Container closure system

Abstract

A reusable closure assembly for attachment to a container includes a slide assembly that includes a pair of lateral channel portions; a slidable portion rupturably coupled to each of the lateral channel portions between the lateral channel portions; and a cover portion, extending laterally from one of the lateral channel portions. The cover portion is sized and shaped to be folded over the lateral channel portions and the slidable portion to thereby form a top of a three-sided slide enclosure. The slidable portion is slidable within the slide enclosure after being ruptured from the lateral channel portions.

1 . A reusable closure assembly for attachment to a container, comprising:
 a slide assembly, including:
 a pair of lateral channel portions; 
 a slidable portion rupturably coupled to each of the lateral channel portions between the lateral channel portions; and 
 a cover portion, extending laterally from one of the lateral channel portions, the cover portion being sized and shaped to be folded over the lateral channel portions and the slidable portion to thereby form a top of a three-sided slide enclosure; 
   the slidable portion being slidable within the slide enclosure after being ruptured from the lateral channel portions.   
   
   
       2 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable portion is coupled to each of the lateral channel portions by material strands defined by an array of perforations formed in the slide assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slide assembly includes two arrays of perforations formed in the slide assembly, the two arrays being substantially parallel to one another. 
   
   
       4 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slide assembly is formed from a unitary sheet of material. 
   
   
       5 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the three-sided enclosure includes an internal cross section that substantially matches an external cross section of the slidable portion. 
   
   
       6 . The closure 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. 
   
   
       7 . The closure of  claim 6 , further comprising a receiving opening, formed in the cover portion, the receiving opening 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. 
   
   
       8 . 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 assembly, coupled to the base, the slide assembly including:
 at least one lateral channel portion; 
 a slidable portion rupturably coupled to one of the lateral channel portion and the base; and 
 a cover portion, extending from the lateral channel portion, the cover portion being operable to be folded over the lateral channel portion and the slidable portion to thereby form a slide enclosure for the slidable portion; 
   the lateral channel portion and the cover portion being attached to an outer surface of the base with the slide assembly being positioned on the base to be operable to selectively cover and uncover the material dispensing orifice.   
   
   
       9 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment structure is operable to form a substantially liquid-tight seal with the container. 
   
   
       10 . The lid of  claim 8 , further comprising a pair of lateral channel portions, each of the lateral channel portions bordering a lateral edge of the slidable portion, and wherein the slidable portion is rupturably coupled to each of the lateral channel portions. 
   
   
       11 . The lid of  claim 10 , wherein the lateral channel portions and the slidable portion are substantially coplanar. 
   
   
       12 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein at least a section of the cover portion is attached atop the lateral channel portion. 
   
   
       13 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the lid includes a substantially circular outer periphery. 
   
   
       14 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the slide assembly is coupled to the base on only one surface of the base. 
   
   
       15 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the slide assembly is coupled over a substantially uninterrupted, continuous surface of the base. 
   
   
       16 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the slide assembly and the substantially continuous, planar surface of the base are substantially parallel. 
   
   
       17 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the slide assembly and the base are formed from separate materials. 
   
   
       18 . The lid of  claim 8 , further comprising engagement structure, formed on or in the slidable portion, the engagement structure being configured to enable a user to engage the slidable portion to move the slidable portion. 
   
   
       19 . The lid of  claim 18 , further comprising a receiving opening, formed in the cover portion, the receiving opening 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. 
   
   
       20 . A method of providing a container with a reusable closure, comprising:
 disposing a slide assembly on the container adjacent a portion of the container from which material will be dispensed from the container, the slide assembly including:
 a pair of opposing, lateral channel portions; 
 a slidable portion rupturably coupled between the lateral channel portions; and 
 a cover portion, extending over the lateral channel portions and the slidable portion; 
   attaching each of the lateral channel portions to the container; and   selectively coupling the cover portion to the lateral channel portions or to the container to form a four-sided enclosure in which the slidable portion can slide adjacent the container after being ruptured from the lateral channel portions.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein coupling each of the lateral channel portions to the container comprises joining the lateral channel portions with the container. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising simultaneously joining the lateral channel portions and the cover portion with the container. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein coupling each of the lateral channel portions to the container comprises bonding the lateral channel portions to the container. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein coupling each of the lateral channel portions to the container comprises coupling each of the lateral channel portions to a substantially uninterrupted, continuous surface of the container. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein coupling the cover portion to the lateral channel portions or to the container includes aligning a receiving opening formed in the cover portion with engagement structure associated with the slidable portion. 
   
   
       26 . A method of providing a reusable closure to a container lid, the container lid having attachment structure associated therewith for attaching the lid to the container and having a material dispensing orifice formed or formable therein, the method comprising:
 disposing a slide assembly on the container lid adjacent the material dispensing orifice, the sliding assembly including:
 at least one lateral channel portion; 
 a slidable portion rupturably coupled to the lateral channel portion; 
 a cover portion, foldably extending from the lateral channel portion; 
   attaching the lateral channel portion to the container lid; and   selectively attaching sections of the cover portion to the lateral channel portion, or to the container lid, to form a four-sided enclosure in which the slidable portion can slide adjacent the container lid after being ruptured from the lateral channel portion.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein attaching the lateral channel portion to the container lid comprises joining the lateral channel portion with the container lid. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising simultaneously joining the lateral channel portion and the cover portion with the container lid. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein coupling the lateral channel portion to the container lid comprises bonding the lateral channel portion to the container lid. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein coupling the lateral channel portion to the container lid comprises coupling the lateral channel portion to a substantially uninterrupted, continuous surface of the container lid. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein coupling the cover portion to the lateral channel portion or to the container lid includes aligning a receiving opening formed in the cover portion with engagement structure associated with the slidable portion. 
   
   
       32 . A method of making a reusable closure assembly for use on a container, comprising:
 obtaining a blank of material;   forming rupturable sections in the blank of material to delineate in the blank of material:
 a pair of opposing, lateral channel portions; and 
 a slidable portion between the lateral channel portions; and 
   forming a cover portion in the blank of material, the cover portion being sized so as to be foldable over each of the lateral channel portions and the slidable portion.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein forming rupturable sections in the blank of material includes forming a series of perforations in the blank of material. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising forming engagement structure in the slidable portion, the engagement structure being configured to enable a user to engage the slidable portion to move the slidable portion. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising forming a receiving opening in the cover portion, the receiving opening operable to receive or expose the engagement structure of the slidable portion, when the cover portion is folded over each of the lateral channel portions, to enable the user to access the engagement structure through the cover portion.