Cover for dispensing closure with pressure actuated valve

Abstract

A cover for a valved dispensing closure prevents the valve from opening while the cover is disposed on closure. The cover's central projection prevents flaps formed in the valve from opening, and the cover's outer projection prevents the flexible valve head from moving or inverting. The cover may also have projections that project inwardly from its skirt. The cover projections interact with mating projections formed on an exterior of the closure, and a lower end of the skirt may be disposed into an annular groove in the closure, to enhance a seal between the closure and the cover. The cover may include a snap ring attached to other portions of the cover by a breakable connection to provide tamper evidence.

1 . A dispensing closure comprising: 
 a closure body including closure threads for mating to corresponding container threads, a circumferential groove formed therein, and an upwardly extending spout;    a pressure activated valve secured within the closure body, the valve including a valve head having intersecting slits formed therein that form moveable flaps, said flaps defining an at-rest, closed position and an actuated, open position; and    a removable cover having a seated position in which the cover is applied to the closure body and a removed position in which the cover is spaced apart from the valve, the cover including a circumferential skirt, a central post extending downwardly from a top portion of the cover, and an outer projection disposed concentrically about said central post, a distal portion of the post is capable of contacting the flaps at or proximate the intersection point to inhibit the flaps from opening and a rim of the skirt is disposed in the groove of the closure body while the cover is in its seated position.    
   
   
       2 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1  further comprising a snap ring formed proximate a lower lip of the cover.  
   
   
       3 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2  wherein the snap ring includes a circumferential first rib disposed on an inboard surface of the cover skirt and wherein the closure body includes a circumferential second rib disposed on an outboard surface of the closure body proximate the groove.  
   
   
       4 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2  wherein the groove is disposed radially outwardly of the spout.  
   
   
       5 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2  wherein the snap ring is retained in the groove while the cover in its seated position.  
   
   
       6 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2  further comprising frangible bridges connecting the snap ring to an upper portion of the cover, the bridges breaking upon initial removal of the cover from the closure body to provided tamper evidence.  
   
   
       7 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2  wherein the cover skirt includes an inboard thread and the closure body includes an outboard thread, the cover thread cooperating with the closure body outboard thread to enable the cover to be twisted off of the closure body.  
   
   
       8 . The dispensing closure of  claim 7  wherein each one of the snap ring and the groove include cooperating ratchet surfaces, the ratchet surfaces are oriented such that the cover and the snap ring are capable of being applied by screwing the assembly onto the closure body.  
   
   
       9 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1  wherein the outer projection is cylindrical.  
   
   
       10 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1  wherein the valve includes a periphery that is fixed relative to the base and a connector sleeve is coupled between the valve periphery and the valve head.  
   
   
       11 . The dispensing closure of  claim 10  wherein the cover outer projection contacts the connector sleeve to restrict movement of the valve head, thereby inhibiting the valve head from inverting.