Absorbent article having improved adhesive system to provide flexibility and breathability

An absorbent article having a body-facing side and a garment-facing side, said absorbent article comprising:

• (a) a liquid pervious topsheet defining said body-facing side of said absorbent article;
• (b) a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet and defming said garment-facing side of said absorbent article;
• (c) an absorbent layer being positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
• (d) a plurality of flaps extending outwardly from said backsheet;
• and
• (e) an adhesive system located on said flaps, said adhesive system comprising a plurality of three-dimensional protrusions which are deformable into a substantially two-dimensional configuration and an interconnected network of adhesive surrounding said protrusions which is protected from inadvertent contact with external surfaces until said three-dimensional protrusions are deformed into said substantially two-dimensional configuration, said adhesive system having a number density of protrusions greater than about 75 per square inch and a flexibility factor of at least about 15,000.

An absorbent article having a body-facing side and a garment-facing side, said absorbent article comprising:

• (a) a liquid pervious topsheet defining said body-facing side of said absorbent article;
• (b) a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet and defining said garment-facing side of said absorbent article;
• (c) an absorbent layer being positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
• (d) a plurality of flaps extending outwardly from said backsheet;
• and
• (e) an adhesive system located on at least one of said backsheet and said plurality of flaps, said adhesive system comprising a plurality of three-dimensional protrusions which are deformable into a substantially two-dimensional configuration and an interconnected network of adhesive surrounding said protrusions which is protected from inadvertent contact with external surfaces until said three-dimensional protrusions are deformed into said substantially two-dimensional configuration, said adhesive system having a number density of protrusions greater than about per square inch and a flexibility factor greater than about 15,000.