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. The sidewalls define a sidewall thickness that is less than the column thickness. The molded bottle further includes a band or belt that wraps around the molded bottle, and the band is formed of a plurality of ribs. Each of the plurality of ribs protrudes outward from one of the plurality of sidewalls and extends between a pair of the plurality of columns, wherein each of the plurality of ribs defines a rib thickness that is less than the column thickness.

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, and a central axis extending through the bottom and top walls;   a plurality of columns extending vertically from the bottom wall, the plurality of columns defining a column thickness;   a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically between the bottom wall and the top wall and horizontally between the plurality of columns; and   a plurality of ribs, each of the plurality of ribs protruding from one of the plurality of sidewalls away from the axis and extending between a pair of the plurality of columns, wherein each of the plurality of ribs defines a rib thickness that is less than or equal to the column thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls defines a sidewall thickness that is less than the column thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The molded bottle of  claim 2 , wherein the column thickness is at least 15 percent greater than the rib thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The molded bottle of  claim 2 , wherein the column thickness is greater than a material thickness of the bottom wall, and wherein the column thickness is greater than a material thickness of the top wall. 
     
     
         5 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls defines a sidewall thickness that is greater than the rib thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls each define a sidewall thickness that is less than the column thickness and greater than the rib thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The molded bottle of  claim 6 , wherein the sidewall thickness is at least 20 percent greater than the rib thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of columns defines a first height, and each of the plurality of sidewalls having a top surface and a second height defined between the bottom wall and the top surface, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. 
     
     
         9 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the rib thickness is greater than a material thickness of the bottom wall, and wherein the rib thickness is greater than a material thickness of the top wall. 
     
     
         10 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs extend horizontally and substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls define an ovoid structure, and wherein the plurality of ribs form a band arranged around the perimeter of the ovoid structure. 
     
     
         12 . The molded bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the rib thickness is less than the column thickness. 
     
     
         13 . A molded bottle for an intermediate bulk container system, the molded bottle comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a top wall opposite the bottom wall, and a central axis extending through the bottom and top walls;   a plurality of columns extending vertically from the bottom wall, the plurality of columns defining a column thickness;   a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically between the bottom wall and the top wall and horizontally between the plurality of columns; and   a plurality of ribs, each of the plurality of ribs protruding from one of the plurality of sidewalls away from the axis and extending between a pair of the plurality of columns, wherein each of the plurality of ribs defines a rib thickness that is less than the column thickness,   wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls defines a sidewall thickness that is less than the column thickness and greater than the rib thickness.   
     
     
         14 . The molded bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the column thickness is greater than a material thickness of the bottom wall, and wherein the column thickness is greater than a material thickness of the top wall. 
     
     
         15 . The molded bottle of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of columns defines a first height, and each of the plurality of sidewalls having a top surface and a second height defined between the bottom wall and the top surface, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. 
     
     
         16 . The molded bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the rib thickness is less than a material thickness of the bottom wall, and wherein the rib thickness is less than a material thickness of the top wall. 
     
     
         17 . The molded bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ribs extend horizontally and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         18 . The molded bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls define an ovoid structure, and wherein the plurality of ribs form a band arranged around the perimeter of the ovoid structure. 
     
     
         19 . The molded bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall thickness is about 20% greater than the rib thickness. 
     
     
         20 . A molded bottle for an intermediate bulk container system, the molded bottle comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a top wall opposite the bottom wall, and a central axis extending through the bottom and top walls;   a plurality of columns extending vertically from the bottom wall, the plurality of columns defining a column thickness;   a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically between the bottom wall and the top wall and horizontally between the plurality of columns; and   a plurality of ribs, each of the plurality of ribs protruding from one of the plurality of sidewalls and extending between a pair of the plurality of columns,   wherein each of the plurality of ribs defines a rib thickness that is less than the column thickness,   wherein the rib thickness is less than a material thickness of the bottom wall,   wherein the rib thickness is less than a material thickness of the top wall,   wherein the column thickness is greater than the material thickness of the bottom wall,   wherein the column thickness is greater than the material thickness of the top wall,   wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls defines a sidewall thickness that is less than the column thickness and greater than the rib thickness.