Intermediate bulk container (ibc) and associated pallet

Abstract

An intermediate bulk container system includes a molded bottle and a pallet. The molded bottle includes a bottom wall and a top wall opposite the bottom wall. A plurality of support columns extend vertically from the bottom wall and define a column thickness. A plurality of sidewalls extending vertically between the bottom wall and the top wall and horizontally between the support columns. A stiffening protrusion is defined on at least a pair of the sidewalls.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molded bottle for an intermediate bulk container system, the molded bottle comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a top wall opposite the bottom wall;   a plurality of columns extending vertically from the bottom wall; and   a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically between the bottom wall and the top wall and horizontally between the plurality of columns, each of the plurality of columns extending vertically further than the plurality of sidewalls,   wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprises a front sidewall, a rear sidewall opposite the front sidewall, a right sidewall extending horizontally between front sidewall and the rear sidewall, and a left sidewall opposite the right sidewall and extending horizontally between front sidewall and the rear sidewall, and   wherein the left sidewall and the right sidewall each comprise a stiffening protrusion, the stiffening protrusion having an upper end and extending vertically upward from the bottom wall to the upper end, the upper end being vertically below the top wall such that the stiffening protrusion terminates before the top wall.   
     
     
         2 . The molded bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls includes a sidewall width dimension measured between a pair of the plurality of columns bordering the sidewall, wherein the stiffening protrusion comprises a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the first and second edges extending vertically between the bottom wall and the upper end the stiffening protrusion, the stiffening protrusion defining a stiffening protrusion width dimension measured between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the stiffening protrusion width dimension is less than the sidewall width dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The molded bottle according to  claim 2 , wherein a gap on the sidewall is defined between the first edge of the stiffening protrusion and a first neighboring one of the plurality of columns and the gap is also defined on the sidewall between the second edge of the stiffening protrusion and a second neighboring one of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         4 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , further comprising a gusset extending upward from the top wall. 
     
     
         5 . The molded bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein each respective column of the plurality of support columns includes a pallet stacking structure defined at an upper end thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The molded bottle according to  claim 5 , wherein the pallet stacking structure comprises a flat base surface, an inner alignment plateau, and an outer alignment plateau, the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau being disposed on the flat base surface and extending vertically upward therefrom, the outer alignment plateau being further from the top wall than the inner alignment plateau, wherein the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau extend an equal distance from the flat base surface such that they have a common elevation. 
     
     
         7 . The molded bottle according to  claim 6 , wherein the pallet stacking structure further comprises a protrusion extending vertically upward from the flat base surface, wherein the protrusion extends vertically further than the common elevation of the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau. 
     
     
         8 . The molded bottle according to  claim 5 , wherein the pallet stacking structure comprises a flat base surface and a protrusion extending vertically upward therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The molded bottle according to  claim 8 , wherein the pallet stacking structure further comprises an inner alignment plateau and an outer alignment plateau, the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau being disposed on the flat base surface and extending vertically upward therefrom, the outer alignment plateau being further from the top wall than the inner alignment plateau, wherein the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau extend an equal distance from the flat base surface such that they have a common elevation, and wherein the protrusion extends vertically further than the common elevation of the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau. 
     
     
         10 . The molded bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall includes a central trough sloping downward to a discharge port defined in a front sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, and a pair of generally flat inclined panels, a first of the generally flat inclined panels sloping downward from the right sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls to the central trough and a second of the generally flat inclined panels sloping downward from the left sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls to the central trough. 
     
     
         11 . The molded bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columns, and the plurality of sidewalls are of uniform wall thickness. 
     
     
         12 . An intermediate bulk container system, comprising:
 a molded bottle including a top wall, a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls extending between the top wall and bottom walls, and a plurality of support columns extending vertically from the bottom wall, wherein
 the plurality of sidewalls comprises a front sidewall, a rear sidewall opposite the front sidewall, a right sidewall extending horizontally between front sidewall and the rear sidewall, and a left sidewall opposite the right sidewall and extending horizontally between front sidewall and the rear sidewall, and 
 the left sidewall and the right sidewall each comprise a stiffening protrusion, the stiffening protrusion having an upper end and extending vertically upward from the bottom wall to the upper end, the upper end being vertically below the top wall such that the stiffening protrusion terminates before the top wall; and 
   a pallet supporting the bottom wall of the molded bottle.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the molded bottle and the pallet are each constructed of a molded thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein each respective column of the plurality of support columns includes a pallet stacking structure defined at an upper end thereof, the pallet stacking structure interlocking with a corresponding geometry defined on a bottom surface of the pallet. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the pallet stacking structure comprises a flat base surface, an inner alignment plateau, and an outer alignment plateau, the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau being disposed on the flat base surface and extending vertically upward therefrom, the outer alignment plateau being further from the top wall than the inner alignment plateau, wherein the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau extend an equal distance from the flat base surface such that they have a common elevation, and wherein the bottom surface of the pallet comprises anti-teeter bar engageable by the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the pallet stacking structure further comprises a protrusion extending vertically upward from the flat base surface, wherein the protrusion extends vertically further than the common elevation of the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau, and wherein the bottom surface of the pallet comprises and indentation engageable with the protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the pallet stacking structure comprises a flat base surface and a protrusion extending vertically upward therefrom, and wherein the bottom surface of the pallet comprises and indentation engageable with the protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the pallet stacking structure further comprises an inner alignment plateau and an outer alignment plateau, the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau being disposed on the flat base surface and extending vertically upward therefrom, the outer alignment plateau being further from the top wall than the inner alignment plateau, wherein the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau extend an equal distance from the flat base surface such that they have a common elevation, and wherein the protrusion extends vertically further than the common elevation of the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau, and wherein the bottom surface of the pallet comprises anti-teeter bar engageable by the inner alignment plateau and the outer alignment plateau. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the molded bottle further comprises a gusset extending upward from the top wall. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein an upper surface of the gusset is oriented below a bottom surface of the pallet when the pallet is provided on an upper end of the molded bottle, with a space being defined between the upper surface of the gusset and the bottom surface of the pallet.