Self-sealing container closure

Abstract

A sealing closure for dispensing fluid includes a closure body. The closure body has an attachment portion configured to attach to a container containing fluid, a dispensing portion, and a conduit connecting the attachment portion and dispensing portion and configured to direct fluid from the attachment portion to the dispensing portion. The sealing closure further includes a spring lid attached to the dispensing portion. The spring lid has a first portion coupled to the closure body, a second portion not attached to the closure body. The second portion is configured to contact the closure body when a pressure of the fluid is below a threshold, and flex to separate from the closure body when the pressure of the fluid meets or exceeds the threshold to create an opening for dispensing the fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing closure for dispensing fluid, the sealing closure comprising:
 a closure body having:
 an attachment portion configured to attach to a container containing fluid; 
 a dispensing portion; and 
 a conduit connecting the attachment portion and dispensing portion and configured to direct fluid from the attachment portion to the dispensing portion; 
   a spring lid attached to the dispensing portion, the spring lid having:
 a first portion coupled to the closure body; and 
 a second portion not attached to the closure body, the second portion being configured to contact the closure body when a pressure of the fluid is below a threshold, and flex to separate from the closure body when the pressure of the fluid meets or exceeds the threshold to create an opening for dispensing the fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sealing closure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible seal on the dispensing portion of the closure body, the flexible seal being configured to contact the second portion of the spring lid when the pressure of the fluid is below the threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The sealing closure of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible seal is composed of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). 
     
     
         4 . The sealing closure of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first part of the flexible seal that is attached to the second portion of the spring lid, and is configured to contact the second portion of the spring lid when it flexes to separate from the closure body when the pressure of the fluid meets or exceeds the threshold; and   a second part of the flexible seal that is not attached to the second portion of the spring lid and creates the opening when the second portion of the spring lid flexes to separate from the closure body when the pressure of the fluid meets or exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The sealing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the spring lid is composed of aluminum. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing closure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chamber at the dispensing portion of the closure body; and   a rim surrounding the chamber that contacts the spring lid.   
     
     
         7 . The sealing closure of  claim 6 , wherein the rim is composed of polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing closure of  claim 7 , wherein the spring lid has a layer of polypropylene on a side configured to contact the rim, the layer of polypropylene coupling the spring lid to the rim in the first portion. 
     
     
         9 . The sealing closure of  claim 8 , wherein pressure that meets or exceeds the threshold can be generated by a human hand squeezing a container attached to the sealing closure. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid vessel comprising:
 the sealing closure of  claim 1  coupled to the container containing the fluid.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid vessel of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing closure is coupled to the container by threads in the conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid vessel of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing closure is welded to the container. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid vessel of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing closure is riveted to the container.