# US 5,706,981 A · Dispensing closure for container

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- Number: US 5,706,981 A
- Document ID: US5706981A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/561,497
- Filed: 1995-11-20
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1994-11-26
- Inventors: Jamshid Nobakht
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706981A

## CPC

- B65D 47/0804: {integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage}
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A closure suitable for use with a condiment container which has a dispensing mouth formed therein, the closure comprising a cover adapted to fit over the mouth of the container and having a plurality of dispensing sections formed therein with at least one dispensing aperture in each dispensing section, each dispensing section having a sealing flap associated therewith, the sealing flap being hingedly secured whereby the flap can be moved from a first position in an overlying sealing relationship with the dispensing aperture to a second open position permitting access to the dispensing aperture. The closure has a pair of retaining posts for retaining the flap in the open position. Since there are a plurality of dispensing sections, the closure can function as a universal closure for many different types of condiments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A closure comprising a cover portion having a downwardly depending skirt adapted to engage a side wall of a container and with said cover portion being adapted to cover a mouth of said container, said cover member having a plurality of dispensing sections, each of said dispensing sections having at least one dispensing aperture formed therein, a sealing member having a central portion secured to said cover portion, each dispensing section having a sealing flap associated therewith, each of said sealing flaps being hingedly secured to said central portion such that said flaps can be moved from a first position wherein each of said flaps is in an overlying sealing relationship with one of said dispensing apertures to a second position permitting access to said dispensing apertures, and means for retaining said flaps in said second open position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The closure of claim 1 wherein said cover portion includes three dispensing sections, at least two of said dispensing sections having a plurality of apertures formed in said cover portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The closure of claim 2 wherein each of said dispensing sections have apertures of a different size formed therein.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The closure of claim 1 wherein said central portion has a retaining means associated therewith, each of said flaps having a member adapted to cooperatively engage with said retaining means to retain said flap in an open position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The closure of claim 4 wherein said retaining means associated with said central portion comprise a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending elements, said member on said flap being located and sized so as to fit between said spaced apart elements and to be frictionally retained thereby when said flap is in a open position.