Abstract: A dispensing closure system is provided for a container. The system includes a body for extending from the container at the container opening. The body includes a base, a conduit that is reciprocatable relative to the base, and a flexible wall joining the conduit to the base. The conduit includes a dispensing aperture and a first seal surface. A spout is carried on, and is rotatable relative to, the body. The spout includes a dispensing orifice and a second seal surface for engaging the first seal surface. The body and spout together define a rotary-to-linear motion translation drive system that is (1) responsive to the rotation of the spout in one direction for moving the conduit in a first direction to a closed position, and (2) responsive to the rotation of the spout in the opposite direction for moving the conduit in a second direction opposite from the first direction to an open position.

Abstract: A closure structure is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior. The closure structure includes a closure base for extending around the container opening. A lid is provided on the closure base and is connected to the base by a hinge web. The hinge web has a first end connected to the closure base, a second end connected to the lid, and two sides which each extends between the first and second ends.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided for dispensing a product from a container having an opening. The dispensing system includes a spout for communicating with the container opening. The spout defines at least one discharge aperture and a distal seal. A nozzle assembly is mounted on the spout for movement between a retracted, closed position and an extended, open position. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle having a dispensing passage around at least a portion of the spout. The nozzle assembly also includes a resiliently flexible valve that is sealingly disposed across the nozzle dispensing passage at a location distally of the spout and has an initially closed dispensing orifice which opens in response to a pressure differential acting across the valve. The nozzle assembly also includes a flow restrictor below the valve, and a distal seal for sealingly engaging the spout distal seal.

Abstract: A tamper-evident dispensing structure is provided for being sealed to a collapsible pouch. The structure includes a fitment and a lid structure which are each separately molded and which can be subsequently non-releasably attached. The fitment is adapted to be sealed to a periphery of the pouch at an opening in the pouch. The fitment has a receiver and has at least one dispensing flow passage through the fitment. The lid structure includes (1) a base for being fixedly and non-releasably attached to the fitment receiver, (2) a cap for being sealingly and removably mounted on the fitment to occlude the dispensing passage, and (3) at least a first frangible web connecting the cap to the base for accommodating separation of the cap from the base.

Abstract: Positive orientation systems are provided for packages formed by the combination of a container and closure. In one embodiment, the invention provides a closure having a plug seal with at least one plug seal lug that cooperates with a container neck lug formed on a shoulder on an interior surface of the container neck. In another embodiment, at least one neck lug is provided on an end of the container neck and the closure body is provided with at least one closure deck lug extending from the closure deck and adapted to engage a corresponding one of the at least one neck lug.

Abstract: An improved dispensing closure system for dispensing a product from a container includes an elongate or oblong dispensing orifice for dispensing a ribbon of product. The dispensing closure system also includes a spout having a dispensing orifice that is oriented at an angle relative to the closure deck and relative to the flow direction of product from the orifice. The closure system provides for an abrupt “cut-off” of product and thus provides for the dispensing of product in a clean and controlled manner without mess. The closure system also incorporates conical geometries in transition surfaces extending from the container opening to the dispensing orifice.

Abstract: A dispensing package is provided for fluid products such as liquid soaps, shampoos and conditioners, household detergents, cleaners, polishes, moisturizing creams, and the like, and includes a container with a self-sealing dispensing valve mounted therein. The valve includes a marginal flange, a valve head with a discharge orifice therein, and a connector sleeve having one end connected with the valve flange and the opposite end connected with the valve head adjacent a marginal edge thereof. The connector sleeve has a resiliently flexible construction, such that when pressure within the container raises above a predetermined amount, the valve head shifts outwardly in a manner which causes the connector sleeve to double over and extend rolling.

Abstract: A dispensing valve for dispensing a product from a container. The valve includes a marginal portion, a head portion with a discharge orifice therein, and a resilient, flexible, connector sleeve extending continuously laterally and inwardly from the marginal portion to the head portion. The head portion has an exterior side for interfacing with ambient environment and a peripheral surface. The connector sleeve is connected to the exterior side of the head portion at the peripheral surface of the head portion.

Abstract: A closure structure for a container includes a closure body having a deck and a depending skirt, the skirt being adapted to be mounted on a container neck or formed with the container. A dispensing orifice is formed through the deck. A protruding member extends from a surface of the deck, the protruding member including a first locking ledge at an intermediate position along a length of the protruding member. A lid, hinged at one side to the closure body at a position opposite to the protruding member, has a socket on a side of the lid opposite the hinge. The socket has a receiver cavity open in an axial direction of the lid and includes a second locking ledge extending radially within the receiver cavity. The first and second locking ledges are engageable when the protruding member is positioned sufficiently within the receiver cavity when the lid is initially closed to the body.

Abstract: A finger-operable pump actuator is provided with a generally rigid body and a softer finger pad on top. The generally rigid body and the softer pad are preferably bi-injection molded together. The actuator may be bi-injection molded in a variety of aesthetically pleasing designs.

Abstract: A dispensing structure is provided for dispensing the contents from the interior of a container out of an opening in the container. The structure includes a body for mounting to the container at the container opening. The body is adapted for movement in directions toward and away from the container. The body defines a dispensing orifice for establishing communication between the exterior and interior of the container. The body has a sealing member for being disposed in the container opening. The sealing member has an outer sealing surface for sealingly engaging the container around the container opening when the body is located at a first sealing position relative to the container.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided for two, constituent, fluent materials which are stored separately and then combined in a dispensing process to form a combination product. The dispensing system includes a container having at least two interior storage chambers, and each chamber has a separate discharge opening. Associated with each discharge opening is a separate, flexible valve. Each valve has an initially closed dispensing orifice which opens in response to a differential between the pressure acting against the side of the closed valve facing toward the associated discharge opening and the pressure acting against the side of the closed valve facing away from the associated discharge opening. In a preferred embodiment, a top is provided downstream of the valve. The top is movable between (1) a close position to occlude a dispensing flow path downstream of the valves, and (2) an open position which permits flow to be discharged from the system.

Abstract: A dispensing structure is provided for a container that has an opening from which a product can be dispensed. The structure includes a body for extending around the container opening. The body defines a first dispensing aperture communicating with the container opening. An intermediate member defines at least one second dispensing aperture that is smaller than the first dispensing aperture. The intermediate member is pivotable about an axis between a closed position and an open position. A lid is pivotable on the closure body about the same axis as the intermediate member, and the lid is pivotable between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A fitment is provided for incorporation into a closure assembly to provide at least one high-pressure seal suitable for maintaining high-positive pressures in a container having pressurized contents, such as carbonated beverages. The fitment and closure assembly also provide for bi-modal dispensing operations, because the fitment it can be removed from the closure assembly to provide alternative flow characteristics from the container through the closure assembly. The fitment may also be provided with one or more projections adapted to engage a thread on the closure body such that rotation of the closure body relative to the container results in removal of the fitment from the container. The fitment may also be provided with one or more projections for engaging the closure body to limit its movement relative to the container, thereby defining a fully open dispensing position of the closure body.

Abstract: A fitment is provided for incorporation into a closure assembly to provide at least one high-pressure seal suitable for maintaining high-positive pressures in a container having pressurized contents, such as carbonated beverages. The fitment and closure assembly also provide for bi-modal dispensing operations, because the fitment it can be removed from the closure assembly to provide alternative flow characteristics from the container through the closure assembly. The fitment may also be provided with one or more projections adapted to engage a thread on the closure body such that rotation of the closure body relative to the container results in removal of the fitment from the container. The fitment may also be provided with one or more projections for engaging the closure body to limit its movement relative to the container, thereby defining a fully open dispensing position of the closure body.

Abstract: A closure is provided for a container opening. The closure includes a base for mounting to the container and a lid movable between a closed position and an open position. The lid and base are connected by a bistable, snap-action hinge structure having a web with a reduced thickness region along a lateral edge.

Abstract: In a dispensing system comprising a container having at least two storage chambers, each for a fluent material, the finishes of the respective chambers are arranged in a contiguous pair defining a cylindrical surface having outer threads, except for two anti-rotational flats. Each finish defines an outlet. A valve of a type that remains closed until opened by a differential between inside pressure and outside pressure overlies the outlet defined by each finish. A fitment defines a mixing chamber having two inlets, one for each storage chamber, and having an outlet. The fitment has two skirts, each having an inner surface having at least one rib, each defining an anti-rotational flat. The fitment fits over the paired finishes and over the valves so that the antirotational flats on the ribs engage the anti-rotational flats on the paired finishes. A collar having inner threads is threaded onto the paired finishes so as to hold the fitment, which holds the valves.

Abstract: A dispensing valve is provided for dispensing a product from a container. The valve includes a marginal portion, a head portion with a discharge orifice therein, and a resilient, connector sleeve extending between the marginal portion to the head portion. The connector sleeve has a generally U-shaped cross-section that defines a first leg that is connected with the marginal portion and a shorter second leg connected with the head portion. The connector sleeve locates the head portion so that a plane passing through the head portion extends generally through or outwardly of the marginal portion.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided for dispensing a product from a container having an opening. The dispensing system includes a spout for communicating with the container opening. The spout defines at least one discharge aperture, a distal seal surface located distally of the discharge aperture, and a proximal seal surface located on the exterior of the spout proximally of the discharge aperture. A nozzle assembly is mounted on the spout for movement between a retracted, closed position and an extended, open position. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle having a dispensing passage around at least a portion of the spout, a proximal seal surface for sealingly engaging the spout proximal surface, and a distal seal surface located outwardly of the nozzle proximal seal surface for sealingly engaging the spout distal seal surface when the nozzle assembly is in the retracted, closed position.

Abstract: A dispensing valve is provided for being sealingly disposed with respect to, and dispensing a product from, a discharge opening of a container. The preferred form of the valve includes a generally annular marginal portion adapted to be sealingly engaged when the valve is sealingly disposed with respect to the container discharge opening. The valve also includes a central head portion extending from the marginal portion. The head portion has an exterior side with a generally concave shape when viewed from outside the container and has an interior side with (1) a planar central area, and (2) a generally curved, radially outer portion which tapers toward the planar central area such that the exterior and interior sides converge toward the planar central area to provide a tapered construction with reduced thickness.