Dispensing closure with removable membrane

Abstract

In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a closure for a container having a container opening. The closure includes lower and upper separable component closure pieces secured to one another. The lower component includes a removable membrane that may be removed by the opening of a top contained in the upper component. The top is further permitted to be removed from the closure without detaching the lower component from the container.

1 . A closure for a container having a container opening, said closure comprising:
 lower and upper component closure pieces secured to one another, wherein, the lower component closure piece includes:
 a base body having (a) internal engaging structure adapted for engaging retention with said container adjacent said container opening, (b) a removable membrane joined to a top portion of the base body through a frangible line of weakness, said membrane sealing an area of said base body adjacent said container opening and defining an orifice through which contents of said container may be dispensed when said membrane is removed, and (c) an upwardly extending annular top having a first attachment means positioned on an external surface thereof; and 
   the upper component closure piece includes:
 a lid body having (a) a top having a downwardly depending outer skirt, said top being interconnected to a downwardly extending lid skirt through a hinge structure allowing movement of the top between closed and opened positions, (b) a second attachment means positioned on an internal surface of the lid skirt adapted to engage the first attachment means on the base body such that when the first and second attachment means are engaged the lower and upper separable component closure pieces are secured to one another, (c) an annular ring disposed inward of said outer skirt, the annular ring having an exterior wall surface adapted to engage an internal surface of said base body annular top when the upper component closure piece is secured to the lower component closure piece, and (d) an inner skirt downwardly depending from an inside surface of said top adapted to engage a portion of an interior wall surface of said annular ring when the top is in the closed position, and said lid body further having at least one line of weakness extending from a point vicinal a lower edge of said lid skirt to said hinge structure such that a pulling force applied to said top will be transmitted to said line of weakness of said lid skirt to cause material separation thereof and enable removal of said top from said container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said internal engaging structure of said base body provides a permanent attachment of the lower component closure piece to the container. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said lid body further comprises a tab depending downward from said lid skirt and extending a distance below said base body. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein said distance below said base body is from 0.1 inch to 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein said distance below the base skirt is of the order 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein when the top is in an open position the annular ring defines an opening, said opening being sized to permit removal of said removable membrane without separation of said upper component closure piece from said lower component closure piece. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1  further comprising gripping structure attached to said membrane to allow facile removal of said membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein said gripping structure comprises a pull-ring attached to said membrane at a position vicinal an inner edge of said frangible line. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said lid body comprises a material different from a material forming at least a portion of said base body. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein the hinge structure of said lid body is made of polypropylene and the removable membrane of said base body is made of polyethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 1  further comprising a pour lip extending upward from an inner circumference of said annular top. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11  wherein said pour lip has a generally arcuate form when viewed from above the closure and extends approximately 180 degrees around the inner circumference of said annular top. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 11  wherein said pour lip has a top surface which reaches a maximum height above said annular top at a point approximately 180 degrees from said hinge structure of said base body. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein said top surface of said pour lip is tapered downward and inward and merges with said interior wall surface of said annular ring. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said at least a portion of said lid body has a different color than at least a portion of said base body. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second attachment means are complementary snap fitting threads providing a snap fit engagement of the lid body and base body. 
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second attachment means are complementary screw threads providing a screw engagement of the lid body and base body.