Plastic container having chamfered corners for improved top-loading strength

1. A plastic container, comprising:

a base;

a body extending upward from the base;

a neck extending upward from the body;

a finish extending upward from the neck and having an opening;

an integral handle having a lower end attached to the body and an upper end attached to the neck;

first and second chamfered corners integral with the body and extending upward from the base to the neck, each of the first and second chamfered corners being substantially smooth and uninterrupted along its entire length; and

third and fourth chamfered corners integral with the body and extending upward from the base to a vertical position of the container adjacent the lower end of the handle.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container is adapted to distribute top load through the neck onto the first and second chamfered corners and the handle.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein a horizontal cross section through the body at the first, second, third and fourth chamfered corners is substantially a rectangle with chamfered corners.

4. The container of claim 3 , wherein the first and second chamfered corners each comprise a substantially flat surface having a horizontal dimension that is at least 10 percent of a longest dimension of the substantially rectangular horizontal cross section.

5. The container of claim 4 , wherein the horizontal dimension of the substantially flat surface is at least 15 percent of the longest dimension of the substantially rectangular horizontal cross section.

6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the handle is tubular.

7. The container of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises

at least one contact region for contacting a supporting surface on which the container can be supported; and

a plurality of strengthening ribs.

8. The container of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of strengthening ribs are parallel to each other.

9. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container is a 128 ounce liquid container.

10. The container of claim 1 , further comprising two upper rounded corners, one of the upper rounded corners being located on each side of the upper end of the handle, the two upper rounded corners extending upward from the body into the neck.

11. The container of claim 10 , wherein the container is adapted to distribute top load through the neck onto the first and second chamfered corners, the two upper rounded corners and the handle.

12. The container of claim 10 , wherein a horizontal cross section through the body at the first, second, third and fourth chamfered corners is substantially a rectangle with chamfered corners.

13. The container of claim 12 , wherein the first and second chamfered corners each comprise a substantially flat surface having a horizontal dimension that is at least 10 percent of a longest dimension of the substantially rectangular horizontal cross section.

14. The container of claim 13 , wherein the horizontal dimension of the substantially flat surface is at least 15 percent of the longest dimension of the substantially rectangular horizontal cross section.

15. The container of claim 10 , wherein the handle is tubular.

16. The container of claim 10 , wherein the base comprises

at least one contact region for contacting a supporting surface on which the container can be supported; and

a plurality of strengthening ribs.

17. The container of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of strengthening ribs are parallel to each other.

18. The container of claim 10 , wherein the container is a 128 ounce liquid container.

19. The container of claim 1 , wherein a vertically highest point on the handle is no higher than a vertically lowest point of the finish.

20. The container of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second chamfered corners is uninterrupted by a step or a groove.

21. The container of claim 1 , wherein each of the third and fourth chamfered corners is substantially smooth and uninterrupted along its entire length.

22. A blow molded plastic container, comprising:

a base;

a body extending upward from the base;

a neck extending upward from the body;

a finish extending upward from the neck and having an opening;

an integral handle having a lower end attached to the body and an upper end attached to the neck;

first and second chamfered corners integral with the body and extending upward from the base to the neck, each of the first and second chamfered corners being substantially smooth and uninterrupted along its entire length; and

third and fourth chamfered corners integral with the body and extending upward from the base to a vertical position of the container adjacent the lower end of the handle.

23. The blow molded plastic container of claim 22 , further comprising two upper rounded corners, one of the upper rounded corners being located on each side of the upper end of the handle, the two upper rounded corners extending upward from the body into the neck.

24. The blow molded plastic container of claim 22 , wherein the handle is tubular.

25. The container of claim 22 , wherein a vertically highest point on the handle is no higher than a vertically lowest point of the finish.

26. The container of claim 22 , wherein each of the first and second chamfered corners is uninterrupted by a step or a groove.

27. The container of claim 22 , wherein each of the third and fourth chamfered corners is substantially smooth and uninterrupted along its entire length.