Liquid-bearing articles for transferring and applying liquids

A computer-controlled method of creating an article having a liquid-bearing operative surface in which is provided a laser-engraved pattern of substantially identical depressions uniformly arranged over said operative surface and defined by an intervening and substantially continuous wall structure, said method including the steps of:

• providing, in said computer, a template definition of a single depression shape;
• providing one or more geometric or other functional relationships between the dimensions of various aspects of that depression shape;
• inputting one or more operating parameters and/or desired functional requirements of the resulting laser-engraved article, such including one or more of:
• wall thickness, line count, depression depth, overall volume requirement equating broadly to a desired coat weight, an indication of the print or coating liquid, its viscosity and/or its surface tension;
• creating a pattern template based on all the above;
• and
• using the pattern template so created to control a laser so that the pattern is essentially engraved onto the operative surface of the article;
• wherein;
• the shape of the depressions is essentially closed;
• said depressions being of a cross-sectional shape which is symmetrical about one or both of a lateral and a medial axis perpendicular thereto or is of a cross-sectional shape which can be sheared about its mid-point to give such a shape, those portions of the continuous wall structer defining the depression and being disposes on either side of such axes being the medial and lateral sidewalls of the depression respectively;
• said depressions being arranged adjacent one another to form a substantially uniform pattern of depressions over the operative surface of the article such that any two adjacent depressions share a portion of the wall structure which at least partially defines them;
• and
• each of at least one of the pairs of lateral or medial sidewalls of a depression are contoured, the contour of one of the pair being generally the mirror image of the other so that together, said sidewalls define:
• at least one constriction internally of the depression where each of the sidewalls in that pair is most proximate the other;
• and
• at least two adjacent depression portions on either side of said constriction and having a maximum lateral or medial dimension greater than the lateral or medial dimension of the constriction such the fluid flow from one portion to the other is partially restricted by said constriction.