Patent ID: 8324445

Claim:
An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable body-side liner; a liquid-impermeable outer cover; an absorbent core positioned between the liquid-permeable body-side liner and the liquid-impermeable outer cover; a pouch positioned between the liquid-permeable body-side liner and the absorbent core, wherein the pouch is configured to collect and retain bodily waste through an opening facing the liquid-permeable body-side liner; and a closing mechanism comprising at least one compressed substrate having a cylindrical shape and being formed by compressing a rolled nonwoven web in a first direction, wherein the compressed substrate is positioned adjacent the pouch such that upon contact with a liquid, and wherein the compressed substrate expands 1-dimensionally in the first direction to close the pouch, the compressed substrate having an expansion ratio of greater than 3:1.1.