Container closure

Abstract

A closure for a container having a top opening bounded by a rim, includes a generally bowl-shaped body with interior and exterior surfaces and a hole formed on one side of the body. Extending about the body is a connecting section including a skirt and this connecting section seals the body to the container. The interior surface defines an interior space into which the container opens during use of the closure. The body is selectively deformable, upon manual manipulation, between an open configuration wherein fluid can pass through the hole and a closed configuration wherein one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the body is sealed against the hole. In another embodiment, the closure is formed with a protuberance that projects upwardly from the top surface of the closure. A folding lip is arranged on the front of this protuberance and has a sealable hole formed therein

1 . A closure for a container having an open top bounded by a rim, said closure comprising:
 a closure body having a lower surface, an upper surface, and a substantially planar portion;   a connection mechanism for sealingly connecting said closure body to the container;   a hollow protrusion formed in said closure body and projecting upwardly above said planar portion;   a folding lip portion formed on an outwardly facing side of said protrusion and having a hole formed therein, said lip portion being selectively deformable, upon manual manipulation, between an open configuration wherein said hole is open for flow of fluid therethrough, and a closed configuration, wherein said hole is sealed shut by surrounding sections of the lip portion,   wherein, during use of said closure on the container, fluid is able to flow into said protrusion and through said hole when said lip portion is in its open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . A closure according to  claim 1  wherein said connection mechanism comprises an annular skirt which extends around and is integrally connected to said closure body, said skirt forming an annular groove which is shaped and dimensioned to sealingly and releasably receive the rim. 
     
     
         3 . A closure according to  claim 1  wherein said folding lip includes a rear wall section and a forward wall section, which is flexibly connected along a curved fold line to said rear wall section, and said hole is formed along said fold line. 
     
     
         4 . A closure according to  claim 3  wherein said folding lip portion includes a substantially semi-circular front wall that is flexibly connected along its bottom edge to said closure body and that is integrally connected along its curved peripheral edge to said forward wall section. 
     
     
         5 . A closure for a container having an opening bounded by a rim, said closure comprising:
 a sheath part, an insert part, a cap part and an intermediate part,   the sheath part being annular, having an aperture defined therethrough and having a first end and a second end,   the cap part occluding the second end of the sheath part,   the insert part being shaped and dimensioned to be received within the sheath part in spaced relation, wherein the sheath part is secured to the insert part at a side opposite to that in which the aperture is formed;   the intermediate part being flexibly connected to the first end of the sheath part and the insert part and extending therebetween such that the sheath part, insert part, cap part and intermediate part together define a body having an interior surface and an exterior surface;   a connection mechanism for sealing the body to the container in use such that the insert part extends outwardly from the container and such that the interior surface defines an interior space into which the opening of the container opens during use of said closure; and   said body being selectively deformable, upon manual manipulation, between an open configuration, wherein the interior space is in fluid communication with the aperture, and a closed configuration, wherein, upon manual manipulation to the closed configuration, the intermediate part collapses into the sheath part in form-fitting relation to seal the aperture and the insert part is collapsed into the intermediate part.   
     
     
         6 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein the open configuration is a static open configuration wherein the body is stable without an external application force. 
     
     
         7 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein the closed configuration is a static closed configuration wherein the body is stable without an external application of force. 
     
     
         8 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein the interior surface defines a protuberance which projects through the aperture when the body is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         9 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein said connection mechanism comprises a skirt which extends peripherally around and is operatively connected to the body, the skirt having a peripherally extending groove therein shaped and dimensioned to frictionally, sealingly, and releasably receive the rim and a tubular pedestal rigidly extending between and connecting said first end of said insert part to said skirt. 
     
     
         10 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein the sheath part is frustoconical and tapers towards its second end, the insert part is frustoconical and has a first end and a second end, the second end of the insert part being shaped and dimensioned to be received within the sheath part in spaced relation, and the intermediate part is frustoconical and flexibly connected to the first end of the sheath part and the second end of the insert part. 
     
     
         11 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein, in the open configuration, the insert part and the intermediate part are disposed at least partially outside of the sheath part in sections thereof adjacent said aperture. 
     
     
         12 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein, in the closed configuration, the insert part is disposed, in substantially form-fitting, nested relation, within the intermediate part, and the intermediate part is disposed, in nested relation, within the sheath part. 
     
     
         13 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein a pair of vent holes are formed in the sheath part on circumferentially opposite sides of said aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein said connection mechanism comprises a skirt which extends peripherally around and is operatively connected to the body, the skirt having a peripherally extending groove therein shaped and dimensioned to sealingly and releasably receive the rim. 
     
     
         15 . A closure according to  claim 5  further comprising a tubular pedestal part rigidly extending between and connecting the first end of the insert part to said connection mechanism which comprises a skirt. 
     
     
         16 . A closure according to  claim 5  wherein the cap part forms an interiorly disposed protuberance which, when the body is in the closed configuration, sealingly engages against the intermediate part. 
     
     
         17 . A closure for a container having an open top bounded by a rim, said closure comprising:
 a closure body;   a connection mechanism for sealingly connecting said closure body to the container;   a lip connected to said closure body and having a hole formed therein, said lip being selectively deformable, upon manual manipulation, between an open configuration wherein said hole is open for flow of fluid therethrough, and a closed configuration, wherein said hole is sealed shut,   wherein, during use of said closure on the container, fluid is able to flow through said hole when said lip is in its open configuration.   
     
     
         18 . A closure according to  claim 17  wherein said connection mechanism comprises an annular skirt forming an annular groove which is shaped and dimensioned to sealingly and releasably receive the rim. 
     
     
         19 . A closure according to  claim 17  including at least one vent hole therein.