Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) for a container (44) of a fluent substance is disclosed. The closure includes a body (54) having an inlet portion (68) defining an inlet flow passage (74) for receiving the fluent substance from the container (44) and an elongate outlet portion (70) defining an outlet flow passage (78) for discharging the fluent substance. The closure (40) further has a valve (56) located within the body (54), across the inlet flow passage (74) and spaced axially inwardly of outlet flow passage (78) to define a chamber (216). The valve (56) has a flexible, resilient valve head portion (160) that has confronting, openable portions (212) movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration when the valve head portion (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head portion (160).

Abstract: A flow control device (20) and process are provided for controlling the flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system (22). The device (20) includes a housing (30/40) that defines an orifice (84) for communicating between the supply system (22) that has an outlet end defining a discharge opening (57). The device 20 further includes a valve (140) having a flexible, resilient valve head (160) that has confronting, openable portions (186) movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration when the valve head (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head (160). The valve (140) is located across the housing outlet end discharge opening (57) so that the valve (140) and the housing (30/40) together define an expansion chamber (198) between the orifice (84) and the valve (140).

Abstract: A closure (100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100F, 100G, 100H, 100I) having a base (112, 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D, 112F, 112G, 112H, 112I), a lid (116, 116A, 116B, 116D, 116F, 116I), and a utensil (124, 124A, 124B, 124E, 124F, 124G, 124I) is provided for a container (104). One of the base (112, 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D, 112F, 112G, 112H, 112I) and the lid (116, 116A, 116B, 116D, 116F, 116I) includes a raised platform region (198, 198A) for releasably holding the utensil (124, 124A, 124B, 124E, 124F, 124G, 124I) and includes a recessed region (194, 194A) such that a handle portion (172, 172B, 172E, 172F, 172G, 172I) of the utensil (124, 124A, 124B, 124E, 124F, 124G, 124I) projects beyond the platform region (198, 198A) over the recessed region (194, 194A).

Abstract: A flow control device (20) and process are provided for controlling the flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system (22). The device (20) includes a housing (30/40) that defines an orifice (84) for communicating between the supply system (22) that has an outlet end defining a discharge opening (57). The device 20 further includes a valve (140) having a flexible, resilient valve head (160) that has confronting, openable portions (186) movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration when the valve head (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head (160). The valve (140) is located across the housing outlet end discharge opening (57) so that the valve (140) and the housing (30/40) together define an expansion chamber (198) between the orifice (84) and the valve (140).

Abstract: A closure assembly (20) that includes a cap or overcap (28) and a fitment (24) for a container is provided wherein the fitment (24) has a laterally projecting shear member (40), and the overcap (28) has an aperture (74) for initially receiving the shear member (40) when the overcap (28) and fitment (24) are in an initially assembled orientation or condition. The aperture (74) and the shear member (40) cooperate in the initially assembled orientation such that when subjected to a flow of a sterilizing gas, turbulence is created in the sterilizing gas flow to enhance sterilization of the combination. The closure assembly (20) may, instead, or additionally, be provided wherein the overcap (28) has an elongate, hollow plug (58) for establishing a first seal between the fitment (24) and the overcap (28) in the initially assembled orientation, and the wherein overcap (28) has a skirt (50) for establishing a second seal between the fitment (24) and the overcap (28) in the initially assembled orientation.

Abstract: A closure comprising a spout and a lid is secured to a wide mouthed container body, particularly a low tolerance HDPE container, by means of a plurality of double sided foil strips that are punched and welded to the base preferably in orientations parallel to one another on opposite sides of the opening and/or at right angles to each other. The strips are secondarily welded to the container to form a childproof, tamper-evident connection superior to mechanical latches and uses less material than a full or donut foil.

Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) for a container (44) of a fluent substance is disclosed. The closure includes a body (54) having an inlet portion (68) defining an inlet flow passage (74) for receiving the fluent substance from the container (44) and an elongate outlet portion (70) defining an outlet flow passage (78) for discharging the fluent substance. The closure (40) further has a valve (56) located within the body (54), across the inlet flow passage (74) and spaced axially inwardly of outlet flow passage (78) to define a chamber (216). The valve (56) has a flexible, resilient valve head portion (160) that has confronting, openable portions (212) movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration when the valve head portion (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head portion (160).

Abstract: A fitment (20, 20 A) is provided for a flexible, collapsible container (22) with an opening. The fitment (20, 20A) has a body (24, 24A) with an inner end (31) and an outer end (32) and an access passage (30) for communicating with an interior of the container (22). The body (24, 24A) has a height defined between the inner end (31) and outer end (32). The body (24, 24A) has a sealing portion (36, 36A) for being attached to the interior of the container (22). The sealing portion (36) has a major dimension (MD) oriented generally transverse of the height of the body (24, 24A). The fitment (20, 20A) further has a pour lip (46, 46A) that extends from the body outer end (32) and projects laterally relative to the access passage (30). The pour lip (46, 46A) defines a pour path (PP).

Abstract: A closure assembly (20) that includes a cap or overcap (28) and a fitment (24) for a container is provided wherein the fitment (24) has a laterally projecting shear member (40), and the overcap (28) has an aperture (74) for initially receiving the shear member (40) when the overcap (28) and fitment (24) are in an initially assembled orientation or condition. The aperture (74) and the shear member (40) cooperate in the initially assembled orientation such that when subjected to a flow of a sterilizing gas, turbulence is created in the sterilizing gas flow to enhance sterilization of the combination. The closure assembly (20) may, instead, or additionally, be provided wherein the overcap (28) has an elongate, hollow plug (58) for establishing a first seal between the fitment (24) and the overcap (28) in the initially assembled orientation, and the wherein overcap (28) has a skirt (50) for establishing a second seal between the fitment (24) and the overcap (28) in the initially assembled orientation.

Abstract: An integrated valve assembly (10, 110, 210, 310, 410) is provided for pressure-responsive flow control for associated components, such as for nutritional administration to patients. The valve assembly includes a first connector element (12, 112, 212, 312, 412) and a second connector element (14, 114, 214, 314, 414), which are joined to each other, and which respectively define a first, internal flow passage (20, 120, 220, 320, 420) and a second internal flow passage (28, 128, 228, 328, 428). A valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440), which may comprise a resiliently deformable slit valve, is positioned between the first connector element (12, 112, 212, 312, 412) and the second connector element (14, 114, 214, 314, 414) for providing pressure-responsive flow control between the first, internal flow passage (20, 120, 220, 320, 420), and the second, internal flow passage (28, 128, 228, 328, 428).

Abstract: A closure (20, 20A) is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior wherein contents may be stored. The closure (20, 20A) includes the following: (A) a closure body (30, 30A) defining (i) a pour aperture (50) that can communicate-with the container opening and that can accommodate pouring out of the contents through the pour aperture (50), and (ii) at least one vent aperture (60) that can communicate with the container opening and that can accommodate the in-venting of ambient atmosphere through the vent aperture (60) into the container, and (B) a lid (32, 32A) for closing the closure (20, 20A). The pour aperture (50) has an elongate configuration oriented along a central axis line (A) that bisects the pour aperture (50) and closure body (30).

Abstract: An actuating system is provided for a dispenser cartridge that can be mounted on a frame and that has a reciprocatable product-dispensing hollow stem that (A) is biased to an extended position in which the cartridge is unactuated, and (B) is moveable from the extended position to a depressed position in which the cartridge is actuated for discharging the fluent substance through the stem. The actuating system includes a plunger on the frame, and a discharge conduit located adjacent the frame to accommodate relative movement between the discharge conduit and the frame. The discharge conduit includes (A) ml inlet opening communicating with the dispenser cartridge hollow stem, (B) ml outlet opening from which the fluent substance can be dispensed, (C) a passageway between the inlet opening and outlet opening, and (D) an intermediate opening that is in communication with the passageway between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Abstract: A port closure system (20) including a retention structure (22), and a valve (24). The retention structure (22) includes a port (28) for establishing communication between an exterior environment (30) and interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance. The valve (24) includes a flexible, resilient, self-closing, slit-type valve head (36) with an orifice that is normally closed in an unconstrained condition. The port (28) has a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface (34) and the valve has a laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) that is compressed laterally inwardly by engagement with the surface (34) to increase the resistance of the normally closed orifice to opening when the head (36) is subjected to a pressure differential. The system (20) further includes an annular flange (62) located to extend over at least a portion of an exterior side (38) of the valve head (36) to limit movement of the valve head (36) towards the exterior environment (30).

Abstract: A closure (20) is provided to selectively permit or restrict communication between the exterior and the interior of a system that has an opening between the exterior and interior. The closure (20) includes a closure body (24) that defines an access passage (30) and a membrane (60) that initially occludes the access passage (30). The connection of the membrane (60) to the body (24) is defined by a tearable portion (68) of material that defines a tear path along which the material can be torn. The tear path has; (A) a first separation path (80) where separation of the membrane (60) from the body (24) initially originates; and (B) a second separation path (90) where separation of the membrane (60) from the body (24) terminates. The second separation path (90) has a generally tapered configuration.

Abstract: A closure body (40) is provided for installation with a liner membrane (52) on a container (44). The closure body (40) has a peripheral portion (74) for being mounted on the container (44) around an access opening (48), and a separable portion (82) that (i) is disposed laterally inwardly of the peripheral portion (74); (ii) is initially connected to the peripheral portion (74) by at least one frangible connection (86); and (iii) can be separated from the peripheral portion (74) upon breaking of the at least one frangible connection (86).

Abstract: A flexible, resilient, self-sealing slit-type valve (40, 140, 240, 340) is provided with a configuration that minimizes the difference between the pressure differential at which the valve opens and the pressure differential at which the valve (40, 140, 240, 340) closes. The valve (40, 140, 240, 340) includes a peripheral mounting portion (42) and a valve head (60, 160, 260, 360) connected thereto. The valve head (60, 160, 260, 360) has an interior surface (78, 178, 278, 378) and an exterior surface (76) which each has a recessed configuration such that the thickness between the exterior surface (76) and interior surface (78, 178, 278, 378) is thinner at the center on the longitudinal axis (62) of the valve (40, 140, 240, 340) than at a radially outward location.

Abstract: An actuating system is provided for a dispenser cartridge that can be mounted on a frame and that has a reciprocatable product-dispensing hollow stem that (A) is biased to an extended position in which the cartridge is unactuated, and (B) is moveable from the extended position to a depressed position in which the cartridge is actuated for discharging the fluent substance through the stem. The actuating system includes a plunger on the frame, and a discharge conduit located adjacent the frame to accommodate relative movement between the discharge conduit and the frame. The discharge conduit includes (A) ml inlet opening communicating with the dispenser cartridge hollow stem, (B) ml outlet opening from which the fluent substance can be dispensed, (C) a passageway between the inlet opening and outlet opening, and (D) an intermediate opening that is in communication with the passageway between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Abstract: An applicator package (40), consisting of an applicator and a substance (48) in the applicator, is provided so a user can apply the substance (48) to a target region. A set of components is provided for being assembled as the applicator, and a method is provided for making the applicator package (40). The applicator package (40) includes a platform (42) having an outer side (56) and having an inner side (54) defining a substance support surface (55). The substance (48) is supported on the platform support surface (55). The platform (42) defines (1) at least one fill passage (58) that extends from the platform outer side (56) to the platform inner side (54), and (2) at least one channel (60) that is located between portions of the substance support surface (55) and that communicates between the platform inner side (54) and the platform outer side (56). A dome (46 or 44) is initially, releasably mounted on the platform (42) over the substance (48) at the platform inner side (54).