Patent ID: 7435312

Claim:
A process for making a paper web comprising the steps of: forming an embryonic paper from paper making fibers; contacting the embryonic web with a deflection member having an embryonic web contacting surface comprising a macroscopically monoplanar, patterned, continuous network surface defining within the deflection member a plurality of discrete, isolated, nonconnecting deflection conduits; and the deflection member having a second surface; deflecting at least a portion of the embryonic web into the deflection conduits intermediate the embryonic web contacting surface and the second surface to form an intermediate web of the papermaking fibers having domes surrounded by a network region, said domes corresponding to the deflection conduits and the network region corresponding to the network surface of the deflection member; predrying the intermediate web in association with the deflection member to a consistency of from about 25% to about 98% to form a pre-dried web of paper making fibers; applying a majority of a bonding material to the network region of the pre-dried web while the pre-dried web remains in association with the deflection member, thereby forming a bond material penetrated paper web; pressing the bond material penetrated web, while remaining in association with the deflection member, against an impression surface to form an imprinted web of papermaking fibers having a network region; and drying the web.