Retail ready opening feature for e-commerce carton
A modified Regular Slotted Container (RSC) style carton is configured to be easily shipped in electronic commerce while allowing a consumer to use the carton as a storage container for bagged pet food. The packaging carton is a modified regular slotted container (RSC) featuring a full or partial die cut perforation design forming a lid that facilitates converting the carton into a re-usable storage carton for a bag of pet food. The perforation design allows for the consumer to separate portions of the lid from the carton along the perforations. Once the carton is opened, the die cut or partial die cut flap created along the perforations is preferably used as a lid for the pet food. The carton provides many advantages, such as establishing protective packaging, accommodating dedicated e-commerce identifiers, and providing additional ways to use and store a bagged pet food product without having to purchase alternative containers.
1. A carton for use in electronic commerce comprising:
a front panel;
a rear panel;
a first side panel;
a second side panel;
a bottom panel;
a top panel, said first side panel foldably connected to the top panel and the second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, the front panel having a first outer flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second outer flap foldably connected to the second side panel; and
a lid defined at least partially by perforations along line segments including:
a front tear line segment extending across the first outer flap and the second outer flap,
a first side tear line segment extending along the first side panel from the front panel to the rear panel, and
a second side tear line segment extending along the second side panel from the front panel to rear panel, wherein the rear panel and the top panel are foldably connected along a top back edge of the carton and the rear panel has a second fold line spaced from the top back edge of the carton forming a hinge, the lid being configured to pivot about the hinge.
2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first side tear line segment and the second side tear line segment extend to the hinge.
3. The carton of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side panel and second side panel is formed with a handle.
4. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first side tear line segment and the second side tear line segment are each formed along a respective crease.
5. A carton for shipping a bag of pet food in combination with the bag of pet food in electronic commerce comprising:
a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel, said first side panel foldably connected to the top panel and the second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, the front panel having a first outer flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second outer flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a lid defined at least partially by perforations along line segments including a front tear line segment extending across the first outer flap and the second outer flap and a first side tear line segment extending along the first side panel from the front panel to the rear panel and a second side tear line segment extending along the second side panel from the front panel to rear panel, wherein the rear panel and the top panel are foldably connected along a top back edge of the carton and the rear panel has a second fold line spaced from the top back edge of the carton forming the hinge, the lid being configured to pivot about the hinge for movement between open and closed positions; and
a bag of pet food stored in the carton during shipping and accessible when the lid is in the open position.
6. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the first side tear line segment and the second side tear line segment extend to the hinge.
7. The carton of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first side panel and second side panel is formed with a handle.
8. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the first side tear line segment and the second side tear line segment are each formed along a respective crease.
9. A method of shipping and storing a bag of pet food in a carton for use in electronic commerce including a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel, said first side panel foldably connected to the top panel and the second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, the front panel having a first outer flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second outer flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a lid defined at least partially by perforations along line segments including a front tear line segment extending across the first outer flap and the second outer flap and a first side tear line segment extending along the first side panel from the front panel to the rear panel and a second side tear line segment extending along the second side panel from the front panel to rear panel, wherein the rear panel and the top panel are foldably connected along a top back edge of the carton and the rear panel has a second fold line spaced from the top back edge of the carton forming the hinge, the lid being configured to pivot about the hinge, said method comprising:
placing the bag of pet food into the carton;
closing the carton around the bag to form a closed carton;
shipping the closed carton; and
selling the closed carton with the bag of pet food.