Dispensing actuator with flip-open lid

A dispensing actuator for a container within which a fluent substance may be stored, said container having an annular shoulder, and a mounting cup secured to said annular shoulder, said container including a dispensing valve mounted on said mounting cup, the dispensing valve including an outwardly projecting, movable, product-dispensing valve stem that is normally biased from an actuated, open dispensing position to a closed position, said dispensing actuator comprising:

• a dispensing actuator base for extending from said container at said dispensing valve, said dispensing actuator base having (1) a deck, and (2) a skirt depending from said deck for snap-fitment to said annular shoulder of said container;
• a lid including a hinge connecting said lid with said dispensing actuator base to accommodate movement of said lid between:
• (1) a closed position, and (2) an opened position to permit the dispensing of a substance from said container;
• said hinge including at least one spring element extending between said lid and dispensing actuator base for biasing the movement of said lid with respect to said dispensing actuator base;
• and
• an opening element mounted on said dispensing actuator base, generally beneath said deck and extending inwardly relative to said skirt, for generally lateral movement with respect to said dispensing actuator base, said opening element being movable generally laterally of said dispensing actuator base from a closed position to an opened position,
• said opening element including a proximal, button portion configured for manipulation to urge said opening element from said closed position toward said opened position thereof, said opening element including at least one distal, pusher portion, generally opposite said proximal, button portion in fixed relationship for movement therewith, said pusher portion being engageable with said hinge as said opening element moves from said closed position to said open position to move said lid from the closed position thereof toward the opened position thereof;
• and
• an actuating element unitarily connected with said dispensing actuator base generally adjacent to said deck, said actuating element defining a valve stem pocket for receiving said valve stem when said dispensing actuator is mounted on said container,
• said actuating element being accessible when said lid is in said opened position thereof, said actuating element being resiliently deflectable, so that downward, deflecting movement of said actuating element operates the stem of said dispensing valve to thereby permit dispensing of the fluent substance within said container through a dispensing orifice defined by said dispensing actuator;
• wherein said at least one spring element includes a pair of spaced-apart hinge elements, said dispensing orifice being positioned on said dispensing actuator base to direct the substance being dispensed generally between said hinge elements;
• said opening element includes a pair of distal, pusher portions respectively engageable with said pair of hinge elements.

A dispensing actuator for a container that has a dispensing valve for dispensing a fluent product, wherein the dispensing valve is normally biased from an actuated, open dispensing position to a closed position, said dispensing actuator comprising:

• a dispensing actuator base for extending from said container at said dispensing valve;
• a lid including a hinge connecting said lid with said dispensing actuator base to accommodate movement of said lid between:
• (1) a closed position, and (2) an opened position to permit the dispensing of a product from said container;
• an opening element mounted on said dispensing actuator base for movement with respect thereto from a closed position to an opened position, said opening element being engageable with said lid, so that generally lateral movement of said opening element from said closed position to said opened position moves said lid from said closed position thereof toward said opened position thereof;
• an actuating element on said dispensing actuator base, said actuating element being accessible when said lid is in said opened position thereof, said actuating element being resiliently deflectable, so that downward, deflecting movement of said actuating element operates said dispensing valve to thereby permit dispensing of the fluent product within said container through a dispensing orifice defined by said dispensing actuator;
• and
• said opening element includes a proximal, button portion configured for manipulation to urge said opening element from said closed position toward said opened position thereof, said opening element including at least one distal, pusher portion, generally opposite said proximal portion, wherein said pusher portion is guided for only linear movement and has a configuration which is undeformed when said lid is in said closed position and when said lid is in said opened position, and wherein said pusher portion is engageable with said lid as said opening element moves from said closed position to said opened position to move said lid from the closed position thereof toward the opened position thereof;
• wherein said hinge for said lid of said dispensing actuator includes a pair of spaced-apart hinge elements, said dispensing orifice being positioned on said dispensing actuator base to direct the substance being dispensed generally between said hinge elements;
• said opening element includes a pair of distal, pusher portions respectively engageable with said pair of hinge elements.