Dispensing closure with unitary structure for retaining a pressure-actuated flexible valve

A dispensing closure suitable for an opening in a squeeze-type container, said closure comprising:

• a body for attachment to said container at said container opening, said body defining a dispensing passage for communicating between the container interior and exterior through said container opening, said body being of unitary construction and molded from thermoplastic material;
• a flexible, self-sealing valve of the type which opens in response to increased container pressure, said valve having a peripheral flange disposed in said body to mount said valve in said dispensing passage;
• and said body having
• (1) an annular seat around said dispensing passage for engaging said valve flange,
• (2) a first wall extending from said seat to define a cavity around said seat for receiving said valve flange,
• (3) a second wall that extends from said first wall and that is deformed into a generally annular configuration extending radially inwardly from said first wall to overlie said seat to clamp said valve flange between said seat and said second wall, and
• (4) a skirt with securing means for engaging cooperating means on said container, said body further having a top wall extending inwardly from said skirt to define said dispensing passage, seat, first wall, and second wall, said body including flexure means for permitting outward displacement of said seat, first wall, and second wall with a minimum of distortion, said flexure means including an annular channel located in said top wall radially outwardly of said first wall to define a reduced thickness section of said top wall to accommodate elongation of said section when said top wall is engaged by said container.

A dispensing closure suitable for an opening in a squeeze-type container, said closure comprising:

• a body for attachment to said container at said container opening, said body defining a dispensing passage for communicating between the container interior and exterior through said container opening, said body being of unitary construction and molded from thermoplastic material;
• a flexible, self-sealing valve of the type which opens in response to increased container pressure, said valve having a peripheral flange disposed in said body to mount said valve in said dispensing passage;
• said body having
• (1) an annular seat around said dispensing passage for engaging said valve flange,
• (2) a first wall extending from said seat to define a cavity around said seat for receiving said valve flange, and
• (3) a second wall that extends from said first wall and that is deformed into a generally annular configuration extending radially inwardly from said first wall to overlie said seat to clamp said valve flange between said seat and said second wall;
• said valve having a flexible central wall that is disposed across at least a portion of said dispensing passage and that defines at least one normally closed dispensing slit;
• said body including a support member spaced below said valve central wall;
• said closure including a lid for being disposed on said body in a closed position over said valve, said lid including an annular sealing collar for forcing said valve central wall against said support member to seal said valve closed around said slit;
• said valve central wall being concave;
• and
• said support member having a concave surface for engaging said valve central wall.

A dispensing closure suitable for an opening in a squeeze-type container, said closure comprising:

• a body for attachment to said container at said container opening, said body defining a dispensing passage for communicating between the container interior and exterior through said container opening, said body being of unitary construction and molded from thermoplastic material;
• a flexible, self-sealing valve of the type which opens in response to increased container pressure, said valve having a peripheral flange disposed in said body to mount said valve in said dispensing passage;
• said body having
• (1) an annular seat around said dispensing passage for engaging said valve flange,
• (2) a first wall extending from said seat to define a cavity around said seat for receiving said valve flange, and
• (3) a second wall that extends from said first wall and that is deformed into a generally annular configuration extending radially inwardly from said first wall to overlie said seat to clamp said valve flange between said seat and said second wall,
• said valve having a flexible central wall that is disposed across at least a portion of said dispensing passage and that defines at least one normally closed dispensing slit;
• said body including a support member spaced below said valve central wall;
• said closure including a lid for being disposed on said body in a closed position over said valve, said lid including an annular sealing collar for forcing said valve central wall against said support member to seal said valve closed around said slit;
• and
• said support member having a circular, concave surface surrounded by a flat, annular, peripheral surface.

A dispensing closure suitable for an opening in a squeeze-type container, said closure comprising:

• a body having a skirt for attachment to said container at said container opening, said body having a generally transverse top wall defining a dispensing passage for communicating between the container interior and exterior through said container opening, said body being of unitary construction and molded from thermoplastic material;
• a flexible, self-sealing valve of the type which opens in response to increased container pressure, said valve having a peripheral flange disposed in said body to mount said valve in said dispensing passage and said valve flange having outwardly diverging engagement surfaces;
• and
• said body having
• (1) an annular seat defining a tapered clamping surface around said dispensing passage for engaging said valve flange, said seat including gripping protrusions projecting from said clamping surface to grip said valve flange,
• (2) a first wall extending from said seat to define a cavity around said seat for receiving said valve flange, and
• (3) a second wall that extends from, and is unitary with, said first wall and that has been permanently deformed relative to said first wall into a generally annular configuration extending radially inwardly from said first wall to overlie said seat to clamp said valve flange between said seat and said second wall, said deformed second wall having a tapered clamping surface for engaging said valve flange.