Container closure system

Abstract

A lid for use on a container includes a base, having attachment structure associated therewith for attaching the base to the container, and having a material dispensing orifice formed or formable therein. A slide channel is formed as part of the base. The slide channel includes an open top section defined by a pair of sidewalls, the open top section having an opening width equal to or greater than a narrowest width defined between the pair of sidewalls. A slidable portion is slidably disposed within the slide channel and is movable at least partially over the material dispensing orifice. A cover portion is attached to the base, the cover portion forming a top of a slide enclosure for the slidable portion.

1 . A lid for use on a container, comprising:
 a base, having attachment structure associated therewith for attaching the base to the container, and having a material dispensing orifice formed or formable therein;   a slide channel, formed as part of the base, the slide channel including an open top section defined by a pair of sidewalls, the open top section having an opening width equal to or greater than a narrowest width defined between the pair of sidewalls;   a slidable portion, slidably disposed within the slide channel and movable at least partially over the material dispensing orifice; and   a cover portion, attached to the base, the cover portion forming a top of a slide enclosure for the slidable portion.   
   
   
       2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein each of the sidewalls is positively cambered relative to the slide channel. 
   
   
       3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable portion and the open top section are sized relative to one another to facilitate placement of the slidable portion within the slide channel through the open top section. 
   
   
       4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein an upper section of the slidable portion extends above an upper section of each of the sidewalls so as to protrude above the slide channel to contact an underside of the cover portion. 
   
   
       5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls extend above an upper surface of the base and wherein a bottom of the slidable portion slides on the upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the sidewalls is formed below an upper surface of the base and wherein a bottom of the slidable portion slides below the upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       7 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising engagement structure, associated with the slidable portion, the engagement structure being configured to enable a user to engage the slidable portion to manipulate the slidable portion. 
   
   
       8 . The lid of  claim 7 , further comprising a receiving opening, formed in the cover portion, the receiving opening being operable to receive or expose the engagement structure of the slidable portion to enable the user to access the engagement structure through the cover portion. 
   
   
       9 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion and the base are formed from a polymeric material. 
   
   
       10 . The lid of  claim 9 , wherein the cover portion is welded to the base. 
   
   
       11 . A lid for use on a container, comprising:
 a base, having attachment structure associated therewith for attaching the base to the container and having a material dispensing orifice formed or formable therein; and   a slide channel, formed as part of the base, the slide channel including an open top section bordered by a pair of sidewalls;   a slidable portion slidably disposed within the slide channel and movable at least partially over the material dispensing orifice; and   a cover portion, attached to the base, the cover portion forming a top of a slide enclosure for the slidable portion and being in interfering contact with at least a portion of the slidable portion to both restrict the slidable portion from moving upwardly in the slide channel and to provide a braking interface with the slidable portion to at least partially restrict sliding movement of the slidable portion.   
   
   
       12 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein the slidable portion and the open top portion are sized relative to one another to facilitate placement of the slidable portion within the slide channel through the open top portion. 
   
   
       13 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein each of the sidewalls is positively cambered relative to the slide channel. 
   
   
       14 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein the sidewalls extend above an upper surface of the base and wherein a bottom of the slidable portion slides on the upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       15 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of each of the sidewalls is formed below an upper surface of the base and wherein a bottom of the slidable portion slides below the upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       16 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein the base, the slidable portion and the cover portion comprise three separate units of material. 
   
   
       17 . The lid of  claim 11 , further comprising engagement structure, associated with the slidable portion, the engagement structure being configured to enable a user to engage the slidable portion to manipulate the slidable portion. 
   
   
       18 . The lid of  claim 17 , further comprising a receiving opening, formed in the cover portion, the receiving opening being operable to receive or expose the engagement structure of the slidable portion to enable the user to access the engagement structure through the cover portion. 
   
   
       19 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein the cover portion is welded to the base. 
   
   
       20 . A lid for use on a container, comprising:
 a base, having attachment structure associated therewith for attaching the base to the container, and having a material dispensing orifice formed or formable therein;   a slidable portion, slidably disposed on the base and slidably movable at least partially over the material dispensing orifice; and   a cover portion, welded to the base, the cover portion forming a slide enclosure for the slidable portion to substantially restrict the slidable portion to movement on the base in a single degree of freedom.   
   
   
       21 . The lid of  claim 20 , wherein the slidable portion, but for the cover portion, is free to slidably move relative to the base in at least two degrees of freedom. 
   
   
       22 . The lid of  claim 20 , further comprising a slide channel, formed as part of the base, the slide channel including an open top section defined by a pair of sidewalls. 
   
   
       23 . The lid of  claim 22 , wherein the cover portion is in interfering contact with at least a portion of the slidable portion to both restrict the slidable portion from moving upwardly in the slide channel and to provide a braking interface with the slidable portion to at least partially restrict sliding movement of the slidable portion. 
   
   
       24 . A method of forming a lid for use on a container, comprising:
 obtaining a base configured to be attached to the container;   forming a slide channel, including:
 forming as part of the base a pair of sidewalls defining lateral sides of the slide channel; and 
 defining an open top section of the slide channel between upper portions of the sidewalls; 
   inserting a slidable portion through the open top section and into the slide channel such that the slidable portion is slidably movable within the slide channel; and   positioning over the slidable portion a cover portion and attaching the cover portion to the base.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein defining the open top section includes defining an opening width that is equal to or greater than a narrowest width defined between the pair of sidewalls. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein attaching the cover portion comprises welding the cover portion to the base. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein attaching the cover portion to the base includes cinching the cover portion over the slidable portion such that the cover portion provides a braking interface with the slidable portion to at least partially restrict slidable movement of the slidable portion. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cover portion and the base are formed from a polymeric material. 
   
   
       29 . A method of forming a lid for use on a container, comprising:
 obtaining a base configured to be attached to the container;   disposing a slidable portion in slidable contact with the base;   positioning a cover portion over the slidable portion; and   attaching the cover portion to the base to thereby form a slide enclosure to substantially restrict the slidable portion to movement in a single degree of freedom.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein attaching the cover portion comprises welding the cover portion to the base. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein attaching the cover portion to the base includes cinching the cover portion over the slidable portion such that the cover portion provides a braking interface with the slidable portion to at least partially restrict slidable movement of the slidable portion. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the cover portion and the base are formed from a polymeric material. 
   
   
       33 . A lid for use on a container, comprising:
 a base, having attachment structure associated therewith for attaching the base to the container;   a material dispensing orifice formed or formable in the base;   a vent orifice formed or formable in the base;   a moveable section including blocking structure operable to at least partially block both of the material dispensing orifice and the vent orifice; and   wherein movement of the moveable section effectuates:
 simultaneous blockage of the material dispensing orifice and; 
 simultaneous unblocking of the material dispensing orifice and the vent orifice. 
   
   
   
       34 . The lid of  claim 33 , wherein the moveable section comprises a rotatable portion, and wherein the blocking structure blocks both the material dispensing orifice and the vent orifice when the rotatable portion is in a first position and unblocks both the material dispensing orifice and the vent orifice when the slidable portion is in a second position rotatably removed from the first position. 
   
   
       35 . The lid of  claim 33 , wherein the moveable section comprises a slidable portion, and wherein the blocking structure blocks both the material dispensing orifice and the vent orifice when the slidable portion is in a first position and unblocks both the material dispensing orifice and the vent orifice when the slidable portion is in a second position slidably removed from the first position. 
   
   
       36 . The lid of  claim 35 , further comprising a pair of detents formed in the base, one of the detents operable to at least partially secure the slidable portion in the first position and one of the detents operable to at least partially secure the slidable portion in the second position. 
   
   
       37 . The lid of  claim 36 , wherein one of the detents is formed adjacent the material dispensing orifice and wherein the detent is operable to at least partially secure the slidable portion in the first position and is operable to at least partially block the material dispensing orifice to limit spillage of the material from the material dispensing orifice. 
   
   
       38 . The lid of  claim 36 , wherein one of the detents is formed adjacent the vent orifice and wherein the detent is operable to at least partially secure the slidable portion in the first position and is operable to at least partially unblock the vent orifice when the slidable portion is in the second position. 
   
   
       39 . The lid of  claim 38 , wherein the detent at least partially unblocks the vent orifice by sliding across an upper surface of the base and creating a gap between the slidable portion and the vent orifice.