Dispensing closure with orifice external seal

Abstract

A dispensing closure system is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior. The system includes a closure body with a dispensing orifice surrounded by an annular sealing surface. A removable cover includes a seal that is attached to the annular sealing surface and extends across the orifice to occlude the orifice. The cover also includes a tab having a free end that can be gripped by the user and pulled to remove the seal from the sealing surface and carry the cover away from the orifice.

1 . A dispensing closure system for a container that has an opening to the container interior where a fluent substance may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising:
 (A) a closure body for extending from said container at said container opening, said closure body having (1) a reduced size dispensing orifice for communicating with the container interior, and (2) a peripheral sealing surface around said dispensing orifice; and   (B) a removable cover occluding said dispensing orifice, said cover including a seal removably adhered to said peripheral sealing surface, said cover having a tab extending from said seal, said tab having a free end that can be grasped by a user and pulled to remove said seal from closure body peripheral sealing surface and carry said cover away from said dispensing orifice.   
   
   
       2 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 1  further including
 (A) a lid for moving between (1) a closed position on top of said closure body to enclose said dispensing orifice and cover, and (2) an open position away from said dispensing orifice and cover to permit the removal of said cover; and   (B) a hinge connecting said lid with said closure body.   
   
   
       3 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 1  for use with a container that has an annular top end defining (1) an opening, and (2) an external, male thread around said opening, and in which
 said closure system is a dispensing closure that (1) is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening, and (2) comprises (A) said closure body, and (B) said removable cover occluding said dispensing orifice;   said closure body has a hollow, generally cylindrical skirt which has an internal, female thread for threadingly engaging said male thread on said container; and   said closure body includes (a) a deck at the top of said skirt, and (b) a spout that projects outwardly from said deck to define said peripheral sealing surface around said dispensing orifice.   
   
   
       4 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said closure body includes a spout that (1) projects outwardly around said dispensing orifice, and (2) has a distal end that defines said peripheral sealing surface in the form of an annular sealing surface around said dispensing orifice. 
   
   
       5 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 4  in which said spout has a generally exterior cylindrical surface below said annular sealing surface. 
   
   
       6 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 5  in which
 (A) said closure system further includes a lid for moving between (1) a closed position on top of said closure body to enclose said dispensing orifice and cover, and (2) an open position away from said dispensing orifice and cover to permit the removal of said cover;   (B) said closure system further includes a hinge connecting said lid with said closure body; and   (C) said lid includes a generally annular sleeve for (1) surrounding said spout distal end and said removable cover on said spout when said lid is in said closed position prior to removal of said cover from said annular sealing surface, and (2) sealingly engaging said spout exterior cylindrical surface when said lid is in said closed position.   
   
   
       7 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 4  in which said seal is a generally circular disk having an exterior diameter equal to or less than the exterior diameter of said annular sealing surface. 
   
   
       8 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said peripheral sealing surface is an annular sealing surface having a width of not less than about 0.060 inch. 
   
   
       9 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 4  in which said closure system further includes a pressure-actuatable valve mounted within said spout below said peripheral sealing surface. 
   
   
       10 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 9  in which said closure system further includes a retaining ring holding said valve within said spout. 
   
   
       11 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said spout has a curved or chamfered surface around said peripheral sealing surface. 
   
   
       12 . The dispensing closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said seal is a generally circular disk; and   said tab has a generally semi-circular configuration.