Loose material dispensing system

Abstract

An assembly and method of dispensing loose fill material from the interior of a container in which the loose fill material is originally packaged and/or transported. A spout body at least partially defining a material flow path is connected to an access opening formed in the container. An inlet on the body communicates with the flow path and is disposed through the access opening in receiving relation to the loose fill material. A flow regulating structure is movable from a closed position to an open position, thereby facilitating dispensing of the loose fill material through the spout. A suspension device may be attached to an exterior of the container to mount it on a support structure, thereby facilitating gravity flow of the loose fill material from the container interior, through and out of the outlet, to any of a plurality of intended locations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for dispensing loose fill material from a container, said assembly comprising:
 a spout including a body having a hollow interior structured to at least partially define a flow path of the loose fill material through said body,   said body comprising an inlet and an outlet both disposed in communicating relation to said flow path,   said flow path, said inlet and said outlet relatively disposed and cooperatively dimensioned to facilitate passage of the loose fill material along said flow path from an interior of the container,   a connecting structure disposed on said body and structured to attached said body in an operative position on the container,   said operative position comprising said inlet disposed in communicating relation with an interior of said container and in receiving relation to the loose fill material therein, and   a flow regulating structure movably connected to said body and disposable into and out of a flow restricting orientation relative to said flow path.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said flow regulating structure comprises a structure movably connected to said body and positionable in either an open position or a closed position relative to said outlet. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said outlet comprises an opening formed in said body and disposed exteriorly of the container when said body is in said operative position. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein said inlet comprises an opening formed in said body in spaced relation to said outlet, said opening disposed at least partially on the interior of the container when said body is in said operative position. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said connecting structure is dimensioned and cooperatively disposed relative to said inlet for concurrent placement of said connecting structure and said inlet within the interior of the container when said body is in said operative position. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said connecting structure is disposed adjacent said inlet and structured to attach said body in said operative position to the container through an access opening in the container; said operative position comprising said inlet disposed in communicating relation with the loose fill material through the access opening. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said connecting structure comprising a connecting flange disposed on said body and extending transversely outward from an exterior thereof. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein said retaining flange comprises a plurality of flange segments mounted on and extending transversely outward from an exterior surface of said body in spaced relation to one another. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as recited in  claim 7  further comprising a retaining structure secured to an exterior of the container in substantially aligned, overlying relation to said connecting flange; said retaining structure and said connecting flange collectively disposed in substantially sandwiching relation to correspondingly disposed portions of the container. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said retaining structure is secured to an exterior of the container in substantially overlying relation to at least a portion the access opening. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a suspension device secured to an exterior of the container and disposed and structured to mount the container in a depending relation from a support structure. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said suspension device comprises a harness connected to and at least partially surrounding an exterior of the container. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly for dispensing loose fill material from a flexible material container, said assembly comprising:
 a spout including a body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening disposed in spaced relation to one another,   a flow path disposed within said body between and in communication with said inlet and outlet openings,   said flow path, said inlet opening and said outlet opening relatively disposed and cooperatively dimensioned to facilitate passage of the loose flow material through said body from the container,   a connecting structure disposed on said body and structured to attach said body in an operative position through an access opening in the container,   said operative position comprising said inlet opening disposed in communicating, receiving relation to the loose fill material within the container through the access opening, and   a flow regulating structure connected to said body and disposable into and out of a flow restricting orientation relative to said flow path.   
     
     
         14 . An assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said flow regulating structure comprises a closure movably connected to said body and disposable into and out of closing relation to said outlet opening. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a biasing structure connected to said closure and disposed and structured to normally bias said closure into said closing relation to said outlet opening. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a retaining structure secured to an exterior of the container in aligned relation to the connecting structure and in at least in partially surrounding relation to the access opening when said body is in said operative position. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly as recited in  claim 16  wherein said connecting structure comprises a flange structure extending transversely outward from an exterior of said body; said flange structure disposed within the container through the access opening when said body is in said operative position. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly as recited in  claim 17  wherein said retaining structure comprises a collar connected to an exterior of the container in substantially overlying relation to the flange structure and in at least partially surrounding relation to the access opening when said body is in said operative position. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein said collar is further disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said body adjacent said inlet opening, said collar at least partially formed from a flexible material and connected to an exterior surface of the container. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said body is at least partially formed of a material of sufficient flexibility to facilitate selective positioning of said outlet, relative to the container, into a plurality of different dispensing orientations. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a suspension device secured to an exterior of the container and disposed and structured to mount the container in a depending relation from a support structure. 
     
     
         22 . An assembly as recited in  claim 21  wherein said suspension device comprises a hole formed in a portion of the container which is disposed to facilitate a depending suspension of the container from a support structure. 
     
     
         23 . A method of dispensing loose fill material from a container using a spout, said method comprising:
 forming an access opening in the container,   inserting an inlet portion of a body of the spout through the access opening in receiving relation to the loose fill material,   securing the body in an operative position on the container by applying a retaining structure to the exterior of the container in at least partially surrounding relation to the body adjacent to the access opening,   disposing a flow regulating structure associated with an outlet of the body in an open position, and   dispensing the loose fill material from within the container through the inlet, along a flow path within the body and out of the outlet to a predetermined location.   
     
     
         24 . An assembly as recited in  claim 23  further comprising forming the access opening and inserting the inlet in a flexible material portion of the container. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly as recited in  claim 24  further comprising attaching a suspension device to an exterior of the container in supporting relation to the container and securing the container, by the suspension device, in depending relation from a support structure to facilitate gravity flow of the loose fill material into the inlet, through the flow path and out of the outlet of the body, when the body is in the operative position.