Dispensing closure for containers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispensing closure suitable for dispensing pourable product from a container. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a “flip-top” type closure operated by an actuating means.

1 . A dispensing closure suitable for being mounted on a container, said container having a dispensing opening and being suitable for containing a pourable product in its interior volume, wherein said dispensing closure comprises: 
 (a) a base member comprising a means for attachment to said container, a draining canal adapted to communicate with the interior volume of said container, and a discharging means;    (b) a cap comprising a sealing means for securing said cap onto said base member thereby covering said discharging means in a tight manner vis-à-vis the content of said container;    (c) a means of articulation of said cap with respect to said base member between a open position whereby said discharging means is uncovered and a closed position whereby said discharging means is covered by said cap; said means of articulation joining said cap to said base member;    (d) a flexible member lodged within said base member and comprising a locking means adapted to inter-engage said sealing means so as to maintain said cap in its closed position; said flexible member further comprising an actuating means which under actuation is capable of disengaging said locking means from said sealing means;    (e) complementary means located in said cap and in said flexible member capable of releasing said cap back towards its open position once said locking means have been disengaged from said sealing means.    
   
   
       2 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said base member is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       3 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for attachment is a cooperative thread.  
   
   
       4 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said base member further comprises a deflecting stem projecting upwardly from the base member.  
   
   
       5 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said deflecting stem surrounds said discharging means.  
   
   
       6 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said discharging means is a pouring spout.  
   
   
       7 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing means is at least one hook.  
   
   
       8 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said cap possesses a lip portion and a lip stem projecting downwardly from said lip portion and extending around the perimeter of said lip portion.  
   
   
       9 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 8 , wherein said base member further comprises a receiving recess adapted to tightly fit said lip stem.  
   
   
       10 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said means of articulation is a hinge-type assembly.  
   
   
       11 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 10 , wherein said hinge-type assembly is selected from the group of pivot-hinge, butterfly-hinge and three-legged-hinge.  
   
   
       12 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuating means is a pushing button.  
   
   
       13 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible member is a strap.  
   
   
       14 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking means is a clasp element.  
   
   
       15 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible member further comprises a resiliently deformable portion.  
   
   
       16 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said complementary means take the form of a cooperative combination of a flexible piece and a corresponding fixed structural element, wherein said flexible piece is elastically stressed when compressed by said structural element.  
   
   
       17 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 16 , wherein said flexible piece is located on the upper lip of said flexible member, and said structural element is located on said cap.  
   
   
       18 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 16 , wherein said flexible piece is a flexible arm, and said structural element is in the form of a flange.  
   
   
       19 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 17 , wherein said base member comprises a skirt and a deck and wherein said deck is further provided with an aperture adapted such as to permit said structural element to traverse through said deck and come into contact with said flexible piece.  
   
   
       20 . A dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said pourable product is a liquid.  
   
   
       21 . A container closure assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a container having a body portion for holding container content, a lower closed end for supporting said container, an upper end including a means of attachment thereon adapted to receive and affix a dispensing closure for containers; and    (b) a dispensing closure according to  claim 1  mounted on said container.    
   
   
       22 . A method of dispensing the content of a container comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a container closure assembly according to  claim 21  wherein said cap is in its closed position;    (b) actuating said actuating means so as to release said cap back to its open position;    (c) pouring the required amount of the container content through said discharging means;    (d) mechanically closing said cap back towards its closed position.