Choke-resistant closure

A closure adapted to be engaged to a fitment, or a container having a neck portion configured to accept it, the closure having a top side, a bottom side, and a lateral side between the top and bottom sides, the closure comprising:

• (a) a cap member having a top wall, and a peripheral wall depending from the top wall, the cap member for engaging the fitment;
• (b) a handling member having:
• a handling wall surrounding the peripheral wall;
• a top end having an upper handling member rim surrounding a first aperture, and a bottom end having a lower handling member rim surrounding a second aperture, a circumference of the upper handling member rim being smaller than a circumference of the lower handling member rim;
• and
• a plurality of openings being located in the handling wall, each of said openings extending between the interior and exterior surfaces of the handling wall, and bounded by the handling wall, each of said openings being located between the top and bottom ends of the;
• handling member, and each opening defining a passageway for conveying air between the inner and outer surfaces of the handling wall;
• wherein the peripheral wall and the handling wall define first and second lateral boundaries of a cavity within the closure, an upper end of the cavity defined by the upper handling member rim, and a lower end of the cavity defined by the lower handling member rim;
• (c) a septum connecting the handling wall and the peripheral wall to each other;
• (d) a first ventilation passage extending in a direct line between the peripheral wall and the handling member, the first ventilation passage for conveying air through the closure top side, the cavity, and the closure bottom side;
• the first ventilation passage being parallel to a vertical axis of the closure;
• (e) a second ventilation passage extending in a direct line through one of said openings, the second ventilation passage for conveying air unimpeded through the handling wall, the cavity, and the closure bottom side, the first and second ventilation passages extending parallel to each other;
• and
• (f) a third ventilation passage extending in a direct path between a first one of said openings and a second one of said openings conveying air in the first opening, into the cavity, and unimpeded, to the second one of said openings, the third ventilation passage extending in a direction transverse to first and second ventilation passages;
• wherein, when any closure side is fully obstructed, air can flow through the closure through at least one of the first, second, and third ventilation passages.

A closure for engaging a fitment, the closure comprising:

• (a) a cap member having a top wall and a peripheral wall depending from the top wall:
• (b) a handling wall member encircling the peripheral wall, the handling wall member comprising:
• first and second ends, a perimeter of the first end being smaller than a perimeter of the second end;
• and a plurality of openings, each opening located within the handling wall member and between the first and second ends;
• (c) a plurality of septa connecting the handling wall member to the peripheral wall, each septa having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• (d) at least one first ventilation passage extending between the peripheral wall and the handling member and parallel to a vertical axis of the closure, the first ventilation passage for conveying air through an upper portion of the closure, between the top and peripheral walls, and through a lower portion of the closure;
• (e) a plurality of second ventilation passages, the second ventilation passage for conveying air through one of said plurality of openings between the handling wall member and the peripheral wall, through the second end of the handling wall member and parallel to the at least one first ventilation passage;
• and,
• (f) a plurality of ventilation pathways transverse to the first and second ventilation passageways, each transverse ventilation pathway for conveying air in a direct and unobstructed path between a first pair of said plurality of openings, the pathway for conveying air around the upper and lower surfaces of the septa,
• a plurality of connecting elements;
• and
• at least one engagement element adapted to engage the fitment, thereby to cause the indentations to tear and the tamper-evident band to separate into segments, for indicating that the closure has been disengaged from the fitment;
• wherein, when any one outer surface of the closure is fully obstructed, air can flow through the closure through at least one of the ventilation passages.