Disposable absorbent article having a sealed expandable component

A disposable absorbent article comprising:

• a backsheet;
• a liquid pervious topsheet joined to the backsheet;
• an absorbent core disposed intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet;
• and,
• an expandable component disposed on the absorbent article, the expandable component comprising a resilient element compressed within a sealed air impermeable envelope, the expandable component expandable from a first thickness when compressed to a second thickness greater than the first thickness upon opening of the sealed air impermeable envelope and equalizing the pressure inside the opened envelope with the atmospheric pressure outside the opened envelope when the resilient element is expanded to its free unrestrained thickness.

A sanitary napkin having a front edge, a rear edge, longitudinal edges, and longitudinal and lateral centerlines, the sanitary napkin comprising:

• a liquid pervious topsheet;
• a backsheet joined to the topsheet;
• an absorbent core intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet;
• and
• an expandable component disposed on the sanitary napkin, the expandable component comprising a compressed resilient element disposed within an air impermeable envelope, the expandable component expandable from a first thickness to a second thickness greater than the first thickness upon opening of the air impermeable envelope.