Break-Away venting closure

Abstract

A closure for a container, the closure including a spout having a dispensing nozzle and a tip attached to the spout at a break-away junction. The break-away junction has a vent passageway interconnecting the interior of the container with the ambient surroundings, and a vent element disposed in the passageway. The vent element is impermeable to liquids, gels, and powders, but is permeable to gases and vapors, permitting the pressure to remain equalized between the interior of the container and the ambient surroundings. The closure may be attached to the container by a cap body or may be formed integrally with the container.

1 . A container closure comprising:
 a cap body for attaching the closure to a container;   a spout extending outwardly from the cap body to a nozzle; and   a tip joined to the spout at a break-away junction, the tip including a wherein the vent comprises a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable vent element which is located in a conduit the communicates between the tip and the spout, the vent permitting gas vapors to pass through while inhibiting passage of liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The container closure of  claim 1 , wherein the vent element comprises a membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The container closure of  claim 2 , wherein the membrane is formed from ePTFE. 
     
     
         4 . The container closure of  claim 1 , wherein the vent comprises a passageway through the tip for providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and the ambient surroundings, and wherein the vent further comprises a vent element for permitting gases to pass into or out of the container through the passageway and for preventing the contents of the container from passing out of the container through the passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The container closure of  claim 4 , wherein the vent element comprises an ePTFE membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The container closure of  claim 4 , wherein the vent element is removably installed in the tip. 
     
     
         7 . The container closure of  claim 4 , wherein the vent element is integrally molded into the tip. 
     
     
         8 . The container closure of  claim 1 , wherein the break-away junction is recessed from the nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . The container closure of  claim 8 , wherein the spout comprises an orifice smaller than the nozzle, and wherein the break-away junction is defined by a thin-walled section located between the orifice and the nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The container closure of  claim 9 , wherein the orifice remains intact when the break-away junction is fractured to form a mouth that is larger than the orifice. 
     
     
         11 . The container closure of  claim 10 , wherein the vent comprises a passageway extending through the end of the tip for providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and the ambient surroundings, and wherein the vent further comprises a vent element for permitting gases to pass into or out of the container through the passageway and for preventing the contents of the container from passing out of the container through the passageway. 
     
     
         12 . The container closure of  claim 1 , wherein the break-away junction is a necked down section of the tip. 
     
     
         13 . The container closure of  claim 12 , wherein the tip further comprises tabs protruding outwardly from the tip. 
     
     
         14 . The container closure of  claim 13 , wherein the vent comprises a passageway extending through the end of the tip for providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and the ambient surroundings, and wherein the vent further comprises a vent element for permitting gases to pass into or out of the container through the passageway and for preventing the contents of the container from passing out of the container through the passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The container closure of  claim 13 , wherein the vent comprises a passageway extending through one of the tabs of the tip for providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and the ambient surroundings, and wherein the vent further comprises a vent element for permitting gases to pass into or out of the container through the passageway and for preventing the contents of the container from passing through the passageway out of the container. 
     
     
         16 . A container closure comprising:
 a cap body for attaching the closure to a container;   a spout extending outwardly from the cap body to a nozzle;   a tip joined to the spout at a break-away junction; the tip having a vent passageway adapted to interconnect the interior of the container with the ambient surroundings when the closure is mounted to the container; and   a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable vent element disposed within the passageway.   
     
     
         17 . The container closure of  claim 16 , wherein the break-away junction is recessed from the nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The container closure of  claim 16 , wherein the vent element comprises an ePTFE membrane. 
     
     
         19 . A container comprising:
 a spout having a dispensing nozzle;   a tip joined to the spout at a break-away junction; the tip having a vent passageway communicating between the tip and the spout; and   a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable vent element disposed within the passageway.