Patent ID: 8313617

Claim:
A patterned framework for a papermaking belt having an embryonic-web-contacting surface for carrying an embryonic web of paper fibers and a non-embryonic-web-contacting surface opposite said embryonic-web-contacting surface, said patterned framework comprising: a continuous network region; and, a plurality of discrete regions, said discrete regions being isolated from one another by said continuous network region; and, wherein said continuous network region comprises a pattern formed therein, said pattern comprising a plurality of tessellating unit cells; wherein each cell of said plurality of unit cells comprises a center and at least two continuous land areas extending in at least two directions from said center, each discrete region being surrounded by a portion of at least one of said continuous land areas; wherein at least one of said continuous land areas at least bifurcates to form a continuous land area portion having a first width, W 1 , before said bifurcation and at least two continuous land area portions having a second width, W 2 , and third width, W 3 , after said bifurcation respectively, each of said at least two continuous land area portions having said second width being in continuous communication with said continuous land area portion having said first width, said widths having the relationship W 1 <W 2 +W 3 ; and, wherein each of said continuous portions having said first width has a first number density within said cell; wherein each of said at least two continuous portions having said second width has a second number density within said cell; and, wherein said first number density is less than said second number density.