Dispensing closures

A dispensing closure (18) for a liquid product container (10) having an opening closed by a piercable diaphragm (16), the closure having a piercing member (24) with a cutting edge, which is moveable through a predetermined distance and is adapted to pierce the diaphragm during such movement to form a severed edge which defines a dispensing aperture, at the end of its movement the piercing member is arranged to plug the dispensing aperture against escape of product, characterised in that,

• at the end of its movement the piercing member is maintained in contact with the severed edge to plug the dispensing aperture, and in that when the container is inverted the piercing member is held in its depressed position,
• product may be subsequently dispensed from the container through the dispensing aperture by generating an increased product pressure in the container, which lifts the severed edge away from at least part of the piercing member, thereby opening the dispensing aperture.