Patent ID: 7721759

Claim:
An intermediate bulk container (IBC) for transporting liquids or flowable solids and comprising: a non-pressurized container; a liner bag carried by the non-pressurized container and having an inlet for receiving the liquids or flowable solids, and an outlet; and a valve carried by the outlet of the liner bag for dispensing the liquids or flowable solids therefrom, and comprising a valve seat having an opening extending therethrough to be aligned with the outlet in the liner bag; a flange extending outwardly from the valve seat and to be placed inside the liner bag so that the valve seat projects outside the liner bag; a valve member within the opening of the valve seat for controlling egress of liquids or flowable solids from the liner bag; an operating lever outside the liner bag for operating the valve member; and a fixed protective cage coupled directly to the flange for protecting the opening of the valve seat from inside the liner bag when the liner bag collapses, the fixed protective cage comprising a plurality of legs extending outwardly from the flange, and a permeable face plate supported by the plurality of legs, with the permeable face plate being configured as an open grid.