Sliding closure and container

A closure for a container that comprises a container body defining an interior chamber, and that defines an aperture open to the interior chamber;

• the closure comprising:
• a closure body defining a fixed main opening and a slider port;
• wherein the main opening of the closure and the container aperture are aligned to permit access to the interior chamber of the container when the closure body is attached to the container body for use;
• a slider mounted in the closure body blocking the main opening in a closed configuration;
• the slider having an inner surface facing the main opening and an opposite outer surface;
• wherein the slider is configured to be displaceable in a direction leading through the slider port to clear the main opening, exit the closure body partially or completely in an open configuration, and to be displaceable back to the closed configuration;
• and
• at least one resilient depressible tab on the outer surface of the slider;
• the tab being constructed and arranged so that, when the slider is in the closed configuration, the tab is adjacent to the slider port and prevents the slider from being displaced through the slider port;
• and depressing the tab enables the slider to be displaced through the slider port to place the slider in the open configuration;
• wherein the tab comprises a resilient structure selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) an arched elongate band fixed at two opposed ends thereof to the outer surface of the slider and positioned on the slider adjacent to the slider port when the slider is in the closed configuration;
• the band comprising a resilient segment between the two ends thereof oriented parallel to the slider port, the resilient segment being arched away from the outer surface of the slider to a height sufficient to be blocked by a portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port in a released state;
• and wherein the resilient segment can be depressed to a height sufficient to clear the portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port so that the slider can be displaced. through the slider port;
• and the resilient segment rebounds to the released state when no longer depressed;
• (b) a resilient dome fixed to the outer surface of the slider, the dome having a. height that is sufficient to be blocked by a portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port in a released state, and positioned on the slider so that the dome is adjacent to the slider port when the slider is in the closed configuration;
• and wherein the dome can be depressed to a height sufficient to clear the portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port so that the slider can be displaced through the slider port, and the dome rebounds to the released state when no longer depressed;
• (c) an elongate cantilevered band fixed at one end thereof to the outer surface of the slider and having an opposed free end;
• the cantilevered band being oriented perpendicular to the displacement direction of the slider and positioned on the slider adjacent to the slider port when the slider is in the closed configuration;
• the free end of the cantilevered band extending over the outer surface of the slider to a height sufficient to be blocked by a portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port in a released state;
• wherein the free end of the cantilevered band can be depressed to a height sufficient to clear the portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port so that the slider can be displaced through the slider port;
• and the free end of the cantilevered band rebounds to the released state when no longer depressed;
• (d) a spring-biased button fixed to the outer surface of the slider and positioned on the slider adjacent to the slider port when the slider is in the closed configuration;
• the spring-biased button having a height sufficient to be blocked by a portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port in a released state;
• and wherein the spring-biased button can be depressed sufficiently to clear the portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port so that the slider can be displaced through the slider port;
• and the spring-biased button rebounds to the released state when no longer depressed;
• and
• (e) an elongate lever fixed at one end thereof to the outer surface of the slider and having an opposed free end;
• the lever being oriented along the displacement direction of the slider and positioned on the slider with the free end adjacent to, within, or beyond the slider port when the slider is in the closed configuration;
• the free end of the lever extending over the outer surface of the slider to a height sufficient for a portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port to block or engage with the lever in a released state;
• wherein the free end of the lever can be depressed to a height sufficient to allow the lever to clear the portion of the closure body surrounding the slider port, so that the slider can be displaced through the slider port;
• and the free end of the lever rebounds to the released state when no longer depressed;
• and wherein the lever includes one or more feature selected from the group consisting of a longitudinal split dividing the free end of the lever into two depressible parts, a groove spaced from the free end of the lever that is configured and arranged to receive a portion of the closure body surrounding the slider portal within the groove, and a head portion at the free end of the lever which extends through the slider portal in the closed configuration.