Backing plate with friction material retention members and method and apparatus for manufacturing same

A friction assembly comprising:

• a backing plate including:
• a body with a first surface for receiving a friction material thereon and a second surface opposite to the first surface and defining a thickness therebetween;
• and
• one or more retention members defined on the first surface, each retention member having:
• a protrusion extending outwardly away from the first surface of the body, the protrusion having a proximal end adjacent to the first surface and a free distal end, and the protrusion having a generally constant width from the proximal end to the distal end;
• and
• a groove associated with the protrusion and defined in the first surface of the body, the groove extending from a position on the first surface of the body to the proximal end of the protrusion, the groove having a bottom wall having an inclined section extending at an angle relative to the first surface and a flat section generally parallel to the first surface, said groove further having a width that generally corresponds to the width of the protrusion,
• wherein the protrusion has a thickness that is substantially larger at the proximal end than at the free distal end and the thickness of the protrusion adjacent the proximal end is larger than the depth of the generally flat section of the groove, and the free distal end of the protrusion is curved away from the associated groove to define a longer convex wall and a shorter concave wall between the proximal end and the free distal end such that the protrusion presents a distorted semi-triangular cross-section with the free distal end curved above the distorted semi-triangular cross-section;
• and
• a friction material mounted on the first surface of the backing plate such that the friction material is engaged with the at least one retention member.