Funnel assembly with open/closed valve

An open/closed valve for adaptation into an existing funnel having a spout of substantially circular cross-section tapering from an inlet end to an outlet end and having an inside surface, said valve comprising:

• a substantially spherical occluding element disposed in the spout and having a periphery larger than the outlet end of the spout and smaller than the inlet end of the spout, characterized by said occluding element having a resiliently flexible sealing member extending circumferentially therearound for selectively engaging and conforming to the inside surface of the spout at any of a plurality of angular displacements of said occluding element to establish an impervious seal within the spout between the inlet end and the outlet end as a result of gravity acting upon said occluding element, wherein said sealing member is an upturned flap disposed generally horizontally around a midline of said occluding element and extending from said periphery of said occluding element defining a length and a thickness wherein said thickness is less than said length;
• and
• an actuator having a first end fixedly secured to said occluding element below said upturned flap and an opposite second end extending through the outlet end of the spout for selectively moving said occluding element from a closed position preventing a flow of material through the spout to an open position allowing said flow of material through the spout.

A funnel assembly for transferring material between two containers, said funnel assembly comprising:

• a funnel forming a reservoir;
• a spout of substantially circular cross-section tapering along a longitudinal axis between an inlet end joined to said funnel and a distal outlet end, said spout having an inside surface;
• and
• a substantially spherical occluding element disposed in said spout and including an upper portion, a lower portion joined to said upper portion at a midline of said occluding element and having a periphery larger than a periphery of said upper portion whereby said periphery of said lower portion is larger than said outlet end of said spout and smaller than said inlet end of said spout, and a resiliently flexible sealing member integrally formed at said midline and extending circumferentially therearound for selectively engaging and conforming to said inside surface of said spout at any of a plurality of angular displacements of said occluding element to establish an impervious seal within said spout between said inlet end and said outlet end as a result of gravity and material weight acting upon said occluding element;
• wherein said sealing member is an upturned flap disposed generally horizontally around said midline of said occluding element and extending from said periphery of said lower portion defining a length and a thickness wherein said thickness is less than said length.