Patent Publication Number: US-7913874-B2

Title: Plastic coffee container with handle

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application has subject matter similar to application Ser. No. 11/353,092 and application Ser. No. 11/353,093, filed concurrently herewith and by the same inventors; which applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Containers for particulate (roast or ground) coffee have many unique requirements not considered for other containers. For example, coffee particulates give off gases while being stored, and are deleteriously affected by air. Thus, coffee particulate containers must prevent the ingress of air and hence be air-tight; but such containers must also be suitably robust to withstand a build-up of pressure, or alternatively, the container must vent the built up gases before the pressure thereof damages (miss-shapes or breaks) the container. 
     While particulate coffee containers were previously generally made of metal (which was easily made robust and air-tight), new plastic containers, particularly with layered walls, have now been found to be suitable for containing particulate coffee. However, such plastic containers have been difficult to handle, especially where they are of sufficient size to store a desired volume of particulate coffee, typically in the range of 2-4 pounds. Ease of use by the user of such plastic containers at home has also been a problem. 
     Plastic coffee containers have been known with pinch handles. However, such pinch handles require significant friction to be generated by the thumb/fingers of the user to prevent slippage, which friction is the result of the force with which the thumb/fingers engage the pinch handle. Thus, such pinch handles are difficult for the user to hold and to hold with the required force for a sufficient time due to tiring, so that the overall container weight which a user is able to hold is limited. In addition, as the container is supported against slippage by thumb/fingers engaging the pinch handle, this produces a moment on the wrist which produces strain to the wrist and which may also add to the difficulty of holding the container and the tiring of the hand of the user, and which adds to the difficulty of holding on to the pinch handle itself. Thus, from an ergonomics viewpoint, pinch handles have significant disadvantages. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a plastic container for a particulate product, which product is removed by hand therefrom, includes a base and respective at least two sides and preferably at least first, second, third and fourth sides upstanding from the base. The base and the two or more sides generally define a container main interior volume, and generally form a footprint for the container which is in some embodiments generally rectangular or more preferably square. A top includes a large opening therein which is closed by a lid. One side includes a pass-through handle located in that side and preferably midway horizontally therealong. The pass-through handle may include a generally vertical segment which may include a hollow cavity in a preferred embodiment which is in communication with the main interior volume. The opening of the top is sufficiently large so that it extends over a portion of the vertical segment or hollow cavity therein. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the opening is centered on the footprint. In addition, the hollow cavity has a top end and a bottom end, both of which are in communication with the main interior volume. 
     Further in a preferred embodiment, the top opening is sufficiently wide to receive about a 5″ diameter cylinder therethrough to assure that a user&#39;s hand will also fit therethrough. Additionally, the top opening preferably has a ratio of a minimum span to a bottom diagonal of at least about 2:3. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the handle has a vertical length of at least about 2.5″ and a width to thickness ratio of about 1.0 to 1.2. In addition, the hollow cavity of the handle tapers slightly inward from the bottom to the top, which taper is preferably about 3°. 
     In one embodiment, the sides are generally connected to the top by a shoulder whose angle to vertical at a maximum thereof is less than about 400. This connection may also include a circular collar at an angle and beads above the shoulder. In addition, the one side at a location above the handle preferably includes a thumb receiving concavity. If desired, the vertical segment can include vertically spaced concavities forming finger grips on an inwardly directed part thereof. 
     In another preferred embodiment, two of the sides include label receiving areas indented from a remainder of the respective side. In addition, the sides may include vertical ribs and/or horizontal ribs. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the side with the handle is generally outwardly extended or peaked horizontally away from the two adjacent sides thereof. This outwardly extended side includes upper left and right transition portions from a top of the handle laterally to the respective adjacent sides, which upper transition portions are generally vertical and flat. The outwardly extended side also includes lower left and right transition portions from a bottom of the handle laterally to the respective adjacent sides, which lower transition portions are generally vertical and concave. 
     In still another preferred embodiment, the sides are connected to one another by short bevel transition portions, so that where there are four main sides there are in effect eight total sides though the footprint is still generally rectangular. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the container has only a flat side and an arcuate side. With this embodiment, the handle can be located in either side. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention that a plastic container from which a particulate product is withdrawn includes a handle which is easily grasped and held. 
     It is also an advantage of the present invention that the container has a wide opening permitting easy access thereto by the user in order to withdraw the product therefrom, especially when the container is almost empty. 
     It is a further advantage that the container has sufficient shoulder strength to withstand stacking and/or loading without damage. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention are stated in or apparent from detailed descriptions of presently preferred embodiments of the invention as discussed in greater detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a particulate coffee container of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view taken in the direction of arrow A  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2A  is a profile view of a corner portion taken in the plane of line  2 A- 2 A in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a partial cross sectional view taken in the plane of line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation view taken in the direction of arrow B of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view taken in the direction of arrow C of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an elevation view similar to  FIG. 2  but showing an alternative handle and vertical reinforcing ribs for the container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view similar to  FIG. 2  but showing another alternative handle and horizontal reinforcing ribs for the container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view similar to  FIG. 6  but showing still another alternative handle having a thumb concavity for the container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is an elevation view similar to  FIG. 2  but showing an alternative label receiving area for the container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a another embodiment of a particulate coffee container of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an elevation view taken in the direction of arrow D of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is an elevation view taken in the direction of arrow E of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 16  is an elevation view taken in the direction of arrow F of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top view similar to  FIG. 14  but showing an alternative configuration for the container of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 18  is a top view of another embodiment of a particulate coffee container of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of another embodiment of a particulate coffee container of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 19  having a handle in the semi-circular side. 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 19  having a handle in the flat side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the views, a first embodiment of a plastic particulate coffee container  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . It will be appreciated that container  10  is designed for the containing of ground or roast (particulate) coffee  11  or a like non liquid-like product, so that container  10  is made of a suitable blow-molded plastic such as high density polyethylene, preferably by an extrusion blow molding rotary process. Typically, as known in the art, such a plastic material is provided as different polymeric layers including an O 2  barrier layer. As known in the art, when an excess pressure of off gases generated by particulate coffee  11  is present, a suitable vent is provided at some convenient location to release this excess pressure, as discussed subsequently hereafter. It will also be appreciated that particulate coffee  11  is typically not poured by the user, so pouring of particulate coffee  11  from container  10  is not likely. Rather, particulate coffee  11  will be removed from container  10  by a user with a scoop, spoon, or the like. 
     In general, it will be appreciated that container  10  includes a generally square base  12  with a front side  14 , a left side  16 , a back side  18  and a right side  20  extending upwardly therefrom. The designations of “front”, “left”, etc. are arbitrarily chosen for convenience of description, and are not to be considered as limiting the description or the claimed invention as terms such as “first”, “second” etc. may as easily be used instead. The transition intersections of base  12  and sides  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  are curved as shown for strength in this embodiment. However it will be appreciated that the general footprint  22  of container  10  is rectangular, and with the sides of equal width is actually square as shown in  FIG. 3  for this embodiment; so that when container  10  is maximally packaged or displayed with other containers  10  in a compact arrangement, each container is located in a square footprint. It will also be appreciated that the generally square (or rectangular) footprint also means that container  10  will not roll when it is accidentally tipped over onto a side as would occur with a cylindrical container. 
     Container  10  also includes a top  24  including a circular rim  34  connected to sides  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  so that container  10  defines a main interior volume  26  in which particulate coffee  11  is retained. Provided in top  24  defined by rim  34  is a large opening  28 . Rim  34  and opening  28  are circular in this embodiment, but either could be another shape such as oval or square, so long as opening  28  is sufficiently large to permit a hand of a consumer to pass therethrough and scoop particulate coffee  11  from container  10 . The size of opening  28  is especially important when the user is trying to scoop the remaining particulate coffee  11  from the bottom of container  10 , as the large opening  28  makes it easier to pass more of the user&#39;s hand therethrough in order to easily reach particulate coffee  11  resting on base  12 . An opening having a main length dimension of about at least 4.5 inches and a main lateral dimension of about at least 3.5 inches is sufficient for this purpose. However, it has been found that a minimum preferred effective size for opening  28  where opening  28  is round is a 5″ diameter—though if the opening were not circular, the minimum effective preferred size would be that which would (similarly) pass a cylinder 5″ in diameter. In addition, a ratio of a minimum opening span of opening  28  (which is the diameter in this embodiment) to a bottom diagonal of square (or rectangular, or other polygon) base  12  is at least 2:3, and preferably about 3:4. As shown best in  FIG. 4 , opening  28  is preferably centered in footprint  22 . 
     Covering opening  28  is a plastic lid or covering  30 . Lid  30  is preferably removably (snap-on) held on rim  34  of top  24  as typical in the container art. In this embodiment, the removability of lid  30  is provided by use of an outside bead  32  extending laterally about the uppermost part of rim  34  and a corresponding flange  36  extending laterally inward from a bottommost part of lid  30 . As shown, flange  36  is received and held underneath bead  32  when lid  30  is removably attached to rim  34 . It will be appreciated that the resiliency of lid  30  permits lid  30  to be removed from top  24  easily by a user, and that while lid  30  does serve to generally seal particulate coffee  11  from atmosphere, this is not an air-tight seal. Alternatively, a screw-on lid or the like could be used to more securely cover opening  28  of top  24  and to better seal main interior volume  26 . 
     Prior to use—that is after manufacture/filling, during shipping and storage, and before being opened for use by a consumer—opening  28  is covered by a peelable sheet (including foil, plastic or layered foil/plastic)  38  which maintains an air-tight seal over opening  28 . Sheet  38  is very thin and hence is depicted schematically by a broken line. In this preferred embodiment, sheet  38  also carries a one-way vent  40  (also schematically depicted) which permits pressurized off-gases generated in container  10  to be vented therefrom when the pressure in container  10  reaches a predetermined value. Once vented from container  10 , the off-gases pass to atmosphere along small grooves (not shown) provided in lid  30  adjacent bead  32  so that the seal of lid  30  to top  24  is not air-tight as noted above. Suitable vents for use as vent  40  are known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,544 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,827) and thus need not be discussed further; and it will be appreciated that vents at other locations such as on a side are also known and could be used if desired. 
     As shown best in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  6 , there is a shoulder  42  between rim  34  and each side  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 . In this embodiment, shoulder  42  is very short in the middle section of each side  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 , and has a maximum length at the corners such as shown in  FIG. 2A . At the maximum length, it will be appreciated that shoulder  42  forms an angle a from vertical to the bead where shoulder  42  ends which angle α is less than 40° to provide a strong load bearing capability for top  24 . Shoulder  42  is located below two convex beads  44  defining the lower part of rim  34 . Beads  44  serve as a further reinforcement mechanism for rim  34  above shoulder  42  to reinforce the strength of rim  34  when a load is applied to top  24 , such as by stacking one or more similar containers  10  thereupon as would typically occur during shipping and storage. 
     The provision and noted orientation of shoulder  42  serves to significantly increase the top load strength of container  10  relative to prior art containers in view of the amount of material used in container  10 , termed “design effectiveness”.In top load tests performed with a container of the present invention and available prior art containers, where a force is evenly distributed to a container top having no lid under the conditions of room temperature and pressure and with nothing in the container, the following results were obtained: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 TOP 
                 WEIGHT- 
                 VOLUME- 
                 EFFECTIVE- 
               
               
                 CONTAINER 
                 LOAD-Lbs 
                 Grams 
                 Liters 
                 NESS 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 HILLS BROS. 1   
                 281 
                 212 
                 3.044 
                 4.03 
               
               
                 HILLS BROS. 1   
                 166 
                 184 
                 3.044 
                 2.74 
               
               
                 DUTCH BOY 2   
                 205 
                 230 
                 4.218 
                 3.75 
               
               
                 Invention 
                 350 
                 128 
                 2.874 
                 7.85 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   1 Plastic containers with 39 oz. of coffee packaged therein, a SARAH LEE product. 
               
               
                   2 A plastic container with one gallon of DUTCH BOY paint therein. 
               
            
           
         
       
         
         
           
             where top load is the maximum force sustained; and 
             where design effectiveness is defined as (top load)×(volume)/(weight).
 
Design effectiveness is thus a measure of strength as a function of the volume and the amount of material needed to create that volume—which material for all containers was primarily high density polyethylene (HDPE). It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a superior design effectiveness compared to the presently available containers which were tested. While the preferred embodiment has a design effectiveness of 7.85 as indicated above, it is considered that a design effectiveness of at least about 5.0 is satisfactory to effect the advantages of the present invention.
 
           
         
       
    
     To assist in any desired stacking of containers  10 , it will also be appreciated that base  12  and lid  30  of container  10  are generally flat. However, base  12  and lid  30  are designed to have some stacking mechanism or interlocking (not shown) therebetween so that two stacked containers  10  will not have much play therebetween when stacked. For example, base  12  may have a raised platform or like concavity inside the perimeter thereof so as to create four short feet of the base, so that during stacking the four feet would receive therebetween or nest with the lid  30  of an underlying container. Other such stacking mechanisms are well known in the art, so that any other suitable prior art stacking mechanism could be used as desired. 
     As also shown best in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  6 , there is a pass-through handle  50  provided in one side of container  10 , in this embodiment the right side  20 . This position of handle  50  makes it easy for a user to see handle  50  as it is sitting on a shelf or the like from which the user will remove container  10  for purchase or use. Handle  50  includes a generally vertical segment  52  (see  FIG. 2B ) which defines a hollow cavity  54  therein. It will be appreciated that cavity  54  is in communication with main interior volume  26  at both a top end  56  before the top transition segment of handle  50  and a bottom end  58  before the bottom transition segment of handle  50  as shown in  FIG. 2B ; though if desired this hollow cavity could be closed off or formed as a solid or filled. It will also be appreciated that opening  28  extends over a portion of cavity  54 , as shown by broken line  60  which extends down from opening  28  is  FIG. 2B . Handle  50  is considered “pass-through” since when handle  50  is gripped by a user, the fingers of the user will pass between the remainder of right side  20  and handle  50 , which pass through region is thus considered as an opening  61 . As illustrated, for example in  FIGS. 1 and 2B , the interior wall  61 A of opening  61 , while curved in the vertical direction, extends horizontally along its width in substantially straight lines from side  14  to side  18 , and thus may be referred to as a substantially straight wall. 
     By use of the pass through or opening  61 , handle  50  is easily and securely gripped by the hand of the user. The outside of handle  50  is generally straight to fit within the square footprint of container  10 , but the inside is somewhat convex to make it easier to grip and hold container  10 . In addition, it will be appreciated that opening  61  terminates vertically upward so that the upper portion of the hand of the user gripping handle  50  will rest directly against the upper end of opening  61  for easier holding and support of container  10 . Further, the lateral sides of handle  50  are slightly convexly curved as shown in  FIG. 6 , to provide a comfortable handle  50 , as well as to facilitate the molding thereof. Still further, it will be appreciated that handle  50  starts a short distance above base  12 , which also facilitates the blow-molding thereof, while still affording sufficient length for handle  50 . As handle  50  is probably the most difficult part of container  10  to form effectively in the blow molding process, the configuration and transitions thereof are important in producing a satisfactory blow molded container. 
     It has been found that it is easier for most users to grip handle  50  when handle  50  is at least about 2.5 inches in length and preferably about 2.75 inches, as this affords a sufficient length for almost everyone&#39;s hand to surround. In addition, handle  50  is also easier to grip by most users when the width (parallel to side  20 ) thereof is equal to or slightly above about 1 inch, and the thickness is equal to or slightly below about 1 inch, so that the ratio of width to thickness falls in the range of about 1.0 to 1.2. In the preferred embodiment, the width is about 1.09 inches and the thickness is about 0.96 inches, for a ratio of about 1.09. Also in the preferred embodiment, the height of handle  50  is preferably about 45-55% of the total height of container  10 . This percentage of height provides an easily gripped and manipulated handle relative to the overall size/height of container  10 . 
     It will be appreciated that “pass-through” handle  50  is preferred over a more easily formed “pinch” handle for a container which houses a particulate such as coffee  11 . One advantage of pass-through handle  50  is that it can be encircled by the hand of the user; while a pinch handle would include only opposed indentations in a side so that the pinch handle would have to be pinched between the thumb and fingers of the user requiring significant friction and thus being more difficult to hold—especially as container  10  may house four pounds or more of particulate coffee or the like. Another advantage of pass-through handle  50  is that the hand (palm) is closer to the handle and will do most of the supporting. Thus, with a pass-through handle  50 , there will be a reduced moment on the wrist (due to the smaller moment arm) than with a pinch handle where the wrist will be further away from the handle and in addition the weight must be supported by thumb/fingers against slippage. Further, by use of pass-through handle  50 , slippage is prevented by the upper end of the pass-through opening being engaged in a normal grip with no squeezing required. In view of these advantages, it is believed that a user will be able to hold about 60-70% more weight in a container with a pass-through handle as compared to a container with a pinch handle. Thus, from an ergonomics viewpoint, the pass-through handle is considered superior to a pinch handle for a particulate container—especially for those with smaller/weaker wrists. 
     If desired and as appropriate, container labels or like information can be applied to sides  14 ,  16  and  18  over as much or little of the area thereof as required. In addition, a label or labels could also be provided on right side  20  along the flat areas thereof as well. In use, it is anticipated that right side  20  containing handle  50  will generally be displayed or used so that the handle thereof can be easily grasped from the right thereof, in which case front side  14  will be facing the user and be the primary side for display of a label especially while being displayed for purchase. 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative container  10   a . Container  10   a  is generally similar to container  10  and thus similar elements when discussed will be identified with the same numbers but with an “a” added thereafter. It will thus be appreciated that container  10   a  has a pass-through handle  50   a  on right side  20   a . Handle  50   a  has a generally flat outside just like handle  50  to fit within the square footprint of container  10   a . However, the inside is generally flat as well for a more pleasing aesthetic appearance and simpler blow-molding operation. Alternatively, handle  50   a  could be cylindrically shaped for those portions besides the flat outside, or even including the (thus curved) outside. 
     It will also be appreciated that bridging may be a problem in cavity  54   a  of handle  50   a . As appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, bridging of particulate materials occurs due to the tendency of particulates in a relatively narrow vertical volume to form a horizontal “bridge” across the volume rather than flowing readily to the bottom of the cavity. Thus, to prevent bridging of particulate coffee  11   a  inside of handle  50   a , handle  50   a  and hence cavity  54   a  thereof tapers inward slightly from bottom to top along the two lateral sides thereof, so that the top end (cross section) of cavity  54   a  is slightly smaller than the bottom end (cross section). In this preferred embodiment, the taper is about 3°, which has been found to facilitate the flowing of particulate coffee  11   a  freely down cavity  54   a.    
       FIG. 8  shows another alternative container  10   b . As with similar container  10   a , container  10   b  is generally similar to container  10  and thus similar elements when discussed will be identified with the same numbers but with a “b” added thereafter. It will thus be appreciated that container  10   b  has a pass-through handle  50   b  on right side  20   b . Handle  50   b  has a generally flat outside just like handle  50  to fit within the square footprint of container  10   b , but the inside of container  10   b  includes concave recesses  62  spaced vertically therealong to receive the four fingers of a user when the user grasps handle  50   b , and thus to provide a more sure and easy gripping of container  10   b  by the user. 
     It will also be appreciated that a container in accordance with the present invention can be provided with vertical ribs in the sides to increase top load potential, and/or horizontal ribs in the sides to help prevent side panel warping and distortion. An example of vertical ribs  86  is shown in container  10   a  of  FIG. 7 ; while an example of horizontal ribs  88  is shown in container  10   b  of  FIG. 8 . Ribs  86  and  88  can be either concave as shown, or convex. 
       FIG. 9  shows another alternative container  10   c . As with similar containers  10   a  and  10   b , container  10   c  is generally similar to container  10  and thus similar elements when discussed will be identified with the same numbers but with a “c” added thereafter. It will thus be appreciated that container  10   c  has a pass-through handle  50   c  on right side  20   c  which is substantially identical to handle  50  (and which could be identical to handles  50   a  or  50   b  as well). However, located above handle  50   c  in side  20   c  is a thumb receiving concavity  64 , which as shown is deepest adjacent an upper end thereof. Thumb receiving cavity  64  serves to make container  10   c  even easier to grip, as the user can place their thumb in cavity  64  for a more secure grip of container  10   c.    
       FIG. 10  shows another alternative container  10   d . As with similar containers  10   a ,  10   b  and  10   c , container  10   d is generally similar to container  10  and thus similar elements when discussed will be identified with the same numbers but with a “d” added thereafter. It will thus be appreciated that container  10   d  has four sides, three of which are shown as  14   d ,  16   d , and  20   d  (the not shown side is a mirror image of side  14   d ) which have been indented to provided label receiving areas  66  thereon. Label receiving areas  66  are suitably flat and sized to adhesively or otherwise receive labels thereon. The use of label areas  66  serve to add prominence to labels, and the curved transitions to the remainder of the respective sides also serve as a strength reinforcement for the side. If desired, a single label could extend from some portion of front side  14   d  all of the way to some portion of the back side (not shown), or separate labels could be provided on the different sides. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 11-17 , an alternative embodiment of a container  110  is depicted. Container  110  is generally similar to container  10  and/or the alternative containers  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c , and  10   d discussed above, so that similar elements of container  110  will be identified with the same numbers but raised by 100. Thus, similar to container  10 , container  110  includes a generally square base  112  with a front side  114 , a left side  116 , a back side  118  and a right side  120  extending upwardly therefrom. The transition intersections of base  112  and sides  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  are curved as shown for strength. 
     As a first major difference from container  10 , it will be appreciated that right side  120  of container  110  has a generally outwardly extended or “peaked” appearance; that is, right side  120  forms an outward extension when viewed in plan (top or bottom). The appearance of right side  120  being outwardly extended horizontally away from a remainder of container  110  is the result of the corner portions of adjacent sides  114  and  118  having been moved back from right side  120  (or the generally square footprint  122  of container  110  as shown in  FIG. 13 ), leaving the upper right and left transition portions  70  and  72  as well as the lower right and left transition portions  74  and  76  on the sides of a handle  150 . 
     As shown best in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , upper transition portions  70  and  72  are mirror images of one another and extend generally vertically and straight across from handle  150  to the adjacent side  114  or  118 , with curved intersections with sides  114  and  118  and handle  150  for strength. This leaves an upper flat portion  78  of right side  120  therebetween. Similarly, lower transition portions  74  and  76  are mirror images of one another and extend generally vertically but as a curve (or vertically flat, horizontal concavity) from handle  150  to the adjacent side  114  or  118 , with small oppositely curved intersections with sides  114  and  118  and handle  150  for strength. This leaves a lower curved portion  80  of right side  120  therebetween. This unique appearance is desired not only for its uniqueness but additionally since it makes the blow-molding of container  110  easier and helps to prevent a condition known as webbing which causes a stress point or weakness in the container wall. 
     The other major difference of container  110  from container  10  is that top  124  is connected to sides  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  by a collar  82  rather than beads  32 . Container  110  has a large opening  128  which is circular in this embodiment, and container  110  still has the same preferred criteria for top  124  as discussed above for top  24  of container  10 . Thus, top  124  is sufficiently large to permit a hand of a user to pass therethrough and scoop particulate coffee therefrom, and opening  128  is centered in footprint  122 . However, collar  82  is provided as shown best in  FIG. 12  to provide an added strength to the connection between top  124  and sides  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120 . For better stacking strength, shoulder  82  is provided at an angle beginning at shoulder  142  and measured from vertical of less than about  400  as seen in profile in  FIG. 12 . 
     While container  110  has been depicted with handle  150  having finger gripping concave recesses  162  similar to handle  50   b  of  FIG. 8 , it will be appreciated that handle  150  could also be configured similar to handle  50  of container  10  or handle  50   a  of container  10   a . In addition, container  110  could be provided with a thumb concavity for handle  150  similar to thumb concavity  64  of container  10   c . Further, container  110  could be provided with label receiving areas similar to label receiving areas  66  of container  10   d.    
       FIG. 17  shows an alternative container  110   a . Container  110   a  is generally similar to container  110  and thus similar elements when discussed will be identified with the same numbers but with an “a” added thereafter. It will thus be appreciated that container  110   a  has a front side  114   a , a left side  116   a , a back side  118   a  and a right side  120   a . In addition, container  110   a  includes upper right and upper left transition portions  70   a  and  72   a . However, rather than having curved transition portions between the left side  116  and respective front side  114  and rear side  118  as in container  110  (as shown best in  FIG. 14 ), container  110   a  has respective front bevel (flat) transition portion  90  and rear bevel (flat) transition portion  92 . It will be appreciated that bevel transition portions  90 ,  92  have a horizontal dimension which less than a horizontal dimension of upper right and left transition portions  70   a ,  72   a.    
     With reference now to  FIG. 18 , another alternative embodiment of a container  210  is depicted. Container  210  is generally similar to container  10  and/or the alternative containers  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c , and  10   d  discussed above, or container  110  and/or alternative container  110   a , so that similar elements of container  210  will be identified with the same numbers but raised by 200. Thus, similar to container  10  or container  110 , container  210  includes a generally polygonal (rather than rectangular or square) base  212  with a front side  214 , a left side  216 , a back side  218  and a right side  220  extending upwardly therefrom. Connecting sides  214 ,  216 ,  218  and  220  are bevel transition portions  94 , which are broadly similar to bevel transition portions  90 ,  92  discussed above (and which thus are different from the short-curved transition portions provided in the previously discussed containers). It will be appreciated that bevel transition portions  94  have a horizontal length dimension which is smaller than a horizontal length dimension of the shortest side  216 ,  220 ; but alternatively these lengths could be equal or the sides shorter than the bevel transition portions. In any event, container  210  is generally polygonal shaped, in this case with eight sides (of three different dimensions), and container  210  could also have other numbers of sides as desired (such as 6, or even 3, 5, etc. sides). 
     It will also be appreciated that container  210  could have a pass-through handle similar to handles  50  on any side  214 ,  216 ,  218  or  220 —that is on either the long side or the short side (so that the “front” etc. designations might then have to be changed as required). In addition, container  210  could have a pass-through handle similar to handle  150  (and its variations) in a peaked side with right and left lower curved transition portions as in containers  110 ; and the handle could be located in either the long or short sides as well. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 19 , an alternative embodiment of a container  410  is depicted. Container  410  is broadly similar to containers  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  discussed above, so that similar elements of container  410  will be identified with the same numbers but raised by 300. The most significant difference between container  410  and the previous containers is that container  410  has only two sides, a flat side  96  and an arcuate front side which in this embodiment is a semi-circular side  98 . With this construction, lid  430  is similarly semi-circular shaped as shown. It will be appreciated that container  410  can have a handle  450  in semi-circular side  98  as shown in FIG.  20 ; or alternatively a handle  450 ′ in flat side  96  as shown in  FIG. 21 . Instead of semi-circular side  98 , this could instead be two sides at an angle so that a triangular (three sided) container is provided. It will also be appreciated that handles  450  and  450 ′ can be similar to any of the previously above-described handles. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the containers have been depicted with handles which are generally centrally located horizontally along the associated side and generally offset somewhat vertically towards the base, other locations of the handles would be possible. Thus, each handle could instead be located somewhat to the left or right as desired or required; and similarly, each handle could alternatively or additionally be located vertically more toward the midway point or even offset toward the top. It would even be possible for the handle to extend almost all of the way from the top to the bottom. 
     It will also be appreciated that the particular features (or lack thereof of one embodiment could also be used with or incorporated into other embodiments; i.e., the various features of the embodiments are interchangeable. For example, the handle of any one embodiment could be used in place of a different handle in any of the other embodiments, or the thumb receiving cavity used with any handle, besides the ones depicted, etc. Further, an embodiment having particular features could be configured without one or more such features in the manner shown in other embodiments. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope and spirit of the invention.