Patent Publication Number: US-10322840-B2

Title: Reclosable carton with carrying handle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national phase application of International Application No. PCT/US2016/017675, filed Feb. 12, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/118,815, filed Feb. 20, 2015, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Cartons including handles and having top panels that open to provide access to the products in the cartons are described herein, and in particular, cartons reclosable after initial opening by interlocking the top panels. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Consumer products, and more particularly, children&#39;s snacks, can be packaged in cartons with handles that permit the children to carry such cartons by holding the handles. In some cartons, the handles are made of string. In other cartons, the handles can be integral to the top of the carton. Top panels of the carton may be fixedly attached to each other to prevent the handles from being inadvertently ripped off the top of the carton, the cartons may be openable via their side panels. For small children, opening the carton using a side panel instead of opening at the top where the handle is located may be complicated and/or counterintuitive. 
     Cartons that overcome the above-referenced disadvantages are needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The cartons described herein include an integrated handle and a locking tab that permits reclosure of the carton after initial opening in such a way that the carton remains securely reclosed and remains reclosed while a user carries the carton by holding the handle. 
     In one form, a carton for storing products therein includes top, bottom, and side panels defining an interior configured to store products therein and an access opening configured to permit the products to be removed from the carton when the carton is in an open configuration. The top panels include a first top panel hingedly attached to one of the side panels and a second top panel hingedly connected to another of the side panels and being removably attached to and overlaying a portion of the first top panel such that the access opening of the carton is obstructed by the first and second top panels when the carton is in a closed configuration. The second top panel includes a handle at least partially defining an opening and a closure tab extending into the opening when coplanar with the handle. The closure tab includes at least one locking projection extending therefrom, and the first top panel includes a slot configured to receive the at least one locking projection of the closure tab. 
     The side panels may include: a front panel hingedly connected to the bottom panel and a rear panel hingedly connected to the bottom panel; first and second major outer side panels each being hingedly connected to the rear panel; and third and fourth major outer side panels each being hingedly connected to the front panel and overlaying the first and second major outer side panels when the carton is in the closed configuration. 
     The bottom panel may include first and second minor bottom side panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel, and when the carton is in the closed configuration, the first minor bottom side panel may extend along portions of the first and third major outer side panels, and the second minor bottom side panel may extend along portions of the second and fourth major outer side panels. 
     The first top panel may include first and second minor top side panels hingedly connected to the first top panel, and when the carton is in the closed configuration, the first and second top side panels may pass through the access opening into the interior, the third minor top side panel may extend along portions of the first and third major outer side panels, and the fourth minor top panel may extend along portions of the second and fourth major outer side panels. 
     The first top panel may include at least one adhesive area configured to permit detachable attachment of the first and second top panels when the first and second top panels abut. The at least one adhesive area may be at least partially surrounded by a line of weakness configured to facilitate detachment of the at least one adhesive area from the first top panel when the second top panel is moved away from the first top panel. 
     In one form, the handle has a first position, where the handle is adjacent the second top panel, and a second position, where the handle is upstanding relative to both the first and second top panels when in the closed configuration. The handle may be hingedly connected to the second top panel along at least one hinge line configured to permit movement of the handle from the first position to the second position. 
     The side panels of the carton may include a front panel and a rear panel opposite the rear panel, and the first and second top panels may be hingedly connected to front and rear panels, respectively, and configured to pivot about their respective hinge lines from the closed configuration to an open configuration to unobstruct the access opening and permit access to the products in the interior. 
     In one form, the closure tab is hingedly connected to the second top panel and is permitted to pivot relative to the second top panel about a hinge. 
     In the closed configuration of the carton, the first and second top panels may be attached to each other by at least one adhesive area and the locking tab may overlay the slot of the first top panel without being inserted into the slow of the first top panel. 
     The carton may include a reclosed configuration after initial opening of the carton, where, in the reclosed configuration, the first and second top panels are interlocked by the locking tab of the second top panel being received in the slot of the first top panel and without being attached to each other by at least one adhesive area. 
     In one form, the slot in the first top panel has a perimeter with a linear portion and an arcuate portion. The slot may include two slits at opposite ends of the slot and extending away from intersections of the linear and arcuate portions of the slot. The at least one locking projection may include a first locking projection and a second locking projection. A maximum length of the slot as measured from an end point of a first of the linear slits to an end point of a second of the linear slits may be less than a maximum length of the closure tab as measured from an apex of the first locking projection to an apex of the second locking projection. 
     In one approach, a method of opening the carton includes moving the second top panel in a direction away from the first top panel to an intermediate open position to unobstruct the first top panel; and moving the first top panel in a direction away from the second top panel to unobstruct the access opening and permit access to the products in the interior of the carton. 
     By one approach, the moving of the second top panel in a direction away from the first top panel to an intermediate open position to unobstruct the first top panel may include pulling the handle in the direction away from the first top panel. In another approach, the moving of the second top panel in a direction away from the first top panel to an intermediate open position to unobstruct the first top panel may include detaching the second top panel from the first top panel along at least one adhesive area. 
     The moving of the second top panel in a direction away from the first top panel to an intermediate open position to unobstruct the first top panel may include raising the handle from a first position, where the handle is in one plane with the second top panel to a second position, where the handle is perpendicular to the second top panel. 
     The moving of the second top panel in a direction away from the first top panel to an intermediate open position to unobstruct the first top panel may include moving the closure tab away from the slot in the first top panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carton being in a closed configuration where access to an interior is blocked by first and second top panels and a handle is in a stored position and showing inner structure in phantom line; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the carton of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 1  being in a closed configuration but with the handle in a raised position that permits a user to carry the carton using the handle; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 1 , showing a second of the top panels being moved toward an open position, the detachment of the first and second panels at adhesive areas therebetween and a closure tab being partially removed from a receiving opening of the first top panel; 
         FIG. 5  is a similar view as in  FIG. 4 , but showing the second top panel being moved further away from the first top panel in a direction toward the open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a similar view as in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , but showing the second top panel being in the open position; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 1  being in the open configuration with both of the top panels in their open positions for access to a product-containing package in the interior of the carton; 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 1  being reclosed by a consumer after the initial opening, showing a consumer&#39;s finger pressing down on the closure tab of the second top panel to insert the closure tab into the receiving opening of the first top panel; 
         FIGS. 9A-9E  illustrate fragmentary enlarged sectional views of the movement of the first and second top panels as the closure tab of the second top panel is inserted into the receiving opening of the first panel during reclosure of the carton; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 1  being in a reclosed configuration with the closure tab being inserted into the receiving slot and the handle in a raised position that permits a user to carry the reclosed carton using the handle; and 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of an exemplary blank foldable to assemble the carton of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The cartons described herein may optionally be formed from a single blank and include an integrated handle for carrying the carton along with a locking tab that permits reclosure of the carton after the carton is initially opened. An exemplary carton  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-10  and an exemplary carton blank  100  that may be used to assemble the carton  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     The carton  10  includes an interior  12  configured to contain products  90 , for example, cookies or crackers, which may be packaged together in a sealed (transparent or non-transparent) package  92  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The carton  10  has a top access opening  14  to the interior  12  that, when not obstructed by one or more panels of the carton  10 , permits a user to access the products  90  in the interior  12  of the carton  10 . The package  92  containing the products  90  may include a seam  94  that can be used to open the package  92 , and the package  92  may be advantageously oriented in the carton  10  with the seam facing the access opening  14  and underlying the first and second top panels  20  and  22 , such that when the carton  10  is opened as shown in  FIG. 7 , the seam  94  is visible to and faces the consumer. The products  90  have been shown in  FIG. 7  as being in a single package  92  by way of example only, and it will be appreciated that the interior  12  of the carton  10  may store multiple packages containing one or more products, or may store products  90  that are individually wrapped or have no individual wrapper. The carton  10  may contain both food products and non-food products, and may contain food products other than cookies or crackers, some examples being candy, chocolates and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the carton  10  includes first and second top panels  20  and  22 . The carton  10  also includes a bottom flap or panel  14 , a back (or rear) flap or panel,  18  and a front flap panel  16  opposite the back panel  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The flaps or panels of the exemplary carton  10  of  FIG. 1  are interconnected as follows. The front and rear panels  16  and  18  are pivotally connected to the bottom panel  14  about creases or fold lines  27  and  29 , respectively. Major or outer side panels  24  and  26  are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the front panel  16  about creases or fold lines  21   a  and  23   a , respectively. Major or outer side panels  28  and  30  are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the rear panel  18  about creases or fold lines  21   b  and  23   b , respectively. Minor or inner side panels  32  and  34  are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the bottom panel  14  about creases or fold lines  21   c  and  23   c , respectively. Minor or inner side panels  36  and  38  are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the top panel  20  about creases or fold lines  21   d  and  23   d , respectively. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the minor bottom side panels  32  and  34  each extend upwardly from their adjacent fold lines or hinges  21   c  and  23   c , respectively, while the minor top side panels  36  and  38  each extend downwardly from their adjacent fold lines or hinges  21   d  and  23   d , respectively. The minor bottom side panel  32  extends in the interior  12  of the carton  10  along a portion of the major side panels  24  and  28 . Similarly, the minor bottom side panel  34  extends in the interior  12  of the carton  10  along a portion of the major side panels  26  and  30 . The minor top side panel  36  extends through the access opening of the carton  10  and in the interior  12  of the carton  10  along a portion of the major side panels  24  and  28 . Similarly, the minor top side panel  38  extends through the access opening of the carton  10  and in the interior  12  of the carton  10  along a portion of the major side panels  26  and  30 . 
     While the carton  10  has been illustrated in the accompanying Figures as including minor top and bottom side panels  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38 , it will be appreciated that the minor top and bottom side panels  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  are optional and the carton  10  may be assembled from a carton blank not having panels equivalent to the panels  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  to a closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, the relative dimensions and positions of the panels  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30  have been shown in  FIG. 1  by way of example only. For example, instead of the panels  24  and  26  overlapping portions of the panels  28  and  30 , respectively, the carton  10  may be assembled such that the panels  28  and  30  overlap portions of the panels  24  and  26 . In addition, instead of extending only across a part of the distance between fold lines  21   a  and  21   b  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the panel  24  may extend from the fold line  21   a  to the fold line  21   b . Similarly, instead of extending only across a part of the distance between fold lines  21   a  and  21   b , the panel  28  may extend from the fold line  21   b  to the fold line  21   a . In addition, it will be appreciated that instead of having two overlapping panels  24 ,  28  closing one side of the carton  10  and two overlapping panels  26  and  30  closing another side of the carton  10 , the carton  10  may be optionally constructed with only one panel closing each side of the carton  10 . 
     With the carton  10  being in the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , the panels  16 ,  18 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  of the carton  10  are oriented generally vertically and substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicularly both relative to the horizontally-oriented bottom panel  14  and the horizontally-oriented first and second top panels  20  and  22 . The panels  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30  of the carton  10  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 11  as being generally rectangular, but it will be appreciated that one or more of the panels  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30  may be trapezoidal, triangular, or of any other suitable shape. 
     When the carton  10  is in the closed configuration of  FIG. 1 , the minor bottom side panel  32  and the minor top side panel  36  may abut interior-facing surfaces of the major side panels  24  and  28 . Similarly, the minor bottom side panel  34  and the minor top side panel  36  may abut interior-facing surfaces of the major side  6  and  30 . For purposes of this application, the term “abut” means that physical contact is present between adjacent exterior-facing surfaces of the side panels  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  and the interior-facing surfaces of the side panels  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 , respectively. It will be appreciated that optionally, the adjacent exterior-facing surfaces of the side panels  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  and the interior-facing surfaces of the side panels  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 , respectively may be spaced apart and not in direct contact. 
     When the carton  10  is in the closed configuration of  FIG. 1 , the major outer side panel  24  overlies a portion of the major outer side panel  28 . In addition, one or more portions of an interior-facing surface of the major outer side panel  24  are non-detachably attached to one or more corresponding portions of an exterior-facing surface of the major outer side panel  28  by means of a suitable adhesive to provide for a secure attachment of the major outer side panels  24  and  28  to each other as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The major outer side panel  26  overlies a portion of the major outer side panel  30 . One or more portions of an interior-facing surface of the major outer side panel  26  are non-detachably attached to one or more corresponding portions of an exterior-facing surface of the major outer side panel  30  by means of a suitable adhesive to provide for a secure attachment of the major outer side panels  26  and  30  to each other as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For purposes of this disclosure, “non-detachable” means an attachment that is not meant to be detached during normal use of the carton  10 . 
     It will be appreciated that instead of having two top panels  20  and  22 , the carton  10  may optionally include only one top panel that may be movable to obstruct and unobstruct the access opening  14  of the carton  10 . When the carton  10  is in the closed configuration of  FIG. 1 , a second top panel  22  overlies a portion of the first top panel  20 . In addition, one or more portions an interior-facing surface of the second top panel  22  may be detachably attached to one or more corresponding portions of the first top panel  20  by means of a suitable adhesive to provide for a secure but detachable attachment of the first and second top panels  20  and  22  to each other. 
     As used herein, “detachable” means an attachment that is meant to be detached during normal use of the carton  10 . For example, the exterior-facing surface of the first top panel  20  may include adhesive portions  62  and  64  detachably attached to opposing complementary non-adhesive portions  66  and  68  of the interior-facing surface of the second top panel  22 . Alternatively, each of portions  62 ,  64 ,  66 , and  68  in  FIGS. 5 and 6  may include a suitable adhesive such that the first and second top panels  20  and  22  may be detachably attached to each other via an adhesive-to-adhesive attachment. 
     In one optional form, the adhesive areas  62  and  64  on the first top panel  20  may be surrounded by lines of weakness  70  and  72  that would permit the adhesive areas  62  and  64  to be separated from adjacent portions of the first top panel  20  along their respective lines of weakness  70  and  72  during movement of the second top panel  22  in a direction away from the first top panel  20  as the carton  10  is being opened by a consumer. 
     The lines of weakness  70  and  72  may be perforations or score lines, which can be formed by laser ablation, die-cutting, micro-abrasion, or the like. While the adhesive areas  62  and  64  and the optional lines of weakness  70  and  72  are illustrated as being on the first top panel  20  only, it will be appreciated that areas  66  and  68  of the second top panel  22  also may include adhesive material and the areas  66  and  68  of the second top panel  22  also may be surrounded by lines of weakness. For a multi ply material, the lines of weakness  70  and  72  can extend into or through an outer ply to facilitate delamination of the plies during opening. 
     The second top panel  22  includes an integrally formed handle  40  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The handle  40  extends along and at least partially surrounds and defines an opening  42  configured to permit a user of the carton to pass the user&#39;s fingers and/or hand portion therethrough such that the user may grasp the handle  40  and carry the carton  10  while holding the handle  40 . As discussed in more detail below, the handle  40  is formed together with the second top panel  22  from the carton blank  100  and is pivotally connected to and movable relative to the second top panel  22  by pivoting about creases or fold lines  41  and  43 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 , the second top panel  22  includes a closure tab  44  integrally formed with, and projecting from the second top panel  22  into the opening  42  and toward the handle  40  when the closure tab  44  is coplanar with the handle  40 . The closure tab  44  is hingedly connected to the second top panel  22  along a crease line or fold line  33  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and is movable relative to the second top panel  22  and relative to the handle  40  about the crease or fold line  33 , for example, when the closure tab  44  is being used to reclose the carton  10 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 8 . 
     As seen, for example, in  FIG. 5 , the first top panel  20  includes an opening  50  configured by having a size and shape to receive the closure tab  44 , for example, when the carton  10  is being reclosed as shown in  FIG. 8 , and when the carton is in a reclosed configuration as shown in  FIG. 10 . In one approach illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when the carton  10  is in the closed (unopened) configuration, the closure tab  44  is not inserted into the opening  50  and is positioned to overlay the opening  50  and portions of the first top panel  20 . When so positioned, the closure tab  44  is oriented in one plane with the second top panel  22  and substantially parallel to the first top panel  20 . It will be appreciated that instead of being positioned to overlay the opening  50  of the first top panel  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the closure tab  44  may be inserted into the opening  50  of the first top panel  20  to interlock the first and second top panels  20  and  22  to each other when the carton  10  is in the closed (unopened) configuration. 
     The closure tab  44  may include one or more portions shaped in the form of a locking projection extending from the closure tab  44  to facilitate a secure interlock between the first and second top panels  20  and  22  of the carton  10 . For example, the closure tab  44  may be shaped to advantageously include opposed locking projections  46  and  48  as shown, for example in  FIG. 7 . While the locking projections  46  and  48  of the closure tab  44  have been shown in  FIG. 7  as being generally rounded and having a hook-like form, it will be appreciated that the locking projections  46  and  48  may be linear (e.g., generally pointed or triangular), and may be, for example, in the shape of a barb, a spike, or the like. While  FIG. 7  illustrates the closure tab  44  being formed with two opposed locking projections  46  and  48 , it will be appreciated that the closure tab  44  may include only one locking projection extending therefrom, or more than two (e.g., three, four, or more) locking projections extending therefrom. 
     The opening  50  in the first top panel  20  has a perimeter with a linear portion  52  and an arcuate portion  54 . Linear slits  56  and  58  extend away from respective intersections of the linear and arcuate portions  52  and  54  of the opening  50 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The opening  50  is sized and positioned such that, when the closure tab  44  passes through the receiving opening  50 , for example, when the carton  10  is being reclosed as shown in  FIG. 8  after being opened for the first time, the first locking projection  46  passes through the slit  56  while the second locking projection  48  passes through the slit  58 . 
     When the carton  10  is in a closed (i.e., unopened configuration) of  FIG. 1 , the first and second top panels  20  and  22  are attached to each other via the adhesive areas  62  and  64  as described above and are oriented substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the front and rear panels  16  and  18 , respectively, such that the access opening  12  (see of the carton  10  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) is obstructed and access to the products  90  in the interior  12  of the carton  10  is not permitted. Conversely, when the carton  10  is in an open configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , the first and second top panels and  22  are detached from each other and oriented substantially parallel to each other and substantially planar with the front and rear panels  16  and  18  such that the access opening  12  is unobstructed, and the products  90  in the interior are visible to the consumer and may be accessed (i.e., removed from the interior  12  of the carton  10 ) by the consumer. 
     The attachment of the first and second top panels  20  and  22  to each other via the adhesive areas  62  and  64  restricts the second top panel  22  from inadvertently detaching from the first top panel  22  and opening during transportation of the carton  10  to a retail location or during carrying of the carton  10  by a user while holding the handle  40 . As discussed above, when the carton  10  is in the closed (unopened) configuration, the closure tab  44  may be not inserted into the opening  50  of the first top panel  20 , but positioned to overlay the opening  50 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be inserted into the opening  50  of the first top panel  20  to provide an additional interlock between the first and second top panels  20  and  22 . In other words, the first and second top panels  20  and  22  can be securely attached to each other via the adhesive areas  62  and  64  to keep the carton  10  closed in the unopened configuration of  FIG. 1  and an additional interlock provided by the closure tab  44  and the opening  50  is not required to keep the carton  10  closed prior to being first opened by a user. 
     The closed configuration of the carton  10  in  FIG. 1  is advantageously compact for shipping the carton  10 . For example, to facilitate the stacking of multiple cartons  10  on top of one another during transportation of the cartons  10  to retail locations and/or display of the cartons  10  on shelves at retail locations, the handle  40  may be positioned in a stored (or horizontal) position, where the handle  40  is positioned in one plane with both the second top panel  22  and the closure tab  44  such that the handle  40  is substantially parallel to and abuts the first top panel  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Conversely, to facilitate the carrying of the carton  10  by a consumer when in use, the handle  40  may be moved to a deployed (or vertical) position, where the handle  40  is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the first and second top panels  20  and  22  and to the closure tab  44 , and the user is permitted to insert the user&#39;s fingers through the opening  42  and to grasp the handle  40  for carrying the carton  10 . 
     The carton  10  may be opened by a user either when the carton  10  is in the closed position with the handle  40  being in the stored position as shown in  FIG. 1 , or when the carton  10  is in the closed position with the handle  40  being in the deployed position as shown in  FIG. 3 . In particular, the carton  10  may be opened by a user by applying a force (e.g., using the user&#39;s fingers) to move the second top panel  22  about a hinge provided by the fold line  25  in a direction away from the first top panel  20  as shown by the directional arrows in  FIG. 4 . For example, a user may grasp the handle  40  and pull the handle  40  in a direction away from the first top panel  20  to detach the second top panel  22  from the top panel  20 . The simplicity of opening the carton  10  by simply pulling on the handle  40  is advantageous for users such as young children. Instead of pulling on the handle  40  to open the carton  10 , the user may apply a force using one or more fingers to other portions of the second top panel  22  to push or pull the second panel  22  in a direction away from the first top panel  20  and open the carton  10 . 
     During the opening of the carton  10 , as the second top panel  22  is being urged in a direction shown by the arrows in  FIGS. 4 and 5  away from the first top panel  20 , the opening force and tension being applied by the user overcomes the adhesion of the first and second panels  22  provided by the adhesive areas  62  and  64 , and causes the second top panel  22  to separate from the first top panel  22 . As the second top panel  22  of the carton  10  is moved from the position shown in  FIG. 3  to a position shown in  FIG. 6 , the closure tab  44 , which is formed integrally with the second top panel  22 , also moves in a direction away from both the first top panel  20  and the receiving opening  50 , and the second top panel  22  moves out of contact with the first top panel  20 , such that the adhesive areas  62  and  64  are no longer in contact with the opposite complementary areas  66  and  68 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     In the exemplary position shown in  FIG. 5 , the interior-facing surface of the top panel  22  is positioned at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the exterior-facing surface of the first top panel  20  and a portion of the second top panel  22 . In particular, portions of the interior-facing surface of the top panel  22  and portions of the closure tab  44  overlie portions of the first top panel  20  and restrict movement of the first top panel  20  to the fully open position of the carton  10 . 
     As the second top panel  22  is moved away from the first top panel  22  from the position shown in  FIG. 3  toward the intermediate open position of  FIG. 6 , portions  66  and  68  of the interior-facing surface of the second top panel  22  that were in contact with the adhesive areas  62  and  64  of the first top panel may be torn away from adjacent portions of the interior-facing surface of the first top panel  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-6 . As a result, the adhesive areas  62  and  64  may become covered by the material torn off from the areas  66  and  68  of the interior-facing surface of the second top panel  22 , and the adhesive areas  62  and  64  no longer provide for adhesion of the first and second top panels  20  and  22  to each other. 
     The adhesive areas  62  and  64  thus provide a freshness seal and/or tamper-evident feature for the carton  10  such that the absence of adhesion areas  62  and  64 , or the presence of non-adhesive materials on the adhesive areas  62  and  64  would visually indicate to a consumer that the carton  10  has been previously opened or tampered with. In addition, since a user would feel some resistance during the detachment of the second top panel  22  from the first top panel  22  along the adhesive areas  62  and  64 , the adhesive areas  62  and  64  can provide a tactile and potentially audible response to the user during an initial opening of the carton  10 . 
     With the carton  10  being in the first intermediate position shown in  FIG. 6 , the second top panel  22  is oriented such that the interior-facing surface of the second panel  22  is substantially perpendicular to the exterior-facing surface of the first top panel  20 , and the second panel  22  is substantially planar with the rear panel  18  of the carton  10  and does not overlie the first top panel  20 , or restrict the first top panel  20  from being moved toward the fully opened position. It will be appreciated that the position of the second top panel  22  is shown by way of example only, and the second top panel  22  may be moved past the position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     For example, the second top panel  22  may be moved about the hinge provided by the fold line  25  from the initial position shown in  FIG. 1  by a range of motion of about 180 degrees to a position where the second top panel  22  is substantially parallel to the first top panel  20  and perpendicular to the rear panel  18 . The second top panel  22  may likewise move about the hinge provided by the fold line  25  from the initial position shown in  FIG. 1  by a range of motion of about 270 degrees to a position where the second top panel  22  is substantially perpendicular to the first top panel  20  and parallel to the rear panel  18 . 
     With the carton  10  being in the first intermediate position shown in  FIG. 6 , a user may place a finger in the cutout area  60  of the first top panel  20  and move the first top panel  20  about the hinge provided by the fold line  31  in a direction away from the access opening  14  and the second top panel  22  and to a fully open position shown in  FIG. 7 . The cutout area  60  of the first top panel  20  thus facilitates the opening of the first top panel  20  from the first intermediate position of  FIG. 6  to the fully open position of  FIG. 7 . 
     With the carton  10  being in the fully open position shown in  FIG. 7 , the second top panel  22  is substantially planar with the rear panel  18  of the carton  10  and the first top panel is substantially planar with the front panel  16  of the carton, and the first and second top panels  20  and  22  are substantially parallel to each other, and the interior-facing surfaces of the first and second top panels  20  and  22  do not overlie and/or obstruct the access opening  14  of the carton  10  and permit the products  90  to be removed from the interior  12  of the carton  10  through the access opening  14 . It will be appreciated that the first top panel  20 , like the second top panel  22 , may be moved more than 90 degrees from the initial position shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the first top panel may be moved about the hinge provided by the fold line  31  from the initial position shown in  FIG. 1  by a range of motion of up to about 270 degrees. 
     After a user opens the carton  10  for the first time as described above, if the user consumes only a portion of the products  90  and desires to reclose the carton  10  to safely retain the remaining products  90  in the carton  10 , the carton  10  may be securely reclosed using the closure tab  44  as described below. In particular, to reclose the carton  10  from the fully open position of  FIG. 7  to the reclosed position of  FIG. 10 , a consumer may initially move the first top panel  20  about the hinge provided by the fold line  31  from the position shown in  FIG. 7  such that minor top flaps  36  and  38  of the first top panel  20  pass through the access opening  14  and into the interior  12  of the carton  10  until the first top panel  20  arrives to the position shown in  FIG. 6 . The consumer may then move the second top panel  22  about the hinge provided by the fold line  25  from the position shown in  FIG. 7  to bring the second top panel  22  toward the first top panel  20  and the closure tab  44  toward the receiving opening  50  as shown  FIG. 8 . 
     In order to interlock the first and second top panels  20  and  22  and reclose the carton  10 , the consumer may apply a force (e.g., by pushing with a finger) to the closure tab  44  as shown in  FIG. 8  to force the closure tab  44  into the receiving opening  50  of the first top panel  20 . The force applied by the user&#39;s finger in  FIG. 8  may be sufficient to slightly deform the closure tab  44  in order to permit the locking projections  46  and of the closure tab  44  to slide into the opening  50  and through the slits  56  and  58 , and to form a secure interlock with portions of the first top panel  20  adjacent the slits  56  and  58 , thereby restricting the first and second top panels  20  and  22  from being inadvertently opened, for example, in response to typical forces applied to the carton  10  when the consumer carries the carton  10  by holding the handle  40 . As discussed above, while the closure tab  44  is shown in  FIG. 8  as having two locking projections  46  and  48 , the closure tab  44  may include only one locking projection or three or more locking projections that facilitate a secure interlock between the first and second top panels  20  and  22 . 
     The arcuate portion  54  of the opening  50  advantageously permits the closure tab  44  to be deformed enough to permit the locking projections  46  and  48  of the closure tab to be inserted into the slits  56  and  58  of the receiving opening  50  and can act to limit or otherwise control formation.  FIGS. 9A-9E  schematically show how the application of a force by a finger of a user results in the insertion of the closure tab  44  of the second top panel  22  into the receiving opening  50  of the first top panel  20 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the carton  10  in a reclosed position, with the locking tab  44  providing a secure interlocking attachment of the second top panel  22  to the first top panel  20  even without the adhesive-based attachment between the first and second panels  20  and  22  initially provided by the adhesive areas  62  and  64  when the carton  10  is in an unopened configuration. The locking projections  46  and  48  of the closure tab  44  advantageously resist inadvertent sliding of the locking tab  44  out of the opening  50  in response to the carton  10  being carried by the handle  40  during normal use and thus provide a secure interlock with portions of the first top panel  20  adjacent the slits  56  and  58  without the use of an adhesive. 
     It will be appreciated that instead of being partially linear and partially arcuate, the receiving opening  50  may lack the arcuate portion  54  and may have an entirely linear perimeter. In addition, it will be appreciated that while the presence of the slits  56  and  58  may facilitate the insertion of the locking projections  46  and  48  of the closure tab  44  into the receiving opening  50 , the slits  56  and  58  are optional and the closure tab  44  may be inserted into the receiving opening  50  even if the slits  56  and  58  were absent. 
     An exemplary method of manufacturing the carton  10  is described with reference  FIG. 11 . The method of manufacture is generally depicted in  FIG. 11  by illustrating the orientation and manipulation of a carton blank  100  from which the carton  10  is made without showing the accompanying assembly line machinery. Turning now to more details regarding the construction of the carton  10 , the exemplary carton  10  may be advantageously made from a single carton blank  100 , which is shown in  FIG. 11 . The blank  100  may be formed of paperboard, cardboard or the like, with a thickness determined based upon the weight and durability requirements of the carton  10 . The carton blank material can be unwound from a feed roll and fed as a web in a machine direction, for example, on top of a stationary plate, along a moving conveyor, or the like. The exemplary carton blank  100  is shown in  FIG. 11  with pre-formed creases/fold lines, but it will be appreciated that the carton blank  100  may not have pre-formed creases/fold lines, and that the creases/fold lines as shown in  FIG. 11  may be formed as a result of the folding of various portions of the carton blank  100  during assembly of the carton  10  from the carton blank  100 . 
     The exemplary blank  100  illustrated in  FIG. 11  has two longitudinal fold lines  121  and  123  that are parallel to each other and four transverse fold lines  125 ,  127   129 , and  131  that are parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal fold lines  121  and  123 . While the fold lines  121  and  123  have been shown in  FIG. 11  as parallel to each other and the fold lines  125 ,  127 ,  129 , and  131  have been shown as being parallel to one another and perpendicular to the fold lines  121  and  123 , it will be appreciated that the fold lines  121  and  123  may be non-parallel, that one or more of the fold lines  125 ,  127 ,  129 , and  131  may be non-parallel, and that one of more of the fold lines  125 ,  127 ,  129 , and  131  may be non-parallel to the fold lines  121  and  123 . In addition, while the fold lines  121 ,  123 ,  125 ,  127 ,  129 , and  131  have been shown in  FIG. 11  as being linear, one or more of the  121 ,  123 ,  125 ,  127 ,  129 , and  131  may be non-linear or in a form of a folded area of the carton blank  100  instead of a single line. 
     As discussed in more detail below, with the carton blank  100  positioned as shown in  FIG. 11 , the carton blank  100  may be sequentially folded about multiple fold lines to assemble the carton  10  in the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . Adhesive material may be applied to one or more portions of the carton blank  100  as discussed below to facilitate detachable and/or non-detachable attachment of portions of the carton blank  100  to one another. For ease of reference, aspects of the carton blank  100  that are similar to aspects of the carton  10  have been designated with similar reference numbers, but prefaced with a “1.” 
     With reference to  FIG. 11 , panel  114  of the carton blank  100  forms the bottom panel  14  of the assembled carton  10  of  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the panel  114  of the carton blank  100  includes a side flap or panel  132  hingedly connected to the panel  114  along a fold line  121   c , and a another side flap or panel  134  hingedly connected to the panel  114  along a fold line  123   c . The side panels  132  and  134  are movable relative to the bottom panel  114 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold lines  121   c  and  123   c , respectively. As discussed above, the fold lines  121   c  and  123   c  may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the side panels  132  and  134 . The panel  132  forms a minor bottom side panel  32  of the assembled carton  10  and the panel  134  forms a minor bottom side panel  34  of the assembled carton  10 . 
     The blank  100  further includes panels  116  and  118 , which form the front and rear panels  16  and  18 , respectively, of the assembled carton  10 . The panel  116  is hingedly connected to the panel  114  along a fold line  127  and is movable relative to the panel  114 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold line  127 , which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the panel  116 . Similarly, the panel  118  is hingedly connected to the panel  114  along a fold line  129  and is movable relative to the panel  114 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold line  129 , which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the panel  118 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the panel  116  of the carton blank  100  includes a side flap or panel  124  hingedly connected to the panel  116  along a fold line  121   a  and another side flap or panel  126  hingedly connected to the panel  116  along another fold line  123   a . The panels  124  and  126  are movable relative to the panel  116 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold lines  121   a  and  123   a , respectively, which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the panels  124  and  126 . In the illustrated embodiment, the panel  124  forms the major outer side panel  24  and the panel  126  forms the major outer side panel  26  of the assembled carton  10 . 
     The panel  118  of the carton blank  100  includes a side flap or panel  128  hingedly connected to the panel  118  along the fold line  121   b  and a flap or panel  130  hingedly connected to the panel  118  along the fold line  123   b . The panels  128  and  130  are movable relative to the panel  118 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold lines  121   b  and  123   b , respectively, which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the panels  128  and  130 . In the exemplary illustrated form, the panel  128  forms the major outer side panel  28  and the panel  130  forms the major outer side panel  30  of the assembled carton  10 . 
     The carton blank  100  further includes a panel  120  that forms the first top panel  20  of the assembled carton  10 , and a panel  122  that forms the second top panel  22  of the assembled carton  10 . The panel  120  is hingedly connected to the panel  116  along a fold line  131  and is movable relative to the panel  116 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold line  131 , which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the panel  120 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the panel  120  of the carton blank  100  includes a flap or panel  136  hingedly connected to the panel  120  along a fold line  121   d  and another side flap or panel  138  hingedly connected to the panel  120  along a fold line  123   d . The panels  136  and  138  are movable relative to the panel  120 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold lines  121   d  and  123   d , respectively, which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the panels  136  and  138 . The panel  136  forms a minor top side panel  36  of the assembled carton  10  and the panel  134  forms the minor top side panel  38  of the assembled carton  10 . 
     The carton blank  100  further includes a panel  122  that forms the second top panel  22  of the assembled carton  10 . The panel  122  is hingedly connected to the panel  118  along a fold line  125  and is movable relative to the panel  118 , for example, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , by pivoting about the fold line  125 , which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the panel  122 . 
     The carton blank  100  further includes a handle-shaped portion  140  that forms the handle  40  of the assembled carton  10 . The handle-shaped portion  140  of the blank  100  is hingedly connected to the panel  122  about crease lines or fold lines  141  and  143 , which may be pre-formed, or formed as a result of the pivoting of the handle-shaped portion  140 . The handle-shaped portion  140  may pivotally move relative to the panel  122  about the fold lines  141  and  143 , for example, when the handle  40  of the assembled carton  10  is moved from the stored position to the deployed position and from the deployed position back to the stored position. The handle-shaped portion  140  extends along and partially surrounds a cutout or opening  142  in the blank  100  that is sized and shaped to receive fingers of a user and/or a portion of the user&#39;s hand such that the user may grasp the handle  40  and carry the carton  10  while holding the handle  40 . 
     The carton blank  100  also includes a closure tab-shaped portion  144  extending from the panel  122  into the opening  142  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The closure tab-shaped portion  144  forms the closure tab  44  of the assembled carton  10  and is hingedly connected to the panel  122  about a crease line or fold line  133  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The closure tab-shaped portion  144  is permitted to pivotally move relative to the panel  122  about the fold line  133 , for example, when the closure tab  44  of the assembled carton  10  is being inserted into the receiving opening  50  during the reclosing of the carton  10 , or when the closure tab  44  of the reclosed carton  10  is being inserted back out of the receiving opening  50  during a subsequent reopening of the carton  10 . The closure tab-shaped portion  144  of the blank  100  includes two locking projections  146  and  148  that advantageously provide for secure reclosure of the carton  10  without a need for adhesive material to achieve reclosure of the carton  10  after initial opening of the carton  10 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the panel  120  of the carton blank  100  includes a cutout, slot, or opening  150  sized and shaped to receive the closure tab-shaped portion  144 . The opening  150  has a perimeter with a linear portion  152  and an arcuate portion  154 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the arcuate portion  154  intersects the linear portion  152  at two locations. The distance from the first intersection of the linear portion  152  and the arcuate portion  154  to the second intersection of the linear portion  152  and the arcuate portion  154  is less than the maximum length of the tab-shaped portion  144  of the blank  100 . Slits  156  and  158  extend away from respective intersections of the linear and arcuate portions  152  and  154  of the opening  150 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The distance from the end point of the slit  156  to the end point of the slit  158  may be equal to, slightly larger, or slightly smaller than the maximum length of the tab-shaped portion  144 . 
     The opening  150  is sized and positioned on the carton blank  100  such that, when the closure tab-shaped portion  144  passes through the receiving opening  150  as when the assembled carton  10  is reclosed, the projection  146  passes through the slit  156  while the projection  148  passes through the slit  158 . The closure tab-shaped portion  144  may pass through the opening  150  and the slits  156  and  158  without any portion of the tab-shaped portion  144  deforming, or with a portion the closure tab-portion  144  slightly deforming to permit the locking projections  146  and  148  to fit through the slits  156  and  158 , respectively. 
     In one exemplary form shown in  FIG. 11 , the blank  100  may have a total length of about 12.125 inches (about 308 mm) and a total width of about 7.813 inches (about 198 mm) and a total area of about 94.73 square inches (about 61116 square millimeters). Such a blank  100 , when assembled, may result in a carton  10  having a height of about 3.188 inches (about 81 mm), width of about 1.938 inches (about 49 mm), and length of about 5.063 inches (about 128 mm). 
     The length of the slot  150  from the first to the second intersections of the linear and arcuate portions  152  and  154  may be about 1.378 inches (about 35 mm), the maximum width of the slot  150  as measured from the linear portion  152  to an apex of the arcuate portion  154  may be about 0.185 inches (about 4.7 mm), the maximum length of the slot  150  as measured from the endpoint of the slit  156  to the endpoint of the slit  158  may be about 1.693 inches (about 43 mm), the length of each slit  156  and  158  may be about 0.157 inches (about 4 mm), and the arcuate portion  154  of the closure-tab shaped portion  144  may have a radius of curvature of about 1.823 inches (about 46 mm) and. The maximum length of the closure tab-shaped portion  144  may be about 1.693 inches (about 43 mm) and the maximum width of the closure tab-shaped portion  144  as measured from the fold line  133  to an apex of the closure tab-shaped portion  144  may be about 0.394 inches (about 10 mm), and the arcuate portion of the closure tab shaped portion  144  may have a radius of curvature of about 2.5 inches (about 63.5 mm). The closure tab-shaped portion  144  and the slot  150  may be shaped such that a ratio of the maximum width of the closure tab-shaped portion  144  to the maximum width of the slot  150  may be from about 2:1 to about 2.5:1. The maximum length of the closure tab-shaped portion  144  may be identical to the maximum length of the slot  150  or may be 0.039 to 0.078 inches (1 to 2 mm) greater than the maximum length of the slot  150 . 
     The cutout portion  142  may have a length of about 2.688 inches (about 68 mm) and a width of about 0.563 inches (14 mm). The handle-shaped portion  140  may have a width of about 0.375 inches (about 9.5 mm) and a maximum height as measured from either of the fold lines  141  and  143  (about which the handle-shaped portion  140  pivots) to an upper edge of the handle-shaped portion  140  of about 0.938 inches (about 24 mm). While specific dimensions of the blank  100  and the assembled carton  10  are provided above, such dimensions are provided by way of example only, and the blank  100  and the carton  10  may have larger or smaller dimensions suitable for a type of product contained in the carton  10 . 
     With the carton blank  100  positioned as shown in  FIG. 11 , the panels of the carton blank  100  may be sequentially folded about the fold lines of the carton blank  100  to assemble a carton  10  in a closed configuration as shown in  FIG. 1 . In particular, during assembly of the carton  10  from the blank  100 , the panels  132  and  134  may be moved by pivoting relative to the panel  114  about the crease or fold lines  121   c  and  123   c , respectively, in a direction toward each other and to a position where the panels  132  and  134  are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the panel  114 . 
     Then, the panels  124  and  126  may be moved by pivoting relative to the panel  116  about the crease or fold lines  121   a  and  123   a , respectively, in a direction toward each other and to a position where the panels  124  and  126  are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the panel  116 . Similarly, the panels  128  and  130  may be moved by pivoting relative to the panel  118  about the crease or fold lines  121   b  and  123   b , respectively, in a direction toward each other and to a position where the panels  128  and  130  are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the panel  118 . 
     The panels  116  and  118  may be moved by pivoting about the crease or fold lines  127  and  129 , respectively, in a direction toward each other and to a position where the panels  116  and  118  are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the panel  114 . During this movement of the panels  116  and  118 , portions of the panels  128  and  130  may overlay portions of the panels  132  and  134 , respectively, while portions of the panels  124  and  126  may overlay both portions of the panels  128  and  130 , respectively, and portions of the panels  132  and  134 , respectively. 
     As discussed above, the panels  132  and  134  are optional and may be omitted from the blank  100 . It will be appreciated that the panels  124  and  126  may be of varying lengths and may overlay a larger or smaller portion of the panels  128  and  130 , respectively. In one optional form, instead of the panels  124  and  126  overlaying the panels  128  and  130 , respectively, the panels  128  and  130  may overlay the panels  124  and  126 . In another optional form, instead of having two panels  124  and  126 , the blank  100  may include only one panel that is longer than each of the panels  124  and  126 , and that may provide a single side panel of the assembled carton  10 . 
     During assembly of the carton  10 , portions of the panels  124  and  126  may be non-detachably attached via an adhesive to underlying portions of the panels  128  and  130 . It will be appreciated that portions of the panels  124  and  126  may be non-detachably attached to respective portions of the panels  128  and  130  via suitable means other than an adhesive. With portions of the panels  124  and  126  being attached to respective portions of the panels  128  and  130 , the carton  100  is assembled to a configuration substantially as shown in  FIG. 7 , with the panels  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130 , defining an interior space where products  90 , for example, crackers or cookies contained in a sealed bag  92 , may be deposited. 
     With the products  90  deposited in the interior between the panels  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130  of the blank  100 , the panels  136  and  138  of the blank  100  may be moved relative to the panel  120  by pivoting about the crease or fold lines  121   d  and  123   d , respectively, in a direction toward each other and to a position where the panels  136  and  138  are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the panel  120 . So positioned, the panel  136  is positioned inwardly relative to the panels  124  and  128  and the panel  138  is positioned inwardly relative to the panels  126  and  130 , and the panel  120  may be moved relative to the panel  116  by pivoting about the crease or fold line  131  in a direction toward the access opening  14  to a position where the panel  120  is substantially parallel to the panel  114  and substantially perpendicular to the panels  116  and  118 , and where the panels  134  and  136  pass through the access opening through which the products  90  are deposited and the panel  120  substantially covers the products  90  and restricts removal of the products  90  through the access opening. 
     With the blank  100  being in a configuration substantially as shown in  FIG. 6 , adhesive may be applied to portions of the panel  120  to provide the adhesive areas  62  and  64  of the assembled carton  10  shown in  FIG. 6 . Then, the panel  122  may be moved in a direction toward the panel  120  by pivoting about the fold line  125  until the panel  122  is substantially perpendicular to the panel  116  and substantially parallel to the panel  120  and until an interior-facing surface of the panel  120  is in abutment with the exterior-facing surface of the panel  122  such that the panel  122  becomes detachably attached to the adhesive portions of the panel  120 . 
     The closure tab-shaped portion  144  of the panel  122  may then be positioned to overlay the opening  150  and adjacent portions of the panel  120  to provide a carton  10  in the closed (unopened) configuration as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the closure tab-shaped portion  144  of the panel  122  may be inserted into the opening  150  of the panel  120 . It will be appreciated that positioning the closure tab-shaped portion  144  over to overlay the opening  150  may be achieved in one motion by simply folding the panel  122  together with the handle-shaped portion  140  and the closure tab-shaped portion  144  about the fold line  125  while the insertion of the tab-shaped portion  144  into the opening  150  may require an additional step of pushing the tab-shaped portion  144  into the opening  150  of the panel  120 . 
     Thus, the exemplary carton  10  may be advantageously made from a single carton blank  100  of  FIG. 11 . The carton  10  may be advantageously transported and displayed at retail locations in the compact configuration of  FIG. 1  where the handle  40  is down. The handle  40  is advantageously movable from the compact position to a deployed position of  FIG. 3  to permit a user to carry the carton  10  by grasping the handle. 
     The top panels  20  and  22  may be quickly and easily opened to provide a user access to the products  90  in the carton by a simply pulling the handle  40  to pull the second top panel  22  away from the panel  20 . The simplicity of opening of the carton  10  is advantageous for users such as young children. The closure tab  44  having the locking projections  46  and  48  advantageously provides for secure reclosure of the carton  10  after initial opening of the carton, and maintains the first and second top panels  20  and  22  of the carton interlocked and the carton  10  reclosed without the need for additional adhesive material to hold the first and second top panels  20  and  22  together even when a user uses the handle  40  to carry the carton  10  containing products  90  therein. 
     While the hinges depicted in the figures may be formed by folding a material from which the above described cartons may be made, the hinges could take other forms, and may have perforations or other lines of weakness for predetermining the location of the hinge. Although certain structures are described as being joined, connected, or attached to each other, it will be understood that this includes both direct and indirect or relative joining, sealing or attaching, e.g., with intermediate structures. 
     While preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications can be effected within the configurations described herein.