Cartons with dispensing features

1. A carton, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, wherein

the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel and a plurality of foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels, the front dispenser/stand panels being connected along at least one transverse fold line, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a first transverse fold line and to the front panel along a second transverse fold line, the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels being connected to the front panel along the second transverse fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position.

2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels comprises at least three foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels.

3. The carton of claim 2 , wherein the dispenser stand pattern allows the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel.

4. The carton of claim 2 , further comprising at least one retaining feature in the bottom panel, the at least one retaining feature being sized and arranged to engage a portion of the dispenser/stand.

5. The carton of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel; and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.

6. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the first end panel comprises a plurality of first end flaps and the second end panel comprises a plurality of second end flaps.

7. The carton of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of containers accommodated in the carton, the containers having long axes extending generally parallel to the top panel.

8. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines at least one tab cutout.

9. The carton of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of containers accommodated in the carton, the containers having long axes extending generally parallel to the top panel.

10. A method of placing a carton in a dispensing configuration, comprising:

providing a carton according to claim 4 ;

tearing the top dispenser/stand panel away from the top panel;

tearing the front dispenser/stand panels away from a portion of the front panel so that the front dispenser/stand panels remain attached to the front panel; and

engaging the dispenser/stand with the at least one retaining feature.

11. A carton blank, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

at least one first end flap;

at least one second end flap; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, a carton formed from the blank being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, wherein

the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel in the top panel and a plurality of foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels in the front panel,

the front dispenser/stand panels are connected along at least one transverse fold line, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a first transverse fold line and to the front panel along a second transverse fold line, the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels being connected to the front panel along the second fold line when the dispenser/stand supports a carton formed from the blank in an inclined position.

12. The blank of claim 11 , wherein the dispenser/stand pattern allows the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel.

13. The blank of claim 12 , further comprising at least one retaining feature in the bottom panel, the at least one retaining feature being sized and arranged to engage a portion of the dispenser/stand.

14. The blank of claim 12 , further comprising:

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel; and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.

15. The blank of claim 12 , wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines at least one tab cutout in the top panel.

16. A carton and a plurality of bottles, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel;

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel;

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel;

a first dispenser pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, and is connected to the front panel along a fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position; and

a plurality of bottles, each bottle having a long axis extending generally parallel to the top panel.

17. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 16 , wherein the dispenser pattern defines a top dispenser panel in the top panel and a front dispenser panel in the front panel.

18. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 17 , wherein the first end panel comprises a plurality of first end flaps and the second end panel comprises a plurality of second end flaps.

19. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 16 , further comprising a second dispenser pattern defining a second dispenser in the top and front panels.

20. A method of placing a carton in a dispensing configuration, comprising:

providing a carton and plurality of bottles according to claim 17 ;

tearing the top dispenser panel away from the top panel; and

tearing the front dispenser panel away from a portion of the front panel.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising resting the carton on the bottom panel to dispense bottles.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising resting the carton on the back panel to dispense bottles.

23. A carton blank, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel foldably connected to the top panel;

a bottom panel;

at least one first end flap;

at least one second end flap; and

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the at least one first end flap;

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the at least one second end flap; and

a first dispenser pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, wherein the dispenser pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel in the top panel and a front dispenser/stand panel in the front panel, and the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports a carton formed from the carton blank in an inclined position, and is connected to the front panel along a fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position.

24. The blank of claim 23 , further comprising a second dispenser pattern defining a second dispenser in the top and front panels.

25. A carton and a plurality of bottles, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel;

a dispenser pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, and is connected to the front panel along a fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position;

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel;

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel;

a third diamond corner panel between the bottom panel and the first end panel; and

a fourth diamond corner panel between the bottom panel and the second end panel; and

a plurality of bottles, each bottle having a long axis extending generally parallel to the top panel, a base adjacent to the back panel, and a top portion adjacent to the front panel.

26. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 25 , wherein the bottles are bottles arranged in two rows and at least four columns.

27. A carton, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, wherein

the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel and at least three foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels, the front dispenser/stand panels being connected along transverse fold lines, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a transverse fold line.

28. The carton of claim 27 , wherein the dispenser stand pattern allows the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel.

29. The carton of claim 27 , further comprising at least one retaining feature in the bottom panel, the at least one retaining feature being sized and arranged to engage a portion of the dispenser/stand.

30. The carton of claim 27 , further comprising:

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel; and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.

31. The carton of claim 30 , wherein the first end panel comprises a plurality of first end flaps and the second end panel comprises a plurality of second end flaps.

32. The carton of claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of containers accommodated in the carton, the containers having long axes extending generally parallel to the top panel.

33. The carton of claim 30 , wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines at least one tab cutout.

34. A carton blank, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

at least one first end flap;

at least one second end flap; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel in the top panel and a plurality of foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels in the front panel, wherein

the front dispenser/stand panels are connected along at least one transverse fold line, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a transverse fold line,

the dispenser/stand pattern allowing the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel,

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel, and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.