Dual Dispensing Configuration Carton

A carton for containers comprising:

• a bottom panel to support the containers in an upright position on their ends within the carton with the carton resting on the bottom panel, a top panel opposite the bottom panel, a front panel and a back panel, and first and second opposed end panels, wherein the panels form a closed carton;
• a handle to transport the carton and located on the top panel of the carton;
• two inside wall panels that divide the carton into first and second sub-cartons, wherein the carton is configurable in either of two dispensing configurations for refrigerator storage, said two dispensing configurations comprising a first dispensing configuration for storage on a refrigerator shelf and a second dispensing configuration for storage in a refrigerator door, wherein with the carton in the second dispensing configuration, a first overall dimension of the carton decreases by one half, and a second overall dimension of the carton doubles compared to the carton in the first dispensing configuration;
• first and second dispensing openings formed on the first and second sub-cartons, the first and second dispensing openings extending from the top panel to the bottom panel of the carton and being positioned on opposite ends of the carton with the carton in the first dispensing configuration;
• and
• a hinge formed in the bottom panel, the hinge allowing the first and second sub-cartons to move from the first dispensing configuration with the first and second dispensing openings on opposite ends of the carton, to the second dispensing configuration with first and second dispensing openings on the same side of the carton.

A carton for storing and dispensing containers, the carton comprising:

• a bottom panel, a top panel, a front and a back panel, and end panels;
• a hinge extending along the bottom panel dividing the bottom panel into bottom panel portions located in a common plane;
• top panel portions comprising the top panel, first and second front panel portions comprising the front panel, and back panel portions comprising the back panel;
• a first tear away corner at a first corner of the carton formed by one of the front panel portions and a first end panel, the first tear away corner having a first top portion extending from the top panel to the bottom panel;
• and,
• a second tear away corner at a second corner of the carton formed by another of the front panel portions and the second end panel, the second tear away corner having a second top portion extending from the top panel to the bottom panel,
• wherein the first and second tear away corners are removable for forming first and second dispensing openings on the carton, and wherein the carton is placeable on one of either the front or the back panels to form a dispensing carton in a first dispensing configuration with the first dispensing opening on one end of the carton and the second dispensing opening on the opposite end of the carton.

A dispensing carton to carry containers, comprising:

• sub-cartons joined by a hinge;
• a bottom panel including bottom panel portions joined by the hinge;
• a top panel disposed opposite the bottom panel and including top panel portions;
• first and second inside panels extending between the top and bottom panels, and including handle portions extending parallel to the hinge;
• front and back panels extending between the top and bottom panels;
• end panels extending between the top and bottom panels and between the front and back panels;
• a transport orientation of the carton, wherein the carton is supportable on the bottom panel, with the bottom panel portions lying in a common bottom panel plane, the inside panels facing one another, the hinge extending horizontally, and the handle portions being located together opposite the hinge;
• a first dispensing configuration of the carton, wherein the carton is supportable on the front or back panel, with the inside panels facing one another, the hinge extending vertically, and the handle portions being located together opposite the hinge;
• a second dispensing configuration of the carton, wherein the carton is supportable on the front or back panel with the inside panels lying in a common inside panel plane, the bottom panels facing one another, the hinge extending vertically, and the handle portions being located separately on opposite sides of the hinge;
• and
• at least one tear away corner having a front portion formed from a portion of the first of the opposed end panels and also having a top portion extending from the top panel to the bottom panel.

A blank for a carton comprising:

• a hinge;
• first and second bottom panel portions located on either side of the hinge to form a bottom panel of the carton;
• first and second end panels foldably connected to the first and second bottom panel portions;
• first and second top panel portions foldably connected to the first and second end panels to form a top panel of the carton;
• first and second inside wall panels foldably connected to the first and second top panel portions;
• first and second bottom panel flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of the first and second bottom panel portions;
• first and second side panel flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of the first and second side panels;
• first and second top panel flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of the first and second top panel portions;
• and
• weakenings establishing at least one tear-out access panel removable to establish a dispensing opening for the carton, and having a front portion formed from a portion of one of the end panels.