  60  from different background texture regions  38  and  50  overlap, creating a texture comprising adjacent floats  60  rather than the first or second background textures  39  and  51  which have alternating floats  60  and first or second depressed regions  42  and  54 , respectively. Thus, the transition region  62  provides a visually distinctive interruption to the first and second background textures  39  and  51  of the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , respectively, and form a substantially continuous transition region to provide a macroscopic, visually distinctive curvilinear decorative element that extends in directions other than solely the machine direction orientation of the floats  60 . In FIG. 1A, the transition region  62  forms a curved diamond pattern. 
     The overall visual effect created by a repeating unit cell comprising the curvilinear transition region  62  of FIG. 1A is shown in FIG. 1B, which depicts several continuous transition regions  62  forming a repeating wedding ring pattern of curvilinear decorative elements. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a portion of a woven sculpted fabric  30  made according to the present invention. In this portion, the three shutes  45   a ,  45   b , and  45   c  are interwoven with the six warps  44   a - 44   f . A transition region  62  separates a first background region  38  from a second background region  50 . The first background region  38  has first elevated strands  41   a ,  41   b , and  41   c  which define the first elevated regions  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   c , and the first depressed strands  43   a ,  43   b , and  43   c  which define the first depressed regions  42  (only one of which is labeled). The alternation between the first elevated regions  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   c  and the first depressed regions  42  creates a first background texture  39  in the first background region  38 . 
     Likewise, the second background region  50  has second elevated strands  53   a ,  53   b , and  53   c  which define the second elevated regions  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c , and the second depressed strands  55   a ,  55   b , and  55   c  which define the second depressed regions  54  (only one of which is labeled). 
     The alternation of second elevated regions  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c  with the second depressed regions  54  creates a second background texture  51  in the second background region  50 . The warps  44   a ,  44   b , and  44   c  forming the first elevated regions  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   c  in the first background region  38  become the second depressed regions  54  (second depressed strands  55   a ,  55   b , and  55   c ) in the second background region  50 , and visa versa. 
     In general, the warps  44  in either of the first and second background region  38  and  50  alternate in the cross-machine direction between being floats  60  and sinkers  61 , providing a background texture  39  or  51  dominated by machine direction elongated features which become inverted (floats  60  become sinkers  61  and visa versa) after passing through the transition zone  62 . 
     Three crossover zones  65   a ,  65   b , and  65   c  occur in the transition region  62  where a first elevated strand  41   a ,  41   b , or  41   c  descends below a shute  45   a ,  45   b , or  45   c  in the vicinity where a second elevated strand  53   a ,  53   b , or  53   c  also descends below a shute  45   a ,  45   b , or  45   c . In the crossover zone  65   a , the warps  44   a  and  44   d  both descend from their status as floats  60  in the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , respectively, to become sinkers  61 , with the descent occurring between the shutes  45   b  and  45   c.    
     The crossover zone  65   c  differs from the crossover zones  65   a  and  65   b  in that the two adjacent warps  44   c  and  44   f  descend on opposite sides of a single shute  45   a . The tension in the warps  44   c  and  44   f  can act in the crossover zone  65   c  to bend the shute  45   a  downward more than normally encountered in the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , resulting in a depression in the woven sculpted fabric  30  that can result in increased depth of molding in the vicinity of the crossover zone  65   c . Overall, the various crossover zones  65   a ,  65   b , and  65   c  in the transition region  62  provide increased molding depth in the woven sculpted fabric  30  that can impart visually distinctive curvilinear decorative elements to an absorbent tissue product  27  molded thereon, with the visually distinct nature of the curvilinear decorative elements being achieved by means of the interruption in the texture dominated by the MD-oriented floats  60  between two adjacent background regions  38  and  50  and optionally by the increased molding depth in the transition region  62  due to pockets or depressions in the woven sculpted fabric  30  created by the crossover zones  65   a ,  65   b , and  65   c.    
     The first and second depressed strands  43  and  55  can be classified as sinkers  61 , while the first and second elevated strands  41  and  53  can be classified as floats  60 . 
     The shutes  45  depicted in FIG. 2 represent the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  of the woven sculpted fabric  30 , which can be part of a base layer  31  of the woven sculpted fabric  30 . A base layer  31  can be a load-bearing layer. The base layer  31  can also comprise multiple groups of interwoven warps  44  and shutes  45  or nonwoven layers (not shown), metallic elements or bands, foam elements, extruded polymeric elements, photocured resin elements, sintered particles, and the like. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a woven sculpted fabric  30  showing a crossover region  65  similar to that of crossover region  65   c  in FIG.  2 . Five consecutive shutes  45   a - 45   e  and two adjacent warps  44   a  and  44   b  are shown. The two warps  44   a  and  44   b  serve as a first elevated strand  41  and second elevated strand  53 , respectively, in a first background region  38  and a second background region  50 , respectively, where the warps  44   a  and  44   b  are floats  60  defining a first elevated region  40  and a second elevated region  52 , respectively. After passing through the transition region  62  and crossing over the shute  45   c  in a crossover region  65 , the two warps  44   a  and  44   b  each become sinkers  61  as the two warps  44   a  and  44   b  extend into the second background region  50  and the first background region  38 , respectively. 
     In the crossover zone  65 , the two adjacent warps  44   a  and  44   b  descend on opposite sides of a single shute  45   c . The tension in the warps  44   c  and  44   f  can act in the crossover zone  65  to bend the shute  45   c  downward relative to the neighboring shutes  45   a ,  45   b ,  45   d , and  45   e , and particularly relative to the adjacent shutes  45   b  and  45   d , resulting in a depression in the woven sculpted fabric  30  having a depression depth D relative to the maximum plane difference of the float  60  portions of the warps  44   a  and  44   b  in the adjacent first and second background regions  38  and  50 , respectively, that can result in increased depth of molding in the vicinity of the crossover zone  65 . 
     The maximum plane difference of the floats  60  may be at least about 30% of the width of at least one of the floats  60 . In other embodiments, the maximum plane difference of the floats  60  may be at least about 70%, more specifically at least about 90%. The maximum plane difference of the floats  60  may be at least about 0.12 millimeter (mm). In other embodiments, the maximum plane difference of the floats  60  may be at least about 0.25 mm, more specifically at least about 0.37 mm, and more specifically at least about 0.63 mm. 
     FIG. 4 depicts another cross-sectional view of a portion of a woven sculpted fabric  30  showing a crossover region  65 . Seven consecutive shutes  45   a-   45   g  and two adjacent warps  44   a  and  44   b  are shown. 
     The two warps  44   a  and  44   b  serve as a first elevated strand  41  and second elevated strand  53 , respectively, in a first background region  38  and second background region  50 , respectively, where the warps  44   a  and  44   b  are floats  60  defining a first elevated region  40  and second elevated region  52 , respectively. The transition region  62  spans three shutes  45   c ,  45   d  and  45   e . Proceeding from right to left, the first elevated strand  41  enters the transition region  62  between the shutes  45   f  and  45   e , descending from its status as a float  60  in first background region  38  as it passes beneath the float  45   e . It then passes over the shute  45   d  and then descends below the shute  45   c , continuing on into the second background region  50  where it becomes a sinker  61 . The second elevated strand  53  is a mirror image of the first elevated strand  41  (reflected about an imaginary vertical axis, not shown, passing through the center of the shute  45   d ) in the portion of the woven sculpted fabric  30  depicted in FIG.  4 . Thus, the second elevated strand  53  enters the transition region  62  between the shutes  45   b  and  45   c , passes over the shute  45   d , and then descends beneath the shute  45   e  to become a sinker  61  in the first background region  38 . The first elevated strand  41  and the second elevated strand  53  cross over each other in a crossover region  65  above the shute  45   d , which may be deflected downward by tension in the warps  44   a  and  44   b.    
     Also depicted is the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  of the woven sculpted fabric  30 , which can define an upper plane  32  of the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  when the fabric  30  is resting on a substantially flat surface. Not all shutes  45  in the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  sit at the same height; the uppermost shutes  45  of the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  determine the elevation of the upper plane  32  of the topmost layer of CD shutes  33 . The difference in elevation between the upper plane  32  of the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  and the highest portion of a float  60  is the “Upper Plane Difference,” as used herein, which can be 30% or greater of the diameter of the float  60 , or can be about 0.1 mm or greater; about 0.2 mm or greater; or, about 0.3 mm or greater. 
     FIG. 5 depicts another cross-sectional view of a portion of a woven sculpted fabric  30  showing a transition region  62  with a crossover region  65 , the transition region  62  being between a first background region  38  and a second background region  50 . Eleven consecutive shutes  45   a - 45   k  and two adjacent warps  44   a  and  44   b  are shown. The configuration is similar to that of FIG. 4 except that the warp  44   a  which forms the first elevated strand  41  is shifted to the right by about twice the typical shute spacing S such that the warp  44   a  no longer passes over the same shute ( 45   e  in FIG. 5, analogous to  45   d  in FIG. 4) as the warp  44   b  that forms the second elevated strand  53  before descending to become a sinker  61 . Rather, the warp  44   a  is shifted such that the warp  44   a  passes over the shute  45   g  before descending to become a sinker  61 . Both the warps  44   a  and  44   b  pass below the shute  45   f  in the crossover region  65 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts yet another cross-sectional view of a portion of a woven sculpted fabric  30  showing a transition region  62  with a crossover region  65 . Seven consecutive shutes  45   a - 45   g  and two adjacent warps  44   a  and  44   b  are shown. The crossover region  65  is similar to the crossover regions  65   a  and  65   b  of FIG.  2 . Both warps  44   a  and  44   b  descend below a common shute  45   d  in the transition region  62 , becoming the sinkers  61 . 
     FIG. 7 will be discussed hereinafter with respect to the analysis of the profile lines. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view depicting another embodiment of a woven sculpted fabric  30 . Here the two adjacent warps  44   a  and  44   b  are shown interwoven with the five consecutive shutes  45   a - 45   e . As the warp  44   a  enters the transition region  62  from the first background region  38  where the warp  44   a  is a float  60 , the warp  44   a  descends below the shute  45   c  in the transition region  62  and then rises again as it leaves the transition region  62  to become a float  60  in the second background region  50 . Likewise, the warp  44   b  is a sinker  61  in the second background region  50 , rises in the transition region  62  to pass above the shute  45   c , then descends near the end of the transition region  62  to become a sinker  61  in the first background region  38 . In the transition region  62 , there are two crossover regions  65  for the two adjacent warps  44   a  and  44   b . One can recognize that the first and second background textures  39  and  51  (not shown) formed by successive pairs of warps  44  (e.g., adjacent floats  60  and sinkers  61 , such as the warp  44   a  and the warp  44   b ) would be interrupted at the transition region  62 , and if multiple transition regions  62  were positioned to form a substantially continuous transition region  62  across a plurality of adjacent warps  44  (e.g., 8 or more adjacent warps  44 ), a curvilinear decorative element could be formed from the interruption in the background textures  39  and  51  of the background regions  38  and  50 , respectively, imparting a visually distinctive texture to the wet tissue web  15  of an absorbent tissue product  27  molded on the woven sculpted fabric  30 . 
     The sheets of the absorbent tissue products  27  (shown in FIGS. 29 and 30) of the present invention have two or more distinct textures. There may be at least one background texture  39  or  51  (also referred to as local texture) created by elevated warps  44 , shutes  45 , or other elevated elements in a woven sculpted fabric  30 . For example, a first background region  38  of such a woven sculpted fabric  30  may have a first background texture  39  corresponding to a series of elevated and depressed regions  40  and  42  having a characteristic depth. The characteristic depth can be the elevation difference between the elevated and depressed strands  41  and  43  that define the first background texture  39 , or the elevation difference between raised elements, such as the elevated warps  44  and shutes  45 , and the upper plane  32  which sits on the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  of the woven sculpted fabric  30  (shown in FIG.  4 ). The shutes  45  can be part of a base layer  31  of the woven sculpted fabric  30 , which can be a load-bearing base layer  31  (the base layer in the woven sculpted fabric  30  of FIG. 2 is depicted as the layer  31  of the shutes  45 , but can comprise additional woven or interwoven layers, or can comprise nonwoven layers or composite materials). 
     FIG. 9 is a computer generated graphic of a woven sculpted fabric  30  according to the present invention depicting the shutes  45  and only the relatively elevated portions of the warps  44  on a black background for clarity. The most elevated portions of the warps  44 , namely, the floats  60  that pass over two or more of the shutes  45 , are depicted in white. Short intermediate knuckles  59 , which are portions of the warps  44  that pass over a single shute  45 , are more tightly pulled into the woven sculpted fabric  30  and protrude relatively less. To indicate the relatively lesser height of the intermediate knuckles  59 , the intermediate knuckles  59  are depicted in gray, as are the shutes  45 . In the center of the graphic lies a first background region  38  having first elevated regions  40  (machine direction floats  60 ) separated from one another by the first depressed regions  41  comprising intermediate knuckles  59 , shutes  45 , and sinkers  61  (not shown). As a warp  44  having a first elevated region  40  passes through the transition region  62   a  and enters the second background region  50 , it descends into the woven sculpted fabric  30  and at least part of the warp  44  in the second background region  50  becomes a second depressed region  53 . Likewise, the warps  44  that form a second elevated region  52  in the second background region  50  become depressed after passing through the transition region  62   a  such that at least part of such warps  44  now form the first depressed regions  41 . 
     A second transition region  62   b  is shown in FIG. 9, although in this case it is part of repeating elements substantially identical to portions of the first transition region  62   a . In other embodiments, the woven sculpted fabric  30  can have a complex pattern such that a basic repeating unit has a plurality of background regions (e.g., three or more distinct regions) and a plurality of transition regions  62 . 
     Tissue Description 
     A second background region  50  of the woven sculpted fabric  30  may have a second background texture  51  with a similar or different characteristic depth compared to the first background texture  39  of the first background region  38 . The first and second background regions  38  and  50  are separated by a transition region  62  which forms a visually noticeable border  63  between the first and second background regions  38  and  50  and which provides a surface structure molding the wet tissue web  15  to a different depth or pattern than is possible in the first and second background regions  38  and  50 . The transition region  62  created is preferably oriented at an angle to the warp or shute directions. Thus, a wet tissue web  15  molded against the woven sculpted fabric  62  is provided with a distinctive texture corresponding to the first and/or second background textures  39  and/or  51  and substantially continuous curvilinear decorative elements corresponding to the transition region  62 , which can stand out from the surrounding first and second background texture regions  39  and  51  of the first and second background regions  38  and  50  of the wet tissue web  15  by virtue of having a different elevation (higher or lower as well as equal) or a visually distinctive area of interruption between the first and second background texture regions  39  and  51  of the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , respectively. 
     In one embodiment, the transition region  62  provides a surface structure wherein the wet tissue web  15  is molded to a greater depth than is possible in the first and second background regions  38  and  50 . Thus, a wet tissue web  15  molded against the woven sculpted fabric  30  is provided with greater indentation (higher surface depth) in the transition region  62  than in the first and second background regions  38  and  50 . 
     In other embodiments, the transition region  62  can have a surface depth that is substantially the same as the surface depth of either the first or second background regions  38  and  50 , or that is between the surface depths of the first and second background regions  38  and  50  (an intermediate surface depth), or that is within plus or minus 50% of the average surface depth of the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , or more specifically within plus or minus 20% of the average surface depth of the first and second background regions  38  and  50 . 
     When the surface depth of the transition region  62  is not greater than that of the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , the curvilinear decorative elements corresponding to the transition region  62  imparted to the wet tissue web  15  by molding against the transition region  62  is at least partially due to the interruption in the curvilinear decorative elements provided by the first and second background regions  38  and  50  which creates a visible border  63  or marking extending along the transition region  62 . The curvilinear decorative elements imparted to the wet tissue web  15  in the transition region  62  may simply be the result of a distinctive texture interrupting the first and second background regions  38  and  50 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second background regions  38  and  50  both have substantially parallel woven first and second elevated strands  41  and  53 , respectively, with a dominant direction (e.g., machine direction, cross-machine direction, or an angle therebetween), wherein first background texture  39  in the first background region  38  is offset from the second background texture  51  in the second background region  50  such that as one moves horizontally (parallel to the plane of the woven sculpted fabric  30 ) along a woven first elevated strand  41  in the first background region  38  toward the transition region  62  and continues in a straight line into the second background region  50 , a second depressed region  54  rather than a second elevated strand  58  is encountered in the second background region  50 . 
     Likewise, a first depressed region  42  that approaches the transition region  62  in the first background region  38  becomes a second elevated strand  53  in the second background region  50 . When the woven sculpted fabric  30  is comprised of woven warps  44  (machine direction strands) and shutes  45  (cross-machine direction strands), the first and second elevated regions  40  and  52  are floats  60  rising above the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  of the woven sculpted fabric  30  and crossing over a plurality of roughly orthogonal strands before descending into the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  of the woven sculpted fabric  30  again. 
     For example, a warp  44  rising above the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  of the woven sculpted fabric  30  can pass over 4 or more shutes  45  before descending into the woven sculpted fabric  30  again, such as at least any of the following number of shutes  45 : 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, and 30. While the warp  44  in question is above the topmost layer of CD shutes  33 , the immediately adjacent warps  44  are generally lower, passing into the topmost layer of CD shutes  33 . As the warp  44  in question then sinks into the topmost layer of CD shutes  33 , the adjacent warps  44  rise and extend over a plurality of shutes  45 . Generally, over much of the woven sculpted fabric  30 , four adjacent warps  44  arbitrarily numbered in order 1, 2, 3, and 4, can have warps  44  1 and 3 rise above the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  to descend below the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  after a distance, at which point warps  44  2 and 4 are initially primarily below the surface of the warps  44  in the topmost layer of CD shutes  33  but rise in the region where warps  44  1 and 3 descend. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the first and second background regions  38  and  50  both have substantially parallel woven first and second elevated strands  41  and  53  with a dominant direction (e.g., machine direction, cross-machine direction, or an angle therebetween), wherein first background texture  39  in the first background region  38  is offset from the second background texture  51  in the second background region  50  such that as one moves horizontally (parallel to the plane of the woven sculpted fabric  30 ) along a woven first elevated strand  41  in the first background region  38  toward the transition region  62  and continues in a straight line into the second background region  50 , a woven second elevated strand  53  rather than a second depressed region  54  is encountered in the second background region  50 . Likewise, a first depressed region  42  that approaches the transition region  62  in the first background region  38  becomes a second depressed region  54  in the second background region  50 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the woven sculpted fabric  30  is a woven fabric having a tissue contacting surface including at least two groups of strands, a first group of strands  46  extending in a first direction, and a second group of strands  58  extending in a second direction which can be substantially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the first group of strands  46  provides elevated floats  60  defining a three-dimensional fabric surface comprising: 
     a) a first background region  38  comprising a plurality of substantially parallel first elevated strands  41  separated by substantially parallel first depressed strands  43 , wherein each first depressed strand  43  is surrounded by an adjacent first elevated strand  41  on each side, and each first elevated strand  41  is surrounded by an adjacent first depressed strand  43  on each side; 
     b) a second background region  50  comprising a plurality of substantially parallel second elevated strands  53  separated by substantially parallel second depressed strands  55 , wherein each second depressed strand  55  is surrounded by an adjacent second elevated strand  53  on each side, and each second elevated strand  53  is surrounded by an adjacent second depressed strand  55  on each side; and, 
     c) a transition region  62  between the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , wherein the first and second elevated strands  41  and  53  of both the first and second background regions  38  and  50  descend to become, respectively, the first and second depressed strands  43  and  55  of the second and first background regions  38  and  50 . In the transition region  62 , the first group of strands  46  may overlap with a number of strands in the second group of strands  58 , such as any of the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, two or more, two or less, and three or less. 
     Each pair of first elevated floats  41  is separated by a distance of at least about 0.3 mm. In other embodiments, each pair of first elevated floats  41  is separated by a distance ranging between about 0.3 mm to about 25 mm, more specifically between about 0.3 mm to about 8 mm, more specifically between about 0.3 mm to about 3 mm, more specifically between about 0.3 mm to about 1 mm, more specifically between about 0.8 mm to about 1 mm. Each pair of second elevated floats  53  is separated by a distance of at least about 0.3 mm. In other embodiments, each pair of second elevated floats  53  is separated by a distance ranging between about 0.3 mm to about 25 mm, more specifically between about 0.3 mm to about 8 mm, more specifically between about 0.3 mm to about 3 mm, more specifically between about 0.3 mm to about 1 mm, more specifically between about 0.8 mm to about 1 mm. 
     The resulting surface topography of the dried tissue web  23  may comprise a primary pattern  64  having a regular repeating unit cell that can be a parallelogram with sides between 2 and 180 mm in length. For wetlaid materials, these three-dimensional basesheet structures can be created by molding the wet tissue web  15  against the woven sculpted fabrics  30  of the present invention, typically with a pneumatic pressure differential, followed by drying. In this manner, the three-dimensional structure of the dried tissue web  23  is more likely to be retained upon wetting of the dried tissue web  23 , helping to provide high wet resiliency. 
     In addition to the regular geometrical patterns (resulting from the first and second background texture regions  39  and  51 , and the curvilinear decorative elements of the primary pattern  64 , imparted by the woven sculpted fabrics  30  and other typical fabrics used in creating a dried tissue web  23 , additional fine structure, with an in-plane length scale less than about 1 mm, can be present in the dried tissue web  23 . Such a fine structure may stem from microfolds created during differential velocity transfer of the wet tissue web  15  from one fabric or wire to another fabric or wire prior to drying. Some of the absorbent tissue products  27  of the present invention, for example, appear to have a fine structure with a fine surface depth of 0.1 mm or greater, and sometimes 0.2 mm or greater, when height profiles are measured using a commercial moiré interferometer system. These fine peaks have a typical half-width less than 1 mm. The fine structure from differential velocity transfer and other treatments may be useful in providing additional softness, flexibility, and bulk. Measurement of the fine surface structures and the geometrical patterns is described below. 
     CADEYES MEASUREMENTS 
     One measure of the degree of molding created in a wet tissue web  15  using the woven sculpted fabrics  30  of the present invention involves the concept of optically measured surface depth. As used herein, “surface depth” refers to the characteristic height of peaks relative to surrounding valleys in a portion of a structure such as a wet tissue web  15  or putty impression of a woven sculpted fabric  30 . In many embodiments of the present invention, topographical measurements along a particular line will reveal many valleys having a relatively uniform elevation, with peaks of different heights corresponding to the first and second background texture regions  39  and  51  and a more prominent primary pattern  64 . The characteristic elevation relative to a baseline defined by surrounding valleys is the surface depth of a particular portion of the structure being measured. For example, the surface depth of a first or second background texture regions  39  or  51  of a wet tissue web  15  may be 0.4 mm or less, while the surface depth of the primary pattern  64  may be 0.5 mm or greater, allowing the primary pattern  64  to stand out from the first or second background texture regions  39  or  51 . 
     The wet tissue webs  15  created in the present invention possess three-dimensional structures and can have a Surface Depth for the first or second background texture regions  39  or  51  and/or primary pattern  64  of about 0.15 mm. or greater, more specifically about 0.3 mm. or greater, still more specifically about 0.4 mm. or greater, still more specifically about 0.5 mm. or greater, and most specifically from about 0.4 to about 0.8 mm. The primary pattern  64  may have a surface depth that is greater than the surface depth of the first or second background texture regions  39  or  51  by at least about 10%, more specifically at least about 25%, more specifically still at least about 50%, and most specifically at least about 80%, with an exemplary range of from about 30% to about 100%. Obviously, elevated molded structures on one side of a wet tissue web  15  can correspond to depressed molded structures on the opposite of the wet tissue web  15 . The side of the wet tissue web  15  giving the highest Surface Depth for the primary pattern  64  generally is the side that should be measured. 
     A suitable method for measurement of Surface Depth is moiré interferometry, which permits accurate measurement without deformation of the surface of the wet tissue webs  15 . For reference to the wet tissue webs  15  of the present invention, the surface topography of the wet tissue webs  15  should be measured using a computer-controlled white-light field-shifted moiré interferometer with about a 38 mm field of view. The principles of a useful implementation of such a system are described in Bieman et al. (L. Bieman, K. Harding, and A. Boehnlein, “Absolute Measurement Using Field-Shifted Moiré,” SPIE Optical Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1614, pp. 259-264, 1991). A suitable commercial instrument for moiré interferometry is the CADEYES® interferometer produced by Integral Vision (Farmington Hills, Mich.), constructed for a 38-mm field-of-view (a field of view within the range of 37 to 39.5 mm is adequate). The CADEYES® system uses white light which is projected through a grid to project fine black lines onto the sample surface. The surface is viewed through a similar grid, creating moiré fringes that are viewed by a CCD camera. Suitable lenses and a stepper motor adjust the optical configuration for field shifting (a technique described below). A video processor sends captured fringe images to a PC computer for processing, allowing details of surface height to be back-calculated from the fringe patterns viewed by the video camera. 
     In the CADEYES moiré interferometry system, each pixel in the CCD video image is said to belong to a moiré fringe that is associated with a particular height range. The method of field-shifting, as described by Bieman et al. (L. Bieman, K. Harding, and A. Boehnlein, “Absolute Measurement Using Field-Shifted Moiré,” SPIE Optical Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1614, pp. 259-264, 1991) and as originally patented by Boehnlein (U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,548, herein incorporated by reference), is used to identify the fringe number for each point in the video image (indicating which fringe a point belongs). The fringe number is needed to determine the absolute height at the measurement point relative to a reference plane. A field-shifting technique (sometimes termed phase-shifting in the art) is also used for sub-fringe analysis (accurate determination of the height of the measurement point within the height range occupied by its fringe). These field-shifting methods coupled with a camera-based interferometry approach allows accurate and rapid absolute height measurement, permitting measurement to be made in spite of possible height discontinuities in the surface. The technique allows absolute height of each of the roughly 250,000 discrete points (pixels) on the sample surface to be obtained, if suitable optics, video hardware, data acquisition equipment, and software are used that incorporates the principles of moiré interferometry with field-shifting. Each point measured has a resolution of approximately 1.5 microns in its height measurement. 
     The computerized interferometer system is used to acquire topographical data and then to generate a grayscale image of the topographical data, said image to be hereinafter called “the height map”. The height map is displayed on a computer monitor, typically in 256 shades of gray and is quantitatively based on the topographical data obtained for the sample being measured. The resulting height map for the 38-mm square measurement area should contain approximately 250,000 data points corresponding to approximately 500 pixels in both the horizontal and vertical directions of the displayed height map. The pixel dimensions of the height map are based on a 512×512 CCD camera which provides images of moiré patterns on the sample which can be analyzed by computer software. Each pixel in the height map represents a height measurement at the corresponding x- and y-location on the sample. In the recommended system, each pixel has a width of approximately 70 microns, i.e. represents a region on the sample surface about 70 microns long in both orthogonal in-plane directions). This level of resolution prevents single fibers projecting above the surface from having a significant effect on the surface height measurement. The z-direction height measurement must have a nominal accuracy of less than 2 microns and a z-direction range of at least 1.5 mm. (For further background on the measurement method, see the CADEYES Product Guide, Integral Vision, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1994, or other CADEYES manuals and publications of Integral Vision, formerly known as Medar, Inc.). 
     The CADEYES system can measure up to 8 moiré fringes, with each fringe being divided into 256 depth counts (sub-fringe height increments, the smallest resolvable height difference). There will be 2048 height counts over the measurement range. This determines the total z-direction range, which is approximately 3 mm in the 38-mm field-of-view instrument. If the height variation in the field of view covers more than eight fringes, a wrap-around effect occurs, in which the ninth fringe is labeled as if it were the first fringe and the tenth fringe is labeled as the second, etc. In other words, the measured height will be shifted by 2048 depth counts. Accurate measurement is limited to the main field of 8 fringes. 
     The moiré interferometer system, once installed and factory calibrated to provide the accuracy and z-direction range stated above, can provide accurate topographical data for materials such as paper towels. (Those skilled in the art may confirm the accuracy of factory calibration by performing measurements on surfaces with known dimensions). Tests are performed in a room under Tappi conditions (23° C., 50% relative humidity). The sample must be placed flat on a surface lying aligned or nearly aligned with the measurement plane of the instrument and should be at such a height that both the lowest and highest regions of interest are within the measurement region of the instrument. 
     Once properly placed, data acquisition is initiated using Integral Visions&#39;s PC software and a height map of 250,000 data points is acquired and displayed, typically within 30 seconds from the time data acquisition was initiated. (Using the CADEYES® system, the “contrast threshold level” for noise rejection is set to 1, providing some noise rejection without excessive rejection of data points). Data reduction and display are achieved using CADEYES® software for PCs, which incorporates a customizable interface based on Microsoft Visual Basic Professional for Windows (version 3.0). The Visual Basic interface allows users to add custom analysis tools. 
     The height map of the topographical data can then be used by those skilled in the art to identify characteristic unit cell structures (in the case of structures created by fabric patterns; these are typically parallelograms arranged like tiles to cover a larger two-dimensional area) and to measure the typical peak to valley depth of such structures. A simple method of doing this is to extract two-dimensional height profiles from lines drawn on the topographical height map which pass through the highest and lowest areas of the unit cells. These height profiles can then be analyzed for the peak to valley distance, if the profiles are taken from a sheet or portion of the sheet that was lying relatively flat when measured. To eliminate the effect of occasional optical noise and possible outliers, the highest 10% and the lowest 10% of the profile should be excluded, and the height range of the remaining points is taken as the surface depth. Technically, the procedure requires calculating the variable which we term “P10,” defined at the height difference between the 10% and 90% material lines, with the concept of material lines being well known in the art, as explained by L. Mummery, in  Surface Texture Analysis: The Handbook , Hommelwerke GmbH, Mühlhausen, Germany, 1990. In this approach, which will be illustrated with respect to FIG. 7, the surface  70  is viewed as a transition from air  71  to material  72 . For a given profile  73 , taken from a flat-lying sheet, the greatest height at which the surface begins—the height of the highest peak—is the elevation of the “0% reference line”  74  or the “0% material line,” meaning that 0% of the length of the horizontal line at that height is occupied by material  72 . Along the horizontal line passing through the lowest point of the profile  73 , 100% of the line is occupied by material  72 , making that line the “100% material line”  75 . In between the 0% and 100% material lines  74  and  75  (between the maximum and minimum points of the profile), the fraction of horizontal line length occupied by material  72  will increase monotonically as the line elevation is decreased. The material ratio curve  76  gives the relationship between material fraction along a horizontal line passing through the profile  73  and the height of the line. The material ratio curve  76  is also the cumulative height distribution of a profile  73 . (A more accurate term might be “material fraction curve”). 
     Once the material ratio curve  76  is established, one can use it to define a characteristic peak height of the profile  73 . The P 10  “typical peak-to-valley height” parameter is defined as the difference  77  between the heights of the 10% material line  78  and the 90% material line  79 . This parameter is relatively robust in that outliers or unusual excursions from the typical profile structure have little influence on the P 10  height. The units of P 10  are mm. The Overall Surface Depth of a material  72  is reported as the P 10  surface depth value for profile lines encompassing the height extremes of the typical unit cell of that surface  70 . “Fine surface depth” is the P 10  value for a profile  73  taken along a plateau region of the surface  70  which is relatively uniform in height relative to profiles  73  encompassing a maxima and minima of the unit cells. Unless otherwise specified, measurements are reported for the surface  70  that is the most textured side of the wet tissue webs  15  of the present invention, which is typically the side that was in contact with the through-drying fabric  19  when air flow is toward the throughdryer  21 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
     FIG. 10 shows a screen shot  66  of the CADEYES® software main window containing a height map  80  of a putty impression of the woven sculpted fabric  30  made in accordance with the present invention. The height map  80  was created with a 35-mm field of view optical head with the CADEYES® moiré interferometry system. The putty impression was made using 65 grams of coral-colored Dow Corning 3179 Dilatant Compound (believed to be the original “Silly Putty®” material) in a conditioned room at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity. The Dilatant Compound was rendered more opaque for better results with moiré interferometry by the addition of 0.8 g of white solids applied by painting white Pentel® (Torrance, Calif.) Correction Pen fluid (purchased 1997) on portions of the putty, allowing the fluid to dry, and then blending the painted portions to uniformly disperse the white solids (believed to be primarily titanium dioxide) throughout the putty. This action was repeated approximately a dozen times until a mass increase of 0.8 grams was obtained. The putty was rolled into a flat, smooth 9-cm wide disk, about 0.7 cm thick, which was placed over the woven sculpted fabric  30 . A stiff, clear plastic block with dimensions 22 cm×9 cm×1.3 cm, having a mass of 408 g, was centered over the putty disk and a 3.73 kg brass cylinder of 6.3-cm diameter was placed on the plastic block, also centered over the putty disk, and allowed to reside on the block for 8 seconds to drive the putty into the woven sculpted fabric  30 . After 8 seconds, the brass cylinder and plastic block were removed, and the putty was gently lifted from the woven sculpted fabric  30 . The molded side of the putty was turned face up and placed under a 35-mm field-of-view optical head of the CADEYES® device for measurement. 
     In the height map  80  in FIG. 10, the horizontal bands of dark and light areas correspond to elevated and depressed regions. In a first background region  38 ′, there are first elevated regions  40 ′ and first depressed regions  42 ′ created by molding against the first depressed regions  42  and the first elevated regions  40 , respectively, in a first background region  38  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown). In a second background region  50 ′, there are second elevated regions  52 ′ and second depressed regions  54 ′ corresponding to the second depressed regions  52  and the second elevated regions  54  in a second background region  50  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown). Between the first background region  38 ′ and the second background region  50 ′ is a transition region  62 ′ which is elevated, corresponding to a depressed transition region  62  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown). The elevated curvilinear decorative elements forming a transition region  62 ′ on the molded surface define a repeating elevated primary pattern  64  in which the repeating unit can be described as a diamond with concave sides. The junctions of the opposing MD strands in the transition region  62  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown) form pockets or segments of different plane height which visually connect to form curvilinear decorative elements making aesthetically pleasing design highlights in materials molded thereon. 
     The height map  80  contains some optical noise distorting the image along the left border of the height map  80 , and occasional spikes from optical noise in other portions of the image. Nevertheless, the structure of the putty impression is clearly discernible. The profile display  81  below the height map  80  shows the topography in the form of a profile  82  taken along a vertical profile line  87 . The topographical features of the profile  82  include peaks and valleys corresponding to first and second elevated regions  40 ′ and  52 ′ (the peaks) and first and second depressed regions  42 ′ and  54 ′ (the valleys), respectively, and the elevated transition regions  62 ′ that form the repeating curvilinear primary pattern  64 . 
     FIG. 11 shows a screen shot  66  of the CADEYES® software main window containing a height map  80  of a dried tissue web  23  molded on a woven sculpted fabric  30 , using a process substantially the same as the one described in the Example. The height map  80  is for a zoomed-in region covering a single unit cell of the curvilinear primary pattern  64 . The face-up side of the dried tissue web  23 —i.e., the surface being measured—is the side that was remote from the woven sculpted fabric  30  during through air drying, termed the “air side” of the dried tissue web  23 , as opposed to the opposing “fabric side” (not shown) that was in contact with the woven sculpted fabric  30  during through drying. Here, through drying on the woven sculpted fabric  30  imparted a molded texture that resembles the inverse of the texture in FIG.  10 . Thus, in the first background region  38 ′, there are first elevated regions  40 ′ and first depressed regions  42 ′ created by molding of the fabric side of the tissue against first elevated regions  40  and first depressed regions  42 , respectively, in a first background region  38  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown). In the second background region  50 ′, there are second elevated regions  52 ′ and second depressed regions  54 ′ corresponding to second elevated regions  52  and second depressed regions  54  in a second background region  50  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown). Between the first background region  38 ′ and the second background region  50 ′ is a transition region  62 ′ which is depressed on the side of the dried tissue web  23  measured (the air side), but elevated on the opposing side (the fabric side), corresponding to a depressed transition region  62  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown). The depressed curvilinear decorative elements forming the transition region  62 ′ on the molded surface of the dried tissue web  23  define a repeating elevated primary pattern  64  in which the repeating unit can be described as a diamond with concave sides. The junctions of the opposing MD strands in the transition region  62  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (not shown) form pockets or segments of different plane height which visually connect to form curvilinear decorative elements making aesthetically pleasing design highlights in materials molded thereon. Thus, the depressed transition regions  62 ′ form a repeating curvilinear primary pattern  64 . 
     The profile  82  along a vertical profile line  87  on the height map  80  is shown in the profile display  81  below the height map  80 , in which two depressed transition regions  62 ′ can be seen in the midst of the otherwise regular peaks and valleys, wherein the peaks correspond to first and second elevated regions  40 ′ and  52 ′, respectively, and the valleys correspond to first and second depressed regions  42 ′ and  54 ′, respectively. 
     FIG. 12 depicts a section of the height map  80  of FIG. 10 further displaying a profile  82  along a vertical profile line  87  on the height map  80 . The profile  82  shown in a vertically oriented profile display  81  comprises peaks and valleys, wherein the peaks correspond to first and second elevated regions  40 ′ and  52 ′, respectively, and the valleys correspond to first and second depressed regions  42 ′ and  54 ′, respectively, with transition regions  62 ′ also visible as relatively elevated features. A characteristic height of the peaks away from the transition regions  62 ′ is about 0.54 mm, while the transition regions  62 ′ display higher and broader peaks, with heights of about 0.75 mm. 
     FIG. 13 shows a section of a height map  80  for the dried tissue web  23  throughdried on the woven sculpted fabric  30  used in FIG. 10, but with the sculpted fabric face up of the dried tissue web  23  (the side that was in contact with the woven sculpted fabric  30  during through drying). The profile display  81  shows a profile  82  measured along the vertical profile line  87  drawn across the height map  80  corresponding to the cross-machine direction of the tissue web  23 . The profile  82  has peaks corresponding to first and second elevated regions  40 ′ and  52 ′, respectively, and the valleys corresponding to first and second depressed regions  42 ′ and  54 ′, respectively, with transition regions  62 ′ also visible as relatively elevated features. The profile  82  shows that the broad peaks in the transition region  62 ′ have a greater height than the peaks away from the transition region  62 ′. Relative to the valleys (the first depressed regions  42 ′) in the first background region  38 , the peaks of the transition region  62 ′ show a height of about 0.55 mm. In the first background region  38 ′, the peaks (the first elevated regions  40 ′) have about half the height of the transition region  62 ′ (e.g., a height of about 0.25 mm). 
     FIG. 14 shows a portion of the height map  80  of FIG. 11 with an accompanying profile display  81  showing a profile  82  taken along the horizontal (machine direction) profile line  87  drawn on the height map  80 . The profile  82  extends along the second elevated regions  52 ′ outside of the first background region  38 ′ and along the first depressed region  42 ′ within the first background region  38 ′. A height difference Z of about 0.5 mm is spanned from the higher portion of the second elevated region  52 ′ to the depressed transition region  62 ′. 
     FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 14 except that a different profile line  87  is used, resulting in a different displayed profile  82  in the profile display  81 . The profile line  87  runs substantially in the machine direction, passing along a first depressed region  42 ′ in the first background region  38 ′, then passing through a transition region  62 ′ and then along a second elevated region  52 ′ in the second background region  50 ′. A vertical height difference Z of about 0.42 mm is spanned from the second elevated region  52 ′ to the first depressed region  42 ′. The transition region  62  is about 0.2 mm lower than the first depressed region  42 ′ on this view of the fabric side of a molded dried tissue web  23  that has been throughdried on a woven sculpted fabric  30  according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 shows a height map  80  of a putty impression of another woven sculpted fabric  30  made in accordance to the present invention, with a profile display  81  showing a profile  82  measured along a profile line  87  that spans a first background region  38 ′ and a second background region  50 ′ with a transition region  62 ′ therebetween. Based on the profile  82 , the transition region  62 ′ differs from the first elevated region  40 ′ by over than 0.4 mm, and differs from the second depressed region  54 ′ by over 0.8 mm (the height Z). Here the transition region  62 ′ forms a curvilinear decorative element with arcuate sides that entirely bound a closed area, though a portion of the closed area is not shown. Such closed areas can have a maximum diameter (maximum length of a line that can fit within the closed boundary while in the plane of the woven sculpted fabric  30 ) of any of the following: 5 mm or greater; 10 mm or greater; 25 mm or greater; 50 mm or greater; and, 180 mm or greater, with an exemplary range of from about 8 mm to about 75 mm. 
     FIG. 17 shows a height map  80  of a putty impression of yet another woven sculpted fabric  30  made in accordance to the present invention, wherein the transition regions  62 ′ form parallel lines at an angle relative to the substantially unidirectional warps  44  of the woven sculpted fabric  30 . In the profile display  81 , a profile  82  is shown corresponding to the surface height along the profile line  87  is substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction. The profile line  87  passes over second elevated regions  52 ′ and second depressed regions  54 ′ in the second background region  50 ′, then passes across a transition region  62 ′ and then over first elevated regions  40 ′ and second depressed regions  42 ′. Here each transition region  62 ′ is substantially straight and forms a long line parallel to other transition regions  62 ′. In general, when a transition region  62 ′ defines a line, the line can be at any angle to the machine direction (direction of the warps  44 ), such as an absolute angle of 20 degrees or more, more specifically from about 20 degrees to less than 90 degrees, most specifically from about 30 degree to about 65 degrees. The height difference Z between the most elevated portion of the transition region  62 ′ along the profile  82  and the first depressed region of the first background region  38  is about 0.6 mm. 
     FIG. 18 shows a schematic of a composite sculpted fabric  100  comprising a base fabric  102  with raised elements  108  attached thereon. The raised elements  108  as shown are aligned substantially in the machine direction  120  (orthogonal to the cross-machine direction  118 ) in the portion of the composite sculpted fabric  100  shown, though the raised elements  108  could be oriented in any direction and could be oriented in a plurality of directions. The raised elements  108  as depicted have a height H, a length L, and a width W. The height H can be greater than about 0.1 mm, such as from about 0.2 mm to about 5 mm, more specifically from about 0.3 mm to about 1.5 mm, and most specifically from about 0.3 mm to about 0.7 mm. The length L can be greater than 2 mm, such as about 3 mm or greater, or from about 4 mm to about 25 mm. The width W can be greater than about 0.1 mm such as from about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm, more specifically from about 0.3 mm to about 1 mm. 
     In a first background region  38 , the machine-direction oriented, elongated raised elements  108  act as floats  60  that serve as first elevated regions  40 , with first depressed regions  42  therebetween that reside substantially on the underlying base fabric  102 , which can be a woven fabric. In a second background region  50 , the raised elements  108  act as floats  60  that serve as second elevated regions  52 , with second depressed regions  54  therebetween that reside substantially on the underlying base fabric  102 . 
     A transition region  62  is formed when a first elevated region  40  from a first background region  38  of the composite sculpted fabric  100  has an end  122  in the vicinity of the beginning  124  of two adjacent second elevated regions  52  in a second background region  50  of the composite sculpted fabric  100 , with the end  122  disposed in the cross-machine direction  118  at a position intermediate to the respective cross-machine direction locations of the two adjacent second elevated regions  52 , wherein the end  122  of raised elements  108  (either a first elevated region  40  or second elevated region  52 ) refers to the termination of the raised element  108  encountered while moving along the composite sculpted fabric  100  in the machine direction  120 , and the beginning  124  of a raised element  108  refers to the initial portion of the raised element  108  encountered while moving along the composite sculpted fabric  100  in the same direction. Were the raised elements  108  oriented in another direction, the direction of orientation for each raised element  108  is the direction one moves along in identifying ends  122  and beginnings  124  of raised elements  108  in order to identify their relationship in a consistent manner. Generally, features of the raised elements  108  can be successfully identified when either of the two possible directions (forward and reverse, for example) along the raised element  108  is defined as the positive direction for travel. 
     The transition region  62  separates the first and second background regions  38  and  50 . The shifting of the cross-machine directional locations of the raised elements  108  in the transition region  62  creates a break in the patterns of the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , contributing to the visual distinctiveness of the portion of the wet tissue web  15  molded against the transition region  62  of the composite sculpted fabric  100  relative to the portion of the wet tissue web  15  molded against the surrounding first and second background regions  38  and  50 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the transition region  62  is also characterized by a gap width G which is the distance in the machine direction  120  (or, more generally, whatever direction the raised elements  108  are predominantly oriented in) between an end  122  of a raised element  108  in the first background region  38  and the nearest beginning  124  of a raised element  108  in the second background region  50 . The gap width G can vary in the transition region  62  or can be substantially constant. For positive gap widths G such as is shown in FIG. 18, G can vary, by way of example, from about 0 to about 20 mm, such as from about 0.5 mm to about 8 mm, or from about 1 mm to about 3 mm. 
     A base fabric  102  can be woven or nonwoven, or a composite of woven and nonwoven elements or layers. The embodiment of the base fabric  102  depicted in FIG. 18 is woven, with the shutes  45  extending in the cross-machine direction  118  and the warps  44  in the machine direction  120 . The base fabric  102  can be woven according to any pattern known in the art and can comprise any materials known in the art. As with any woven strands for any fabrics of the present invention, the strands need not be circular in cross-section but can be elliptical, flattened, rectangular, cabled, oval, semi-oval, rectangular with rounded edges, trapezoidal, parallelograms, bi-lobal, multi-lobal, or can have capillary channels. The cross sectional shapes may vary along a raised element  108 ; multiple raised elements with differing cross sectional shapes may be used on the composite sculpted fabric  100  as desired. Hollow filaments can also be used. 
     The raised elements  108  can be integral with the base fabric  102 . For example, a composite sculpted fabric  100  can be formed by photocuring of elevated resinous elements which encompass portions of the warps  44  and shutes  45  of the base fabric  102 . Photocuring methods can include UV curing, visible light curing, electron beam curing, gamma radiation curing, radiofrequency curing, microwave curing, infrared curing, or other known curing methods involving application of radiation to cure a resin. Curing can also occur via chemical reaction without the need for added radiation as in the curing of an epoxy resin, extrusion of an autocuring polymer such as polyurethane mixture, thermal curing, solidifying of an applied hotmelt or molten thermoplastic, sintering of a powder in place on a fabric, and application of material to the base fabric  102  in a pattern by known rapid prototyping methods or methods of sculpting a fabric. Photocured resin and other polymeric forms of the raised elements  108  can be attached to a base fabric  102  according to the methods in any of the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,222, issued on Oct. 21, 1997 to Rasch et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,345, issued on Apr. 30, 1985 to Johnson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,289, issued on Aug. 2, 1994 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,239, issued on Jul. 9, 1985 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,859, issued on Jan. 20, 1987 to Trokhan; commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,642, issued on Sep. 19, 2000 to Lindsay and Burazin; and, commonly owned patent application Ser. Nos. 09/705,684 and Ser. No. 09/706,149, both filed on Nov. 3, 2000 by Lindsay et al.; all of which are herein incorporated by reference to the extent they are not contradictory herewith. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,642, issued on Sep. 19, 2000 to Lindsay and Burazin, discloses methods of producing sculpted nonwoven throughdrying fabrics, and such methods can be applied in general to create composite sculpted fabrics  100  of the present invention. In one embodiment, such composite sculpted fabrics  100  comprise an upper porous nonwoven member and an underlying porous member supporting the upper porous member, wherein the upper porous nonwoven member comprises a nonwoven material (e.g., a fibrous nonwoven, an extruded polymeric network, or a foam-based material) that is substantially deformable. More specifically, the can have a High Pressure Compressive Compliance (hereinafter defined) greater than 0.05, more specifically greater than 0.1, and wherein the permeability of the wet molding substrate is sufficient to permit an air pressure differential across the wet molding substrate to effectively mold said web onto said upper porous nonwoven member to impart a three-dimensional structure to said web. 
     As used herein, “High Pressure Compressive Compliance” is a measure of the deformability of a substantially planar sample of the material having a basis weight above 50 gsm compressed by a weighted platen of 3-inches in diameter to impart mechanical loads of 0.2 psi and then 2.0 psi, measuring the thickness of the sample while under such compressive loads. Subtracting the ratio of thickness at 2.0 psi to thickness at 0.2 psi from 1 yields the High Pressure Compressive Compliance. In other word, High Pressure Compressive Compliance=1−(thickness at 2.0 psi/thickness at 0.2 psi). The High Pressure Compressive Compliance can be greater than about 0.05, specifically greater than about 0.15, more specifically greater than about 0.25, still more specifically greater than about 0.35, and most specifically between about 0.1 and about 0.5. In another embodiment, the High Pressure Compressive Compliance can be less than about 0.05, in cases where a less deformable composite sculpted fabric  100  is desired. 
     Other known methods can be used to created the composite sculpted fabrics  100  of the present invention, including laser drilling of a polymeric web to impart elevated and depressed regions, ablation, extrusion molding or other molding operations to impart a three-dimensional structure to a nonwoven material, stamping, and the like, as disclosed in commonly owned patent application Ser. Nos. 09/705,684 and Ser. No. 09/706,149, both filed on Nov. 3, 2000 by Lindsay et al.; previously incorporated by reference. 
     FIG. 19 depicts another embodiment of a composite sculpted fabric  100  comprising a base fabric  102  with raised elements  108  attached thereon, similar to that of FIG. 18 but with raised elements  108  that taper to a low height H 2  relative to the minimum height H 1  of the raised element  108 . H 1  can be from about 0.1 mm to about 6 mm, such as from about 0.2 mm to about 5 mm, more specifically from about 0.25 mm to about 3 mm, and most specifically from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm. The ratio of H 2  to H 1  can be from about 0.01 to about 0.99, such as from about 0.1 to about 0.9, more specifically from about 0.2 to about 0.8, more specifically still from about 0.3 to about 0.7, and most specifically from about 0.3 to about 0.5. The ratio of H 2  to H 1  can also be less than about 0.7, about 0.5, about 0.4, or about 0.3. Further, the gap width G, the distance between the beginning  124  and ends  122  of nearby raised elements  108  from adjacent first and second background regions  38  and  50 , is now negative, meaning that the end  122  of one raised element  108  (a first elevated region  40 ) in the first background region  38  extends in machine direction  120  past the beginning  124  of the nearest raised element  108  (a second elevated region  52 ) in the second background region  50  such that raised elements  108  overlap in the transition region  62 . Two gap widths G are shown: G 1  and G 2  at differing locations in the composite sculpted fabric  100 . Here the gap width G has nonpositive values, such as from about 0 to about −10 mm, or from about −0.5 mm to about −4 mm, or from about −0.5 mm to about −2 mm. However, a given composite sculpted fabric  100  may have portions of the transition region  62  that have both nonnegative and nonpositive (or positive and negative) values of G. 
     It is recognized that other topographical elements may be present on the surface of the composite sculpted fabric  100  as long as the ability of the raised elements  108  and the transition region  62  to create a visually distinctive molded wet tissue web  15  is not compromised. For example, the composite sculpted fabric  100  could further comprise a plurality of minor raised elements (not shown) such as ovals or lines having a height less than, for example, about 50% of the minimum height H 1  of the raised elements  108 . 
     FIGS. 20-22 are schematic diagram views of the raised elements  108  in a composite sculpted fabric  100  depicting alternate forms of the raised elements  108  according to the present invention. In each case, a set of first raised elements  108 ′ in a first background region  38  interacts with a set of second raised elements  108 ″ in a second background region  50  to define a transition region  62  between the first and second background regions  38  and  50 , wherein both the discontinuity or shift in the pattern across the transition region  62  as well as an optional change in surface topography along the transition region  62  contribute to a distinctive visual appearance in the wet tissue web  15  molded against the composite sculpted fabric  100 , wherein the loci of transition regions  62  define a visible pattern in the molded wet tissue web  15  (not shown). In FIG. 20, the first and second raised elements  108 ′ and  108 ″ overlap slightly and define a nonlinear transition region  62  (i.e., there is a slight curve to it as depicted). Further, parallel, adjacent raised elements  108  in either a first or second background region  38  or  50 , are spaced apart in the cross-machine direction  118  by a distance S slightly greater than the width W of a first or second raised element  108 ′ or  108 ″ (e.g., the cross-machine direction spacing from centerline to centerline of the first and second raised elements  108 ′ and  108 ″ divided by the width W of the first and second raised elements  108 ′ and  108 ″ can be greater than about 1, such as from about 1.2 to about 5, or from about 1.3 to about 4, or from about 1.5 to about 3. In FIG. 21, the spacing S is nearly the same as the width W (e.g., the ratio S/W can be less than about 1.2, such as about 1.1 or less or about 1.05 or less). Further, the overlapping first and second raised elements  108 ′ and  108 ″ in the transition region  62  results in a gap width of about −2W or less (meaning that the ends  122  and beginnings  124  of the first and second raised elements  108 ′ and  108 ″ overlap by a distance of about twice or more the width W of the first and second raised elements  108 ′ and  108 ″). In FIG. 22, the tapered raised elements  108  are depicted which are otherwise similar to the raised elements  108  as shown in FIG.  20 . 
     It will be recognized that the shapes and dimensions of the raised elements  108  need not be similar throughout the composite sculpted fabric  100 , but can differ from any of the first and second background region  38  or  50  to another or even within a first or second background region  38  or  50 . Thus, there may be a first background region  38  comprising cured resin first raised elements  108 ′ having a shape and dimensions (W, L, H, and S, for example) different from those of the second raised elements  108 ″ of the second background region  50 . 
     The raised elements  108  need not be straight, as generally depicted in the previous figures, but may be curvilinear. 
     In FIGS. 23 and 24, a portion of the CADEYES height map  80  referred to in FIG. 17 was used to identify the approximate contour of elevated portions of the transition region  62 ′. The original portion of the height map  80  is shown in FIG.  23 . The modified version is shown in FIG.  24 . The modified version was created by importing the original into the PhotoPlus 7® graphics program for the PC by Serif, Inc. (Hudson, N.H.). The image was treated with the “Stretch” command to distribute the color histogram levels more fully across the spectrum. Then the most elevated portion of the transition region  62 ′ in the lower half of the image was selected by clicking with the color selection tool set to a tolerance value of 12. The selected region of the transition region  62 ′ was then filled with white. The same procedure was applied to the transition region  62 ′ in the upper left hand corner of the image. The white portions of the transition region  62 ′ in effect show the shape of the contour encompassing the highest portions of the surface, and correspond roughly to the upper contours that could be imparted to a dried tissue web  23 . The elevated contours have a generally sinuous shape, with depressed islands corresponding to the floats  60  or knuckles of the woven sculpted fabric  30 . 
     FIG. 25 depicts a portion of a dried tissue web  23  having a continuous background texture  146  depicted as a rectilinear grid, though any pattern or texture could be used. The dried tissue web  23  further comprises a raised transition region  62 ′ which has a visually distinctive primary pattern  145 . In a local region  148  of the dried tissue web  23  that spans both sides of a portion of the transition region  62 ′, two portions the background texture  146  define, at a local level, a first background region  38 ′ and a second background region  50 ′ separated by a transition region  62 ′ in the dried tissue web  23 . Thus, the first background region  38 ′ and the second background region  50 ′, though separated by the transition region  62 ′, are nevertheless contiguous outside the local region  148  of the dried tissue web  23 . In other embodiments, the transition region  62 ′ can define enclosed first and second background regions  38 ′ and  50 ′, respectively, that are contiguous outside of a local region  148  or fully separated first and second background regions  38 ′ and  50 ′, respectively, that are not contiguous. 
     FIGS. 26 a - 26   e  show other embodiments for the arrangement of the warps  44  in the first background region  38  of a woven sculpted fabric  30  (though the embodiment shown could equally well be applied to a second background region  50 ), taken in cross-sectional views looking into the machine direction. FIG. 26 a  shows an embodiment related to those of FIGS. 1 a ,  1   b , and  2 , wherein each single float  60  is separated from the next single float  60  by a single sinker  61 . However, single strands are not the only way to form the first elevated regions  40  (which could equally well be depicted as second elevated regions  52 ) or the first depressed regions  42  (which could equally well be depicted as second depressed regions  54 ). Rather, FIGS. 26 b - 26   e  show embodiments in which at least one of the first elevated regions  40  or first depressed regions  42  comprises more than one warp  44 . FIG. 26 b  shows single spaced apart single strand floats  60  forming the first elevated regions  40 , interspaced (with respect to a view from above the shute  45 ) by double-strand sinkers  61  (or, equivalently, pairs of adjacent single-strand sinkers  61 ) which define first depressed regions  42  between each first elevated region  40 . In FIG. 26 c , the first elevated regions  40  each comprise pairs of warps  44 , while the interspaced first depressed regions  42  likewise comprise pairs of warps  44  forming double-strand sinkers  61 . In FIG. 26 d , double-strand first elevated regions  40  are interspaced by triple-strand first depressed regions  42 . In FIG. 26 e , the single-, double-, and triple-strand groups form both the first elevated regions  40  and the first depressed regions  42 . Many other combinations are possible within the scope of the present invention. Thus, any machine-direction oriented elevated or depressed region in a woven sculpted fabric  30  can comprise a group of any practical number of warps  44 , such as any number from 1 to 10, and more specifically from 1 to 5. Such groups can comprise parallel monofilament strands or multifilament strands such as cabled filaments. 
     The Product 
     FIG. 28 is a photograph of a woven sculpted fabric  30  embodiment of the present invention. The decorative pattern repeats in a rectangular unit cell which is about 33 mm MD by 38 mm CD in size. The width of the floats  60  is about 0.70 mm. The adjacent elevated floats  60  are separated by a distance which averages about 0.89 mm. 
     In the woven sculpted fabric  30  shown in FIG. 28, the plane difference varies in the MD and CD throughout the fabric unit cell. For a given float  60 , the plane difference tends to be minimal near transition regions  62  and maximal half way between two transition regions  62  in the MD. In general, plane difference is larger for a long sinker  61  between two long floats  60  than a short sinker  61  between two short floats  60 . This variation in plane difference contributes to the aesthetics of the overall decorative pattern. 
     In the woven sculpted fabric  30  shown in FIG. 28, the separation distance between adjacent elevated floats  60  varies in the MD and CD throughout the fabric unit cell. This variation in separation distance between adjacent elevated floats  60  contributes to the aesthetics of the overall decorative pattern. 
     FIGS. 29 and 30 shows the air side and the fabric side an absorbent tissue product  27  made in accordance with the present invention as described herein in the Example, depicting an interlocking circular primary pattern  64  made from the distinctive background textures  39  and  51  and curvilinear decorative elements on the dried tissue web  23  by a plurality of transition areas  62  of throughdrying fabric  19 . The distinctive background textures  39  and  51  and curvilinear decorative elements, in addition to providing valuable consumer preferred aesthetics, also unexpectedly improve physical attributes of the absorbent tissue product  27 . The distinctive background textures  39  and  51  and curvilinear decorative elements in the dried tissue web  23  produced by the transition areas  62  form multi-axial hinges improving drape and flexibility of the finished absorbent tissue product  27 . In addition, the distinctive background textures  39  and  51  and curvilinear decorative elements are resistant to tear propagation improving tensile strength and machine runnability of the dried tissue web  23 . 
     In yet another advantage, the increased uniformity in spacing of the raised MD floats  60  possible with the present invention, while still producing distinctive background textures  39  and  51  and curvilinear line primary patterns  64 , maintains higher levels of caliper and CD stretch compared to decorative webs produced by the fabrics disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,686. The possibility of optimizing the uniformity and spacing of the raised MD floats  60  in the CD direction, without regard to spacing considerations in order to form the distinctive background textures  39  and  51  and curvilinear decorative elements in the dried tissue web  23 , is a significant advantage within the art of papermaking. The present invention allows for improved uniformity of the raised MD floats  60  in the CD direction, and the flexibility to form a multitude of complex distinctive background textures  39  and  51  and curvilinear decorative elements in the dried tissue web  23  within a single processing step. 
     EXAMPLE 
     In order to further illustrate the absorbent tissue products of the present invention, an uncreped throughdried tissue product was produced using the method substantially as illustrated in FIG.  27 . More specifically, a blended single-ply towel basesheet was made in which the fiber furnish comprised about 53% bleached recycled fiber (100% post consumer content), about 31% bleached northern softwood Kraft fiber, and about 16% bleached southern softwood Kraft fiber. 
     The fiber w as pulped for 30 minutes at about 4-5 percent consistency and diluted to about 2.7 percent consistency after pulping. Kymene 557LX (commercially available from Hercules in Wilmington, Del.) was added to the fiber at about 9 kilograms per tonne of pulp. 
     The headbox net slice opening was about 23 millimeters. The consistency of the stock fed to the headbox was about 0.26 weight percent. 
     The resulting wet tissue web  15  (shown in FIG. 27) was formed on a c-wrap twin-wire, suction form roll, former with outer forming fabric  12  and inner forming fabric  13  being Voith Fabrics 2164-A33 fabrics (commercially available from Voith Fabrics in Raleigh, N.C.). The speed of the forming fabrics was about 6.9 meters per second. The newly-formed wet tissue web  15  was then dewatered to a consistency of about 22-24 percent using vacuum suction from below inner forming fabric  13  before being transferred to transfer fabric  17 , which was traveling at about 6.3 meters per second (10 percent rush transfer). The transfer fabric  17  was a Voith Fabrics 2164-A33 fabric. Vacuum shoe  18  pulling about 420 millimeters of mercury vacuum was used to transfer the wet tissue web  15  to the transfer fabric  17 . 
     The wet tissue web  15  was then transferred to a throughdrying fabric  19  (Voith Fabrics t4803-7, substantially as shown in FIG.  28 ). The throughdrying fabric  19  was traveling at a speed of about 6.3 meters per second. The wet tissue web  15  was carried over a pair of Honeycomb throughdryers (like the throughdryer  21  and commercially available from Valmet, Inc. (Honeycomb Div.) in Biddeford, Me.) operating at a temperature of about 195 degrees C. and dried to final dryness of at least about 97 percent consistency. The resulting uncreped dried tissue web  23  was then tested for physical properties without conditioning. 
     The fabric side of the resulting towel basesheet may appear substantially as shown in FIG.  29 . The air side of the resulting towel basesheet may appear substantially as shown in FIG.  30 . 
     The resulting dried tissue web  23  had the following properties: Basis Weight, 42 grams per square meter; CD Stretch, 5.5 percent; CD Tensile Strength, 1524 grams per 25.4 millimeters of sample width; Single Sheet Caliper, 0.55 millimeters; MD Stretch, 8.0 percent; MD Tensile Strength, 1765 grams per 25.4 millimeters of sample width; and, an wedding ring pattern as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. 
     It will be appreciated that the foregoing examples and description, given for purposes of illustration, are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention, which is defined by the following claims and all equivalents thereto.