Abstract: A sealed foil pouch has a textured opening flange and includes first and second foil sheets having opposing inner surfaces joined together by a seal for defining a sealed area of the pouch located inside the seal and an unsealed area of the pouch located outside the seal. The sealed pouch includes a textured opening flange located adjacent an edge of the pouch for peeling the first and second foil sheets away from one another for breaking the seal and opening the sealed pouch. The textured opening flange is located within the unsealed area of the pouch and includes at least one roughened surface formed on at least one of the first and second sheets. A leg of the seal passes through the textured opening flange. The roughened surface makes it easier to break the leg of the seal for pulling the sheets apart.

Abstract: A disposable urine bag is provided. The bag includes an upper delimiting edge, a lower delimiting edge and lateral delimiting edges defining a space in the bag. The lower delimiting edge includes a drain valve, whose first drain mouthing in a first hollow element communicates with the space in the bag, and whose second mouthing in a second element is situated outside the delimiting edges of the bag. The drain valve is a disposable valve including a seal between the first and the second element and at least one indicator situated in the area of the seal. A disposable urine bag is provided whereby the drain valve seal may be broken without using significant finger strength and without a risk of the user being soiled with urine.

Abstract: A bag construction filled with dispersible material. The bag construction has first and second panel sections, first and second side gusset sections and a bottom gusset panel section. The various panel sections are fastened together to form a generally rectangle shape with a flat bottom. The bottom gusset panel section has one or more distribution apertures in it. A removable panel layer is provided for covering the one or more apertures. When the removable panel layer is removed, the bag can be held so that the dispersible material disperses through the apertures as appropriate.

Abstract: A self standing bag having two side wall sheets and a bottom sheet. To flatten the bag, the bottom sheet is sandwiched between the two side wall sheets and symmetrically folded along a line parallel to its bottom edge, separating the bag into a four-layer part and a two-layer part. In the two-layer part, the bag includes first sloped sealing lines extending between a first two points on the top edges of the side wall sheets and spaced from the vertical side wall edges by a first distance, to a second two points spaced from the vertical edges of the side wall sheets by a second distance less than the first distance. The four-layer part includes second sloped sealing lines extending between the second two points and a third two points on the bottom edges of the side wall sheets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pouch for containing a product. The pouch comprises a first wall and a second wall which are sealed together in sealed regions. The sealed regions substantially surround a compartment portion within which a product can be located. The pouch includes a tear initiating weakness located away from an edge of the pouch, the tear initiating weakness comprising an elongate weakness which extends along a first axis such that a user can fold the pouch across the tear initiating weakness and initiate a tear from the folded edge substantially along the first axis, the pouch further comprises at least one tear guiding weakness, said tear guiding weakness extending along a second axis transverse to the first axis such that a tear extending substantially along the first axis will meet the at least one tear guiding weakness and be guided along the second axis.

Abstract: A package made of a flexible material for containing liquid, viscous, pasty, granular or powdered products has a supporting base from which rise two opposite side walls joined to the perimeter of the base and joined to each other along the side edges. Each side wall includes an upper flap joined thereto by a fold line. The package also includes a top wall joined peripherally to the upper flaps of the sidewalls and a peelable closure in at least one portion of the perimeter of the top wall joined to the upper flaps of the sidewalls. The peelable closure is destined to be opened so as to form an opening for discharging the product. On the top wall there are provided gripping elements adapted to be gripped and raised by the user so as to cause the separation of the peelable closure to create the opening for discharging the product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging article for use in form-fill-seal, flow wrap and lidding. In particular, the invention concerns such an article sealed with a biodegradable film having a peel sealable coating thereon, and coated filmic lids for sealing polylactic acid (PLA) trays and specifically PLA trays used for packaging.

Abstract: A package includes at least one layer of foamed thin film and an opening feature formed in the layer of foamed thin film. The foamed thin film has a caliper of from about 10 microns to about 250 microns thick. The foamed thin film comprises from about 5% to about 50% density reduction as compared to a non-foamed thin film of substantially the same caliper and substantially the same composition. The package may include foamed thin film made of a plastic resin and a whitening additive that is added to plastic resin. The whitening additive is selected to produce a foamed thin film having an opacity value of from about 35% to about 99%. The whitening agent is of substantially the same composition and is present in substantially the same amount as would be selected to produce substantially the same light reflectivity in a non-foamed thin film of substantially the same caliper and substantially the same composition.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a secure access, easy opening tamper evident feature for sealable bags. The tamper evident feature provides dual zones for tamper-detection and may be sealed within a bag to form a package in such a manner that allows for the filling of product into the package and the handling of the package to be safely made, as the tamper evident feature may be positioned away from deleterious contact with the product. The package may be a combination of the tamper evident feature and a flexible bag. The package may include an easy opening end configuration for secure access inside the bag when the tamper evident feature is exposed and subsequently torn open by an end-user along the dual zones for tamper detection. The package may be formed with bags having side gussets or, alternatively, with folded-closed end. Methods for making and filling such packages are also provided.

Abstract: A filling-packaging body formed to have both such a durability that can withstand a large amount of filled material filled therein and easily unsealing property. The filling-packaging body (1) is formed by filling the filled material in a three-side seal bag having an overlapped part formed by cylindrically curving a laminated film (10) and overlapping both side edge parts of the laminated film, a plurality of vertical seal parts (2a) and (2b) (two seal parts are shown) formed at the overlapped part roughly parallel with each other in such a state that a band-like non-seal part (5) is left at the tip side of the outer surface side-edge part of the overlapped part, and lateral seal parts (3) and (4) formed to cross the longitudinal both end parts of the vertical seal parts (2a) and (2b). The laminated film (10) is formed by interposing a base material layer (12) for imparting strength to the film between an inner layer (11) and an outer layer (13) which are seal layers formed of a low density polyethylene.

Abstract: A bag structure includes, in an example embodiment, a bag body including side walls having inner and outer surfaces, and the bag body further includes a top end and a bottom end. A closure member is coupled to the top end for opening and closing the bag body. A sealing material is applied to an area proximate at least one of a top edge of the side walls and a bottom edge of a portion of the closure member. An adhesive member is secured to the bag body. The adhesive member includes a reinforced section and an adhesive section. The adhesive member is configured to retain the top end of the bag body in a folded over relationship until the adhesive member is severed along the reinforced section.

Abstract: A flexible sealed bag and method of making thereof; the flexible bag containing a plurality of at least partially water soluble unit dose articles comprises a front panel, a back panel and a bottom panel. The front panel and the back panel may be marginally joined together along at least two opposed edges to be in a confronting relationship to form the closed bag. The front and back panels are joined at the top of the bag by a frangible seal. The bottom panel is intermediate to the front panel and back panel, and is joined to each of them. The first panel comprises at least one transparent window and at least one opaque portion. The articles are distributed from the bottom of the bag to a height therein, providing an empty space above the height of the articles, whereby the transparent window intercepts the articles and the empty space.

Abstract: The invention concerns a peel-off package for sterilization.

Abstract: A container is provided comprising a body defined, at least in part, by a film, the body including at least one side seal, at least two chambers separated, at least in part, by a peelable seal, and the film including a sealant layer having a bimodal thermal behavior such that the side seal is a permanent seal and the peelable seal can, at least in part, be separated.

Abstract: A package has a package body formed by mating film materials and sealing peripheral edge portions of the mated film materials so as to form a content accommodation compartment inside the sealed peripheral edge portions, the sealed peripheral edge portions being subjected to an easily peel-off treatment so that the sealed peripheral edge portions are separated and peeled off from each other when the package is opened. A seal opening starting portion is formed outside of one of the sealed peripheral edge portions so that the film materials are separated from each other at the seal opening starting portion, and at least one projection is provided on at least one of inner and outer side surfaces of the film materials forming the seal opening starting portion.

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a patch package structure including a patch containing a physiologically active ingredient and a package housing the patch, which is capable of stably retaining the physiologically active ingredient in the patch during preservation. This object can be achieved by employing the following constitution. To be specific, the present invention is a patch package structure including a patch 1 having an adhesive layer containing an organic liquid component, and a packaging member 51 housing the patch, wherein the packaging member 51 includes a first package 11, the first package 11 including an acrylonitrile resin layer 12, a moisture-absorbing layer 13 formed on the acrylonitrile resin layer 12, and a moisture impermeable layer 14 formed on the moisture-absorbing layer 13, and the acrylonitrile resin layer 12 is provided on the proximal side of the patch 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical bag which is intended for the infusion of a medicament by means of gravity. The inventive bag comprises: at least two compartments, namely a first compartment (1) containing a medicament in the form of a solution and a second compartment (2) containing a rinsing solution; and means for separating/communicating the compartments, which prevent the rinsing solution from automatically entering the medicament compartment except at the end of the infusion period. The rinsing solution ends the infusion, by rinsing the medicament bag and the infusion line, such as to prevent any risk of contamination or leakage of residual medicament from the bag or line.

Abstract: A package having an expansion chamber is depicted and described. The package generally includes a collapsed expansion chamber configured to open when a predetermined amount of internal pressure is reached. A pressure sensitive closure mechanism, such as a frangible seal or flexible we film web, is disposed between the main compartment and the expansion chamber and functions to separate the main compartment and the expansion chamber until the predetermined internal pressure is reached.

Abstract: An easy-open package includes a pouch including a discrete panel section having a die cut, the panel section including an outer and inner surface, a first and second side edge, and a first and second end, at least a portion of the inner surface comprising a sealant, wherein the panel section and the second side panel are joined together along at least a portion of their respective first and second side edges with a seal, and the first end of the discrete panel section is joined to the second side panel, and a die cut is disposed in the discrete panel section; and the panel section is anchored to the first side panel; and a product disposed in the pouch.

Abstract: System 10 delivers specified medication(s) 10M of a specified dosage in a specified sequence (see FIG. 1A). Flexible cover lamina 12C is pressed into selective engagement base lamina 12B defining a series of sequential storage units 10X and 10Y and 10Z with frangible seal 14F (no hatching) and destruct seal 14D (double hatching). Sealed medication chamber 16M is proximate the destruct seal within each storage unit. Chamber access region 16R is proximate the frangible seal within each storage unit. Diagonal chamber seal 14S (single hatching) extends across each storage unit. Breachable bubble 16B is positioned within each chamber access region and expands under applied pressure towards the frangible seal of the storage unit (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). The expansion separates the opposed laminae until the bubble produces perimeter breach 12P (see FIG. 1C) in the frangible seal. Flexible peel flap 14C is formed by the flexible cover lamina along the breached frangible seal as the bubble breaches.

Abstract: A reclosable package comprises a first panel having first and second side sections and a second panel having first and second side sections. The first panel opposes the second panel and is joined to the second panel along the first and second side sections. A bottom extends between the first and second side sections of the first and second panels with the first and second panels joined to each other. A mouth is disposed opposite the bottom and extends between the first and second side sections of the first second panels. A closure member extends along the mouth, with the closure member including a first fin joined to the first panel and second fin joined to the second panel. A sealing member having a first and second ends is disposed proximate the mouth. The ends of the sealing member can be attached to the fin or panel such that at least one of the first end or second ends of the sealing member is attached with peelable seal.

Abstract: Devices and methods are contemplated in which pouch-based diagnostic and medical products are formed in a process that allows formation of distinct seals using application of distinct process control variables for the respective seals. Therefore, products having stronger permanent seals and at the same tome frangible seals with controlled breaking characteristics can be prepared in s simple and reproducible manner.

Abstract: A heavy-duty plastic bag is comprised of a flat front panel, a back panel and gusseted longitudinal side panels. One of the gusseted longitudinal side panels has extended opposed gusseted side walls to form bag carrying end panels. The bag carrying end panels are sealed with one another and are each provided with three spaced-apart handle holes for ease of carrying the bag by one or both ends of a person with the bag disposed horizontally to facilitate manipulation in carrying of the bag. The bag carrying end panels provide for reinforced hand holes and comfort to the hands of a user person. The gusseted side panels and front and back panels provide a heavy-duty plastic bag with four display panels.

Abstract: A sleeve and method for making the same for use in packaging consumer goods comprising a plastic film having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge is disclosed. The plastic film is rolled into a tube wherein the first longitudinal edge overlaps the second longitudinal edge defining a flap. A plurality of seaming beads are applied along the first longitudinal edge to seam the first longitudinal edge to the second longitudinal edge, the plurality of seaming beads including an inner seaming bead and an outer seaming bead to form a plurality of seams in the sleeve. In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of seaming beads are utilized with different adhesive solutions. Other embodiments include, but are not limited to a perforation strip between the at least two seaming solutions.

Abstract: A fastener tape (1) includes a belt-shaped male member (11) on one side and a female member (12) to be engaged with the male member (11) on the other side. The male member (11) includes a belt-shaped base (111) welded to a bag body (20), and the female member (12) also includes a belt-shaped base (121) welded to the bag body (20). The wider belt-shaped base (121) provides a seal base (13) at a portion that is wider than the belt-shaped base (111). A peeling layer (14) and seal layer (15) are layered on a surface (13B) of the seal base (13) on a side of an engagement portion (10), so that the seal layer (15) is sealed to the opposing inner surface of the bag body (20) to provide a seal portion (16).

Abstract: A flexible package having a releasable film access device is described and depicted. The access device can include a first peel seal film overlapping and sealed (e.g., temporary peel seal) to a second peel seal film. This formation of the sealed films can be provided in predetermined patches or strips that are, in turn, sealed to a sealant surface of a package panel proximate a main access opening. The overlapping peel seal film configuration provides a proper barrier for the package opening while simultaneously providing easy access into the package through separation of the overlapping peel seal films.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a large package, typically with woven polypropylene walls, including an easy-open strip with a pre-activated peel seal. The easy-open strip achieves a high burst strength by configuring the pre-activated peel seal in shear mode in response to internal (product side) forces while achieving a low consumer opening force by configuring the peel seal in response to external (consumer side) forces.

Abstract: A package is made from a polymer film that includes a breachable bubble. The package can be flexible. The breachable bubble is for opening the package. In particular, the bubble, once breached, causes two opposing layers to separate. The separated layers form peelable portions that can be peeled apart in order to access the contents of the package.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical bag which is intended for the infusion of a medicament by means of gravity. The inventive bag comprises: at least two compartments, namely a first compartment (1) containing a medicament in the form of a solution and a second compartment (2) containing a rinsing solution; and means for separating/communicating the compartments, which prevent the rinsing solution from automatically entering the medicament compartment except at the end of the infusion period. The rinsing solution ends the infusion, by rinsing the medicament bag and the infusion line, such as to prevent any risk of contamination or leakage of residual medicament from the bag or line.

Abstract: A package of flexible material, particularly suitable to contain sterilizable food products, has a parallelepiped box shape with a base or bottom wall (2), a top wall (3), a front wall (4), a back wall (5) and two side walls (6, 7), an opening (8) closed by a peelable patch (9) sealed along a track (20) disposed astride the peripheral edge of the opening (8) being provided on the top wall (3), a respective peripheral edge (10) protruding from the base (2) and from the top wall (3).

Abstract: A container is provided comprising a body defined, at least in part, by a film, the body including at least one side seal, at least two chambers separated, at least in part, by a peelable seal, and the film including a sealant layer having a bimodal thermal behavior such that the side seal is a permanent seal and the peelable seal can, at least in part, be separated.

Abstract: A bag of compressed blowing wool configured for use in a blowing wool machine is provided. The bag includes a body of compressed blowing wool. The compression of the blowing wool is in a radially inward direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bag. A bag is configured to substantially encapsulate the body of compressed blowing wool. The bag has an end configured as a tear-away portion enabling the end of the bag to be readily torn away from the bag. The bag is configured to retain the compression of the body of blowing wool in a radially inward direction after the tear-away portion has been torn away.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive preparation package containing an adhesive preparation and a packaging film(s) enclosing said preparation, the packaging films being heat-sealed around the adhesive preparation, wherein the heat-sealed portion of the packaging film comprises an embossed heat-sealed portion and a flat heat-sealed portion, and the embossed heat-sealed portion and the flat heat-sealed portion each form a pattern surrounding the periphery of the adhesive preparation. The adhesive preparation package of the present invention is free of occurrence of pinholes in a heat-sealed portion and can maintain superior air-tightness and sterility.

Abstract: A flexible container incorporating flexible front and rear sheets and one or more container ports disposed in between the sheets are discussed. The one or more container ports each has a pliable attachment flange and an integrally molded nozzle. The pliable attachment flange has a first configuration whereby the attachment flange collapses to enable heat sealing the attachment flange to the sheets and thereafter substantially recovers its shape to provide a fluid pathway with the port. Various terminal ports, terminal caps, and rubber septums may be useable with the one or more container ports.

Abstract: A peelable pouch 50 for containing a single dosage product P having a top layer 100 joined to a bottom layer 200 by at least one seal 500 thereby creating a primary compartment 300. The primary compartment 300 houses the product P, sealed from the exterior environment. The peelable pouch 50 includes a tear promoting surface condition 600 on the top layer 100 and the bottom layer 200 intersected by a fold-over line 700. When the pouch 50 is folded about the fold-over line 700 the tear promoting surface condition 600 permits a user to easily tear off a portion of the pouch 50 and expose a portion of the primary compartment 300 allowing the product P to be removed from the pouch 50. Alternative embodiments incorporate a product retention edge 350 that requires supplemental separation of the top 100 and bottom 200 layers to gain access to the product P, as well as a secondary compartment 400 formed between the top 100 and bottom 200 layers.

Abstract: An easy-open package for food items, such as sausages, and a packaged sausage product that is hermetically sealed within a cavity. The package includes first and second sheets. The first sheet defines a cavity for holding sausages. The second sheet is applied onto the first sheet to cover the cavity and the sausages. A radiant seal seals the sausages within the cavity. A peel seal surrounds the radiant seal. In packages having a reclosable seal, one or more unsealed pockets are defined between the peel seal and a bottom of the reclosable seal, such as interlocking grooves or a zipper. The radiant and peel seals define an unsealed area. The one or more unsealed pockets and the unsealed area make it easier to open the package, by requiring less force to separate the first and second sheets. Further, the unsealed area can provide an area in which purge from the sausages is collected so that the purge is not dispersed throughout the package, thus providing a more visually appealing package.

Abstract: A package having a gusseted panel portion is depicted and described. The package generally includes opposing panel portions that at least partially define an interior cavity or compartment therebetween that is accessible through an access device. The gusseted panel portion provides a material impact barrier within the interior cavity or compartment of the package to assist in protecting the access device from the impact or load of material contents within the package.

Abstract: A sealable product containment bag structure is described that includes generally rectangular shaped front and rear panels and pleated generally rectangular side panels connected to the front and rear panels, the front, rear and side panels forming at one end thereof an open top for the bag structure and being folded together at the other end thereof to form a closed bottom. In one embodiment of the invention, adhesive strips are disposed in confronting relationship to each other on the inner surfaces of the front and rear panels near the open top end of the bag whereby the adhesive strips adhere to each other and to the inner surfaces of the side panels when the side panels are folded inwardly in a closed condition for the bag structure.

Abstract: A bag of compressed blowing wool is provided. The bag has an end configured as a tear-away portion enabling the end of the bag to be readily torn away from the bag.

Abstract: The invention provides a dual compartment pouch having first and second compartments that are separated from each other by an impervious inner sheet having a breathable membrane. The breathable membrane comprises a breathable material that is pervious to moisture and gases, and impervious to liquids as well as microorganisms. The breathable membrane allows a sterilizing gas to be introduced between the first and second compartments. The front and back sheets are sealed to the inner sheet to define the first and second compartments in which the inner sheet forms a common wall between the compartments. The breathable membrane is disposed towards a central portion of the inner sheet and is spaced apart from the seams joing the front and back sheets to the inner sheet. In one embodiment, a sterilized article is disposed in one compartment, and an absorbent packets are disposed in the other compartment.

Abstract: A pull activated packet for storing and dispensing any manner of fluid composition includes opposed first and second material layers defining a sealed cavity between the opposed layers. The fluid composition is contained within the cavity. Exit structure is defined in the first material layer through which the composition exits the cavity in use of the packet. A flap is defined by a portion of the opposed layers and is folded at a first fold line so as to extend over and releasably seal to the first material layer over the exit structure. To open the packet, the flap or an extension of the flap is pulled by the user causing the flap to peel away from the first material layer and unseal from over the exit structure. The fluid composition is dispensed from the exit structure upon pressure being applied to the packet.

Abstract: A medication and medical supply storage package and packing method are provided for use with an automated medication and medical supply dispensing device. In various embodiments, the medication and medical supply storage package and method are configured to accommodate oversized medications or medical supplies by providing a package and packaging method that include first and second surfaces that are sealed with first and second seals, as well as an intermediate seal that extends through a limited portion of the first and second surfaces. As a result of the limited extent of the intermediate seal, oversized medication and medical supplies may extend into an open area on at least one side of the seal, allowing existing medication and medical supply dispensing devices to locate and dispense oversized medications or medical supplies that would otherwise have to be manually picked.

Abstract: A reclosable package comprising front and rear panels extending between top and bottom transverse seals, the front panel having a line or lines of weakened tear resistance for forming an opening, through which a zipper can be accessed. The zipper is suspended from the top transverse seal and attached to the front panel at a lower elevation. At least a major portion of the base strip of a forward zipper part is disposed between the front panel and the base strip of a rearward zipper part. Respective upper portions of the zipper base strips are joined to each other in the top transverse seal. A lower portion of the base strip of the forward zipper part is joined to the front panel in a transverse band-shaped zone of joinder. No portion of the base strip of the rearward zipper part is joined to the rear panel outside of the top transverse seal.

Abstract: A method for forming a plate-mat bag using a form, fill, and seal machine and the resultant bag. The film used to form the bag is oriented so that the product side layer is not a critical barrier layer. The top most portion of the bag is unsealed forming a tab. Below the top most portion, a peelable upper seal is utilized so that a consumer can destroy the upper seal using the tab and tear open the bag along slits made in the product side layer. This results in an easy open package which when opened can serve as a plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peelable seal for a multi-chambered container including a first edge and a second edge. At least one of the first edge or second edge includes a stress bearing portion and a non-stress bearing portion.

Abstract: An easy opening heat-shrinkable bag adapted to be heat sealed to a closed condition to contain and protect a product disposed therein, whereby, at least one heat seal is peelable and readily openable by application of force.

Abstract: A sealable article container which comprises a flat material having a peripheral edge portion around an outer edge of the material, and binding means, the binding means being located in the peripheral edge portion. The flat material is made of a plastic film, paper sheet, cloth, netting, or mesh. The binding means is selected from the group consisting of: double-backed tape, tongue and groove strips, hook and loop sealing strips, adhesives, or the like. In operation the flat material is placed upon a surface with the binding means facing up, and an article or multiple articles being placed upon the flat material and within the binding means, and thereafter the flat material being folded upon itself so that binding means seals with binding means to form a container for the article or multiple articles.

Abstract: A reclosable bag (22) has a top seal (26) and a reclosable zipper (14). A tear string (16) passes through the top seal (26) and has a free end which can be grasped to open the top seal. The bag is made using cross-web technology with the tear strings (16) being attached to the lengths of zipper and the free ends of the strings being concertinaed in the top seal zone.

Abstract: A process for carrying out a packaging for food stuffs, such as hazelnuts, dried fruits, or powdered milk, packaged in bulk, comprises the steps of: —provision of a big bag container (2), —carrying out a filling of the above said product (P), into the big bag container (2), —provision of a seal enclosure (3) susceptible of containing the big bag container (2) with the above said filling of product (P) therein, and—sealing the enclosure (3) containing the big bag container (2), with the above said filling of product (P) therein, a sub atmospheric pressure level. Preferably, a protective inert gas, such as nitrogen, is inserted into the enclosure (3) containing the big bag container (2).

Abstract: Breaching access structure 10S provides easy access to sealed interior 10I containing contents 10C. Access region 12A proximate edge 12E of package 10, provides entrance into the interior and access to the contents. Band seal 14 formed by the upper lamina 14U and lower lamina 14L extends along the access region, enclosing breaching bubble 16. The band seal has inner seal portion 14I between the bubble and the interior, and outer seal portion 14O between the bubble and edge 12E of the package. The bubble is expandable to open the package in response to bursting detonator 18. The detonator is burst by external pressure applied by a user. Opposed pair of peel flaps, upper flap 16U and lower flap 16L, are formed by the opposed laminae of the outer seal along the edge breach as the bubble breaches. These small initial flaps are grasped by the user and manually peeled apart to initiate opening the band seal.