Patent ID: 6942894

Claim:
A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising: providing a transfer roll comprising an exterior surface that comprises one or more depressions formed therein, wherein the one or more depressions comprise at least one depression that comprises a composite depression formed by a plurality of cells, and wherein the one or more depressions comprise at least one depression that comprises an island located therein; delivering a molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition onto the exterior surface of the transfer roll; wiping the molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition from the exterior surface of the transfer roll, wherein a portion of the molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions, and further wherein the portion of the molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions remains in the one or more depressions after wiping the molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition from the exterior surface of the transfer roll; and transferring at least a portion of the molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions to a first major surface of a substrate by contacting the first major surface of the substrate to the exterior surface of the transfer roll and the molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions, followed by separating the substrate from the transfer roll, wherein one or more discrete polymeric regions comprising the nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition are located on the first major surface of the substrate after separating the substrate from the transfer roll.