Valve assembly for use with containers in a closed application system

A system for transferring product between a container and a receptacle, said system comprising:

• a product container having a discharge opening, and a valve assembly mountable over said discharge opening;
• said valve assembly comprising first and second valve components mounted for selective rotation relative to each other in first and second predetermined directions for moving said valve assembly between closed and opened positions;
• said valve assembly being mountable to said product container such that said first valve component is conjointly rotatable with said product container relative to said second valve component;
• said valve assembly including a guide element extending from one of the first and second valve components;
• a product receptacle, said product receptacle defining an inlet opening having a collar fixedly mounted therein;
• said collar adapted to receive therein said guide element extending from said valve assembly mounted to said product container for fixedly retaining said second valve component in said collar such that conjoint rotation of said product container and said first valve component relative to said second valve component and said collar of said product receptacle moves said valve assembly between said closed and opened positions;
• said container, said receptacle, and said valve assembly being arranged to permit flow of product from said product container, through said valve assembly, and into said product receptacle without venting;
• said first valve component having a top surface defining at least one opening therein;
• said second valve component having a top surface defining at least one opening therein;
• said openings in said top surfaces of said first and second valve components being selectively movable into and out of alignment as said first and second valve components are rotated relative to each other for moving said valve assembly between said closed and opened positions.

A device for dispersing material in a closed application system, said device comprising:

• a valve assembly having at least first and second relatively rotatable valve elements for selectively exposing and blocking at least one opening defined in at least one of said valve elements;
• a container removably mounted to an inlet of said valve assembly, said container having an outlet adjacent to said inlet of said valve assembly;
• a receptacle removably mounted to an outlet of said valve assembly, said receptacle having an inlet adjacent to said outlet of said valve assembly;
• said valve assembly and said receptacle including cooperating locking means to prevent removal of said receptacle from said valve assembly when said at least one opening in said valve assembly is not completely blocked;
• said container, said valve assembly, and said receptacle being arranged to permit flow of material from said container through said valve assembly and into said receptacle, without venting.

A device for dispersing material in a closed application system, said device comprising:

• a valve assembly having at least first and second relatively rotatable valve elements for selectively exposing and blocking at least one opening defined in at least one of said valve elements;
• a container removably mounted to an inlet of said valve assembly, said container having an outlet adjacent to said inlet of said valve assembly;
• a receptacle removably mounted to an outlet of said valve assembly, said receptacle having an inlet adjacent to said outlet of said valve assembly;
• said valve assembly and said receptacle including cooperating locking means to prevent removal of said receptacle from said valve assembly when said at least one opening in said valve assembly is not completely blocked;
• wherein said locking means comprises a collar mounted to said receptacle, and a tab carried by said valve assembly for engaging said collar to selectively lock said receptacle to said valve assembly;
• wherein said tab is arranged to cooperate with said valve assembly to limit relative rotation of said valve elements.

A method of dispersing product from a container, the steps of said method comprising:

• removably coupling a product container to a valve such that an outlet of said product container is adjacent to an inlet of said valve;
• removably coupling a product receptacle to said valve such that an inlet of said product receptacle is adjacent to an outlet of said valve;
• selectively opening said valve by rotating a first valve element relative to a second valve element for selectively exposing an opening defined in one of said valve elements to permit flow of product from said container, through said valve, and into said product receptacle without venting;
• locking said product receptacle to said valve as said valve is opened;
• and
• dispersing product from said product receptacle.

A method of loading a product receptacle, the steps of said method comprising:

• removably coupling a product container to a valve such that an outlet of said product container is adjacent to an inlet of said valve;
• removably coupling a product receptacle to said valve such that an inlet of said product receptacle is adjacent to an outlet of said valve;
• selectively opening said valve by rotating a first valve element relative to a second valve element for selectively exposing an opening defined in one of said valve elements to permit flow of product from said container, through said valve, and into said product receptacle without venting;
• and
• locking said product receptacle to said valve as said valve is opened.