Dispensing closure for a container and container with such a dispensing closure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispensing closure or a closure device for a container and also relates to a container with such a dispensing closure or closure device. The dispensing closure includes the closure body, a locking member and actuator. The closure body can be located at a container opening and defines an inlet for communicating with the container, whereas the closure body has an end portion defining an aperture to accommodate flow of fluent substance. The locking member is mounted on the closure body and can be rotated between a locking position and an unlocking position. An actuator can be moved between a closed, non-dispensing position and an open, dispensing position. The actuator is rotatably fixed to the closure body, while the locking member is rotatable relative to the actuator and relative to the closure body.

1 . A dispensing closure for a container having an opening between an exterior of the system and an interior of the container where a fluent substance may be stored, said dispensing closure comprising:
 A. a closure body that
 1) can be located at the container opening and that defines an inlet for communicating with the container, and 
 2) has an end portion defining an aperture to accommodate the flow of a fluent substance through said closure body; 
   B. a locking member mounted on said closure body for rotation about a central rotational axis and relative to said closure body, said locking member having
 1) a locking position, and 
 2) an unlocking position rotated about said central rotational axis away from said locking position; and 
   C. an actuator that it can be moved between a closed, non-dispensing position and an open, dispensing position for preventing flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position and for permitting flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in an open, dispensing position,   characterized in that   said actuator is rotatably fixed to said closure body,   said locking member is rotatable about said central rotational axis relative to said actuator and relative to said closure body, and   said actuator includes a dispensing flow passage that is in communication with said aperture of said closure body when said actuator is in said open, dispensing position and   said actuator is in engagement with a portion of said locking member when said locking member is in said locking position to prevent said actuator from moving into said open, dispensing position,   wherein said actuator includes a first abutment extending in a first direction and said locking member includes s second abutment extending in a second direction, said second direction being different than said first direction, whereby said first abutment and said second abutment are oriented to engage to prevent said actuator from moving into said open, dispensing position when said locking member is in said locking position,   
       wherein said actuator is pivotally attached to said closure body, so that it can be pivoted about a pivoting axis being perpendicular to said central rotational axis between its closed, non-dispensing position and its open, dispensing position, and 
       wherein said actuator includes a sealing element which occludes said aperture of said closure body to prevent flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position, and which at least partly disengages from said aperture to allow a flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in an open, dispensing position. 
     
     
         2 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure body has a deck portion, from which said end portion extends. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said end portion of said closure body has a spout like form or an essentially cylindrical or an essentially conical form. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein a rotating angle of said locking member between its locking position and its unlocking position is the range of between 15° to 40°. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure body includes an attachment means for pivotably attaching said actuating member to said closure body. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure body includes engagement means for rotatably attaching said locking means. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 6 , wherein said engagement means comprises at least two retaining projections. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 7 , wherein said retaining projections are arranged on a deck portion of said closure body. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing element is a ringlike extension, extending from said actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein a maximum pivoting angle of said actuator is in the range of between 5° and 25°. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuator has a flat or an essentially flat outer surface with a recessed or sloping back region. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking member has an outer skirt, wherein said skirt a cut away or recessed area. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 11 , wherein said locking member has an outer skirt with a cut away or recessed area that is arranged such that said recessed or sloping back region is in closest proximity to said cut away or recessed area, when said locking member is in its opened position, while said recessed or sloping back region is at least partly moved out of this proximity, when said locking member is in its closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises at least one friction element which is designed and positioned such that it at least partly comes into contact with at least one part or at least one portion of said locking member, when said locking member is in its unlocking position and when said actuator is moved between its closed position and its opened position. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said actuator comprises two friction elements in the form of protrusions extending at least partly towards each other and being designed and positioned such that these protrusions both come into contact with an element of said locking member which forms the second abutment of said locking member at least when said actuator is moved out of its closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 14 , wherein one friction element is positioned at an element of said actuator which forms said first abutment of said actuator, while a second friction element is positioned at an element of said actuator, being positioned opposite to said first element forming said first abutment, such that an element of said locking member forming the first abutment is at least partly moved into a space between the friction elements. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1  in combination with a container for storing a fluent substance, said dispensing closure being attachable or being attached to said container. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1  in combination with a container for storing a fluent substance, said dispensing closure being an integral part of said container.