Circular plastic coffee container with handle

Abstract

A plastic container for a particulate product includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom which generally define a container main interior volume. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and includes a large opening closed by a lid. The surrounding wall member includes a vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section and in which a pass-through handle is located having a generally vertical segment. The opening of the top is sufficiently large to extend over a portion of the hollow cavity; or is sufficiently wide to receive about a 5″ diameter cylinder therethrough, and has a ratio of a minimum span to a bottom diagonal of at least about 90%. A shoulder between the top and the surrounding wall member has an angle of less than about 40°. The handle is configured and sized for easy grasping and holding.

1 . A plastic container for a particulate product, said container comprising: 
 a base and a surrounding wall member which is upstanding from said base, said base and said surrounding wall member 
 generally defining a container main interior volume, and  
 generally forming a footprint for the container;  
   a top which connects with said surrounding wall member, said top including a large opening therein;    wherein said surrounding wall member includes 
 a vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section, and  
 a pass-through handle located in said arcuate side portion, said pass-through handle including a generally vertical segment; and  
   wherein said opening extends over a portion of said vertical segment.    
     
     
         2 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said opening is centered on said footprint.  
     
     
         3 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle has a vertical length of at least about 2.5″ and a width to thickness ratio of about 1.0 to 1.2.  
     
     
         4 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vertical segment defines a hollow cavity having a top end and a bottom end, both of which are in communication with said main interior volume.  
     
     
         5 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said hollow cavity of said handle tapers slightly inward from the bottom to the top.  
     
     
         6 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said hollow cavity tapers about 3°.  
     
     
         7 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding wall member further includes a thumb receiving concavity above said handle.  
     
     
         8 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said vertical segment includes vertically spaced concavities on an inwardly directed part thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes vertical ribs.  
     
     
         10 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes horizontal ribs.  
     
     
         11 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes a second vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section, and wherein the footprint for the container has at least two rounded portions generated by the vertical side portions.  
     
     
         12 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said top opening is sufficiently wide to receive about a 5″ diameter cylinder therethrough.  
     
     
         13 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said footprint is generally circular.  
     
     
         14 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said footprint is generally oval.  
     
     
         15 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said surrounding wall member further includes a third vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section, the first-mentioned, second, and third vertical side portions being horizontally connected to respective adjacent said vertical side portions.  
     
     
         16 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said surrounding wall member is generally connected to said top by a shoulder whose angle to vertical is less than about 40° at a maximum extent thereof.  
     
     
         17 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a bead connects said shoulder to a remainder of said top.  
     
     
         18 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes at least one label receiving area indented from a remainder thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said container is made primarily of HDPE and has a design effectiveness, defined as a maximum top load in pounds times a volume in liters both divided by a weight in grams, of at least about 5.0.  
     
     
         20 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle is vertically located generally offset toward said base.  
     
     
         21 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , further including: 
 an air-tight sheet which covers said opening, and    a one-way vent carried on said sheet which allows pressure within the container volume to be vented to atmosphere.    
     
     
         22 . A plastic container for a particulate product, said container comprising: 
 a footprint which includes a rounded portion, said footprint being defined by a surrounding wall member having a vertical side portion which defines the arcuate portion;    a main interior volume in which the product is contained which is defined by the surrounding wall member, a top and a bottom;    an opening in the top through which the product is removed by a hand of a user which passes therethrough;    wherein the vertical side portion includes a pass-through handle having 
 a vertical outer surface located at an outer edge of said footprint, and  
 a vertical segment which is vertical; and  
   wherein said top opening is sufficiently wide to receive about a 5″ diameter cylinder therethrough.    
     
     
         23 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said top opening has a ratio of a minimum span to a longest bottom dimension of at least about 90%.  
     
     
         24 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said opening is centered in said footprint and extends vertically over said vertical segment.  
     
     
         25 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said handle has a vertical length of at least about 2.5″ and a width to thickness ratio of about 1.0 to 1.2.  
     
     
         26 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said vertical segment defines a hollow cavity having a top end and a bottom end, both of which are in communication with said main interior volume.  
     
     
         27 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said hollow cavity of said handle tapers slightly inward from the bottom to the top.  
     
     
         28 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said hollow cavity tapers about 3°.  
     
     
         29 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes a thumb receiving concavity above said handle.  
     
     
         30 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said vertical segment includes vertically spaced concavities on an inwardly directed part thereof.  
     
     
         31 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes vertical ribs.  
     
     
         32 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes horizontal ribs.  
     
     
         33 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes a second vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section, and wherein the footprint for the container has at least two rounded portions generated by the vertical side portions.  
     
     
         34 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said footprint is generally circular.  
     
     
         35 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said footprint is generally oval.  
     
     
         36 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said surrounding wall member further includes a third vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section, the first-mentioned, second, and third vertical side portions being horizontally connected to respective adjacent said vertical side portions.  
     
     
         37 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said surrounding wall member is generally connected to said top by a shoulder whose angle to vertical is less than about 40°.  
     
     
         38 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein a bead connects said shoulder to a remainder of said top.  
     
     
         39 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein two of said surrounding wall member includes at least one label receiving area indented from a remainder thereof.  
     
     
         40 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said container is made primarily of HDPE and has a design effectiveness, defined as a maximum top load in pounds times a volume in liters both divided by a weight in grams, of at least about 5.0.  
     
     
         41 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said handle is vertically located generally offset toward said base.  
     
     
         42 . A plastic container for a particulate product, said container comprising: 
 a base and a surrounding wall member which is upstanding from said base and which includes a vertical side portion having an arcuate lateral cross section, said base and said surrounding wall member 
 generally defining a container main interior volume, and  
 generally forming a footprint for the container;  
   a top which connects with said surrounding wall member, said top including a large opening therein;    wherein said vertical side portion includes a pass-through handle located therein, said pass-through handle including a generally vertical segment; and    wherein an intersection between said surrounding wall member and said top is defined by a shoulder, said shoulder forming an angle of less than about 40° to vertical.    
     
     
         43 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said opening is centered on said footprint.  
     
     
         44 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said handle has a vertical length of at least about 2.5″ and a width to thickness ratio of about 1.0 to 1.2.  
     
     
         45 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said vertical segment defines a hollow cavity having a top end and a bottom end, both of which are in communication with said main interior volume.  
     
     
         46 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said hollow cavity of said handle tapers slightly inward from the bottom to the top.  
     
     
         47 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein said hollow cavity tapers about 3°.  
     
     
         48 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said surrounding wall member further includes a thumb receiving concavity above said handle.  
     
     
         49 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said vertical segment includes vertically spaced concavities on an inwardly directed part thereof.  
     
     
         50 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes vertical ribs.  
     
     
         51 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes horizontal ribs.  
     
     
         52 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes a second vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section, and wherein the footprint for the container has at least two rounded portions generated by the vertical side portions.  
     
     
         53 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein said top opening is sufficiently wide to receive about a 5″ diameter cylinder therethrough.  
     
     
         54 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein said footprint is generally circular.  
     
     
         55 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein said footprint is generally oval.  
     
     
         56 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein said surrounding wall member further includes a third vertical side portion which is arcuate in lateral cross section, the first-mentioned, second, and third vertical side portions being horizontally connected to respective adjacent said vertical side portions.  
     
     
         57 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein a bead connects said shoulder to a remainder of said top.  
     
     
         58 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein said surrounding wall member includes at least one label receiving area indented from a remainder thereof.  
     
     
         59 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said container is made primarily of HDPE and has a design effectiveness, defined as a maximum top load in pounds times a volume in liters both divided by a weight in grams, of at least about 5.0.  
     
     
         60 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said handle is vertically located generally offset toward said base.