Plastic coffee container with horizontal handle

Abstract

A plastic container for a particulate product such as coffee includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and in a preferred embodiment includes a large opening sufficient to receive about a 5 inch cylinder therethrough. The surrounding wall member has a handle. In one embodiment, the handle includes a longitudinal pocket formed in the surrounding wall member adjacent the top. The longitudinal pocket extends parallel to the top and has a depth and shape for receipt of fingers of a user. Preferably, the surrounding wall member also includes a thumb receiving concavity above the pocket. For added strength, the pocket can include a central vertical brace. In another embodiment, the handle includes a pass-though opening in which the fingers of the user pass so as to substantially surround the handle.

1 . A plastic container for a particulate product, comprising:
 a base, a surrounding wall member upstanding from said base, and a top formed at an upper end of said wall member; and   a horizontally extending handle formed in a portion of said surrounding wall member, said handle having a size and shape for gripping by a user's fingers so as to support an entire weight of the container while minimizing a moment on a user's wrist.   
     
     
         2 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle includes a longitudinal horizontally extending pocket formed in the portion of said surrounding wall member, said pocket having a bottom depth for receipt of the user's fingers. 
     
     
         3 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said surrounding wall member also includes a thumb receiving concavity above said pocket. 
     
     
         4 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said pocket extends substantially parallel to a plane of said top opening and has an inverted hook shaped lateral cross section such that the tips of the fingers are trapped behind a tip of the hook shape when the user carries the plastic container. 
     
     
         5 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said pocket includes a central vertical brace. 
     
     
         6 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle is formed by a pass-through opening formed in the portion of said surrounding wall member, said opening receiving the user's fingers therein. 
     
     
         7 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding wall member is rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
         8 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said surrounding wall member including said pocket is generally curved in cross section. 
     
     
         9 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said surrounding wall member including said pocket is generally straight in cross section. 
     
     
         10 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said surrounding wall member including said pocket is a corner. 
     
     
         11 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the particulate product is coffee. 
     
     
         12 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 11 , and further including an enlarged top opening formed in said top. 
     
     
         13 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a basic footprint, and wherein said handle is located within said footprint. 
     
     
         14 . A plastic container for a particulate coffee 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 main interior volume;   a top which connects with said surrounding wall member; and   a horizontally extending handle integrally formed in said surrounding wall member, said handle being shaped to receive fingers of a user to grip for carrying of the container.   
     
     
         15 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said handle includes a longitudinal horizontally extending pocket formed in the portion of said surrounding wall member, said pocket having a bottom depth for receipt of the user's fingers. 
     
     
         16 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said surrounding wall member also includes a thumb receiving concavity above said pocket. 
     
     
         17 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said pocket extends substantially parallel to a plane of said top opening and has an inverted hook shaped lateral cross section such that the tips of the fingers are trapped behind a tip of the hook shape when the user carries the plastic container. 
     
     
         18 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said pocket includes a central vertical brace. 
     
     
         19 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said handle is formed by a pass-through opening formed in the portion of said surrounding wall member, said opening receiving the user's fingers therein to substantially surround said handle. 
     
     
         20 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said surrounding wall member is rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
         21 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a portion of said surrounding wall member including said pocket is generally curved in cross section. 
     
     
         22 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a portion of said surrounding wall member including said pocket is generally straight in cross section. 
     
     
         23 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a portion of said surrounding wall member including said pocket is a corner. 
     
     
         24 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said top includes an opening therein at least sufficient for a 5 inch diameter cylinder to fit therethrough. 
     
     
         25 . A plastic container as claimed in  claim 14 , further including a basic footprint, and wherein said handle is located within said footprint.