PAPERMAKING BELT HAVING BILATERALLY ALTERNATING TIE YARNS

A papermaking belt comprising a top (web facing) layer of interwoven top layer yarns, a bottom (machine facing) layer of interwoven bottom layer yarns, and a plurality of tie yarns. The top layer yarns comprise a plurality of top layer carrier yarns interwoven in a weave with a plurality of top layer crosscarrier yarns, the top layer carrier yarns being perpendicular to the top layer cross-carrier yarns. The bottom layer yarns comprise a plurality of bottom layer carrier yarns interwoven in a weave with a plurality of bottom layer cross-carrier yarns, the bottom layer carrier yarns being perpendicular to the bottom layer cross-carrier yarns. The top layer and the bottom layer are tied together in a parallel and interfacing relationship by a plurality of tie yarns having a general direction of the top layer carrier yarns and passing over the top layer cross-carrier yarns and under the bottom layer cross-carrier yarns in a repeating pattern. As each of the tie yarns passes over at least one of the top layer cross-carrier yarns and under at least one of the bottom layer cross-carrier yarns, each of the tie yarns bilaterally alternates about one top layer carrier yarn in the direction of the top layer cross-carrier yarns whereby forming an undulating line passing at spaced intervals completely underneath that top layer carrier yarn about which each of the tie yarns alternates.