Dispensing closure with removable membrane

A closure for a container having a container opening, said closure comprising:

• lower and upper component closure pieces secured to one another, wherein, the lower component closure piece includes:
• a base body having (a) internal engaging structure adapted for engaging retention with said container adjacent said container opening, (b) a removable membrane joined to a top portion of the base body through a frangible line of weakness, said membrane sealing an area of said base body adjacent said container opening and defining an orifice through which contents of said container may be dispensed when said membrane is removed, and (c) an upwardly extending annular top having a first attachment means positioned on an external surface thereof;
• and
• the upper component closure piece includes:
• a lid body having (a) a top having a downwardly depending outer skirt, said top being interconnected to a downwardly extending lid skirt through a hinge structure allowing movement of the top between closed and opened positions, (b) a second attachment means positioned on an internal surface of the lid skirt adapted to engage the first attachment means on the base body such that when the first and second attachment means are engaged the lower and upper separable component closure pieces are secured to one another, (c) an annular ring disposed inward of said outer skirt, the annular ring having an exterior wall surface adapted to engage an internal surface of said base body annular top when the upper component closure piece is secured to the lower component closure piece, and (d) an inner skirt downwardly depending from an inside surface of said top adapted to engage a portion of an interior wall surface of said annular ring when the top is in the closed position, and said lid body further having at least one line of weakness extending from a point vicinal a lower edge of said lid skirt to said hinge structure such that a pulling force applied to said top will be transmitted to said line of weakness of said lid skirt to cause material separation thereof and enable removal of said top from said container.