Closure

Abstract

A closure for use with a container that holds a fluent substance, such as liquid hand soaps, shampoos and other similar cleaning products, or even food products like sauces and condiments, wherein the closure includes a flow control member being a pivotable, opening and closing flap.

Description

CLOSUREFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention refers to a closure. More specifically, the present invention refers to a closure for a container holding liquid, such as food items and concentrated cleaning products, and / or powdered products, such as condiments and powdered milk, wherein the closure has a flow control member being an opening-closing flap.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Containers for fluent substances are usually provided with closures in order to avoid the spilling of their contents. Such closures present an opening for the release of the contents of the container. Usually, these closures present a closing means, such as an overcap or movable lid, which can be freely opened and closed, avoiding, thus, the accidental release of the container contents.

[0003] Concentrated liquid substances are dense liquids such as cleaning products and food sauces or condiments. As examples, there are liquid hand soaps, shampoos, oils, tomato sauces, and food condiments like ketchup and mustard. Due to the dense nature of these concentrated substances, the accidental spilling thereof should be prevented, especially in areas that may be stained or cause likewise problems. Thereby, it is required that containers storing these kinds of substances have a flow-control closure, preventing the liquid inside from dripping or leaking therefrom in an uncontrolled manner.

[0004] A way for controlling such container flow is with a closure on the vessel containing the stored substance and which only releases the contained substance through squeezing of the container body by the user. When this type of container is used to store a concentrated liquid, at least two problems may occur: first, if the container closure does not have good liquid flow control, undesirable splashes may occur whenever the container is squeezed, and the concentrated liquid flow falls over inappropriate areas. Then, the releasedsubstance may stain surrounding areas, as well as the users’ clothes and skin. Besides, unlike the squeeze-type containers that hold contents in which the amount of material being dispensed can be visually assessed, such as a ketchup or mustard bottle, one may consider difficult to assess how much of the liquid was dispensed to obtain the desired final mixture with visually similar substances. Second, the level of concentrated liquid left in the container may be reduced during repeated uses. In this case, the amount of concentrated liquid dispensed through the same compression force may change significantly and disadvantageously as the level of liquid concentrate changes within the container.

[0005] Liquid substances, in particular food products, may also be susceptible to deterioration due to their exposure to a variety of microbial agents, which makes a permanently open closure not a good solution. Thereby, the state of the art discloses a number of solutions concerning opening / closing closures that also present some kind of flow control, in some way. However, these solutions fail to present an efficient control of flow, as well as they need a closing element that may be opened and closed, consisting of an efficient construction..SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention comprises primarily a closure for containers holding liquid or powdered products, for example concentrated liquid substances such as liquid hand soap, shampoos and other similar cleaning products, food items such as sauces, condiments, and powdered products such as powdered food items.

[0007] The closure is fixed to a container having an opening through which the product can be dispensed therein, such closure comprises a main body and a flap for controlling the product flow from a round opening.

[0008] In one broad form of the present invention, the closure includes a main body which includes a front side and side walls extending upwardly beyond the front side. The front side further includes an opening to dispense the fluent product from the interior of the container. The closure further includes a flap forselectively opening and closing the opening to control the fluent product flow from the opening. The side walls of the main body include a recess and the flap is pivotally connected to the main body on the front side at a location spaced from the side walls and is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening and extending into the recess, and ii) an open position exposing the opening and moved away from the recess.

[0009] In one preferred form of the present invention, the recess of the main body is located proximate a diagonal axis that is transverse relative to a vertical axis that extends through the opening and the connection of the flap with the main body.

[0010] In still another preferred form of the present invention, the front side of the main body includes two curved gaps positioned opposite each other.

[0011] According to another preferred form of the present invention, the front side of the main body further includes a hole for retaining the flap in the open position.

[0012] According to yet another preferred form of the present invention, the flap has a curved, laminar shape with rounded corners and is secured on the front side of the main body within a circular notch by a pivot on the flap.

[0013] In another preferred form of the present invention, the flap includes an indicium for indicating a location of a cylindrical closing member extending from a posterior portion of the flap for occluding the opening in the closed position of the flap.

[0014] In still another preferred form of the present invention, the flap includes an aperture that is configured to align with the recess in the closed position of the flap.

[0015] In another preferred form of the present invention, the body has a posterior side from which a cylindrical wall extends, the cylindrical wall including an inner threaded portion for securing the closure to the opening of a container.

[0016] According to another preferred form of the present invention, the closure further includes a ring element secured on a posterior side of the opening in the main body. The ring element secures a self-sealing slit valve which controls the flow of a fluent substance through the opening of the closure. Preferably, the ring element includes at least one reinforcement rod supporting a posterior wall to inhibit direct flow through the opening.

[0017] In another preferred form of the present invention, the flap has a different color than the main body of the closure to improve usability, enhancing the visibility of the flap position within the main body of the closure.

[0018] In one preferred form of the present invention, the flap is located laterally inwardly from the side walls in the open position and the closed position.

[0019] According to another broad form of the present invention, the closure is in combination with a container of a fluent substance. Preferably, the container is configured for use in an inverted or upside-down position.

[0020] According to another broad form of the present invention, a method of opening a closure is disclosed. The method includes the step of obtaining a closure. The closure includes a main body which includes a front side and side walls extending upwardly beyond the front side. The front side further includes an opening to dispense the fluent product from the interior of the container. The closure further includes a flap for selectively opening and closing the opening to control the fluent product flow from the opening. The side walls of the main body include a recess and the flap is pivotally connected to the main body on the front side at a location spaced from the side walls and is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening and extending into the recess, and ii) an open position exposing the opening and moved away from the recess. The method includes the further step of moving a portion of the flap located within the recess to pivot the flap from the closed position occluding the opening to the open position exposing the opening to permit dispensing of a fluent substance through the closure. Preferably, the method includes the further step of securing the flapin the open position by engaging means on the flap and the main body.

[0021] According to still another broad form of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a closure is disclosed. The method includes a step of obtaining a main body which includes a front side and side walls extending upwardly beyond the front side. The front side further includes an opening to dispense the fluent product and the side walls having a recess. The method includes an additional step of obtaining a flap for selectively opening and closing the opening to control the fluent product flow from the opening. The method includes a further step of pivotally connecting the flap to the body on the front side at a location spaced from the side walls such that the flap is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening and extending into the recess, and ii) an open position exposing the opening and moved away from the recess. Preferably, the method includes the further steps of obtaining a ring element, obtaining a self-sealing slit valve, and securing the self-sealing slit valve across the opening in the main body by engagement of the ring element and the main body with the self-sealing slit valve held captive therebetween.

[0022] Moreover, the present invention offers an enhanced ergonomic solution for consumers, particularly benefiting the elderly, by introducing a pivotable flap within the closure. This design ensures a comfortable and hassle- free opening experience, eliminating the need for liner removal. Additionally, a recess in the main body of the closure facilitates gripping the pivotable flap with ease. In contrast, existing closures with opening liners often prove cumbersome and challenging to remove.

[0023] The present invention features a pivotable flap that enhances the flexibility of the closure, making the closure effortless to open. Additionally, the pivotable flap serves as a protective measure, preventing any accidental spills of the contents of the container. By utilizing fewer types of polymers, the closure not only promotes improved recycling practices but also contributes to sustainability and cost reduction. Notably, the flap remains attached to the main body of theclosure, allowing for convenient recycling alongside the rest of the closure. Furthermore, the pivotable flap can be molded using the same tooling as the main body, eliminating the need for an external machine to incorporate a liner or similar components.

[0024] Additionally, the closure of the present invention is specifically designed for upside-down containers, enabling seamless opening and closing of such containers. The closure incorporates a valve mechanism that effectively retains the product within the container when it is not being squeezed. Furthermore, the closure offers enhanced protection compared to alternative solutions, due to the presence of side walls in the main body of the closure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The characteristics of the invention will be more explicit based on the attached drawings, which illustrate some preferred embodiments of the device addressed herein, in which:FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first illustrated embodiment of a closure according to the present invention;FIG. 2 is an inferior perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 ;FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the of FIG. 1 ;FIG. 4 is a posterior perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 ;FIG. 5 is an inferior perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 ;FIG. 6 is a front view of the closure of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 6 illustrates the flap in its closed position to prevent dispensing through the closure;FIG. 7 is a front view of the closure of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 6 illustrates the flap in its open position to permit dispensing through the closure;FIG. 8 is a posterior view of the closure of FIG. 1 ;FIG. 9 is a sectional perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 ;FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of the closure of FIG. 1 ;FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 1 1 shows the posterior side of the closure;FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, sectional side view of the closure of FIG. 1 installed upon a fragmentary open end of a container in the form of a bottle;FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 installed upon the open end of a container of a fluent substance;FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 installed upon the open end of a container of a fluent substance; andFIG. 15 is a front elevation view of additional embodiments of the closure of the present invention, and FIG. 15 shows variations of the flap element in the open position.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Although preferred embodiments are described below, it must be understood that this description must only be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention, not limiting other variations within the scope thereof and which may be taken into account by a person skilled in the art. For the purpose of describing the figures, some terms as “superior”, “inferior”, “top”, “diagonal”, “horizontal” and derivatives thereof must refer to the invention as indicated in FIG. 1 . However, it should be understood that the aspects of the present invention may adopt various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary.

[0027] FIGS. 1 to 14 illustrate a first embodiment of a closure 10 according to the present invention for installation on a container 9 (visible in FIGS. 12-14 only) of a fluent substance. Preferably, the closure 10 is for installation upon a container 9 that holds liquid products, such as concentrated liquid substances, liquid hand soaps, shampoos and other similar cleaning products, or even food products like sauces and condiments. The closure 10 can also be used on acontainer 9 that holds a powdered or granular product, such as a powdered or granular food item. Furthermore, the closure 10 of the present invention is designed for installation upon an upside-down or inverted container 9.

[0028] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the closure 10 is securely attached to a container 9 having a dispensing open end through which a product is filled. The container 9 itself possesses conventional structural attributes; however, its specific details are not relevant to the broadest form of the present closure invention.

[0029] FIGS. 1 to 3 show that the closure 10 includes a main body 20 and a flap 30 for controlling the flow of a fluent product through a dispensing opening 40.

[0030] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the main body 20 has a front side 21 featuring a diagonal recess 22. Surrounding this front side 21 are side walls 23 that extend both in front and behind the front side 21 such that the entire front side 21 is located below the extend of the side walls 23. The recess 22 is diagonally configured (i.e., centered on a diagonal axis 11 that is transverse relative to a vertical axis 12, in FIG. 6) and is positioned within a rounded area on the front side 21. This area showcases concave receding side walls 23 that create an opening for the recess 22, with a bump 24 facilitating the transition between the flat portion of the front side 21 and the recess 22. Additional rounded regions on the front side 21 include two curved gaps 25 positioned opposite each other that function as drain slots. Moreover, in the upper left area of the front side 21 , a hole 26 is incorporated for receiving a mating component of the flap 30, which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

[0031] The main body 20 of the closure 10 provides enhanced protection compared to alternative solutions, due to the presence of its side walls 23 that protect the flap 30 and other sealing elements from incidental contact during shipping and / or handling of a container 9 of a fluent substance upon which the closure 10 is installed.

[0032] In another aspect of the present invention, the flap 30 has a curved, laminar shape with rounded corners, the flap 30 being positioned on the front side 21 within a circular notch 31 , supported and enabled to move by a pivot 32 located at the upper rear portion of the flap 30. In the middle portion of the flap 30, there is a circular indicium (which may have any form) to indicate the position of a posterior-side cylindrical sealing plug or closing member 33 that seals within the opening 40 on the main body 20. Additionally, at the lower or distal part of the flap 30 relative to the pivot 32, there is an aperture 34 designed to align with the recess 22 in certain positions of the flap 30 relative to the main body 20.

[0033] Regarding FIGS. 3-5, the main body 20 of closure 10 includes a posterior side 211 from which a cylindrical wall 212 extends. Between the cylindrical wall 212 and the side walls 23 lies a flat section. The cylindrical wall 212 includes an inner threaded portion on its internal side (i.e., the radially inward side relative to the central axis 13 that extends through the center of the opening 40), while there is another shorter cylindrical wall 213 having an annular retention bead. Within this cylindrical wall 213, a valve carrier ring or ring element 401 is securely placed, fitting over the posterior side of the opening 40. Additionally, in the top section of the posterior side 21 1 , there is another, smaller diameter cylindrical body with an enclosed end that holds the pivot 32.

[0034] In another aspect of the present invention, the ring element 401 comprises a circular and trespassing frontal ring 41 portion which securely holds a self-sealing slit valve or circular sealing element 42 made of a flexible material, such as silicone, having a pair of intersecting slits serving as a passage for the product and which controls the flow of the liquid substance from the container 9 that the closure 10 is fitted onto. The posterior part of the ring element 401 comprises three reinforcement rods 411 supporting a baffle or posterior wall 43. The wall 43 effectively blocks direct flow to the slits for liquid passage of the sealing element 42. To allow the liquid or other fluent substance from the container 9 fitted with the closure 10 to pass, the user must squeeze the container 9, sending the fluent substance through flow channels 431 extending betweenthe reinforcement rods 411 and the wall 43. This arrangement ensures that the liquid from the container 9 can then pass through the slits of the sealing element 42. Hence, the flow channel 431 serves as a controlled passage for the liquid substance from the container 9 fitted with the closure 10.

[0035] The combination of the ring element 401 , sealing element 42, and wall 43 forms a valve mechanism that effectively retains the product within the container 9 when it is not being squeezed. Additionally, the closure 10 of the present invention is specifically designed for normally inverted or upside-down containers, providing the capability to open and close such containers utilizing the aforementioned valve mechanism.

[0036] Regarding FIGS. 6 and 7, front views of the closure 10 are shown, as well as an aspect of the present invention wherein the flap 30 performs a pivotal movement to open the closure 10, unblocking the opening 40, as illustrated in the mentioned figures. To keep the closure 10 open, it is shown that the closing member 33 is fitted in the hole 26. To close the closure 10, the flap 30 must be moved to its original position, wherein the closing member 33 is fitted into the opening 40 to prevent dispensing therethrough.

[0037] The flap 30 is pivotable between a first position where the closing member 33 is occluding the opening 40; and a second position where the closing member 33 is secured within the hole 26.

[0038] Regarding FIG. 8 that shows the posterior side of the closure 10, the recess 22 forms a bumped portion on the posterior side 211 , and the posterior side 21 1 further includes the back wall of the circular notch 31 that holds the pivot 32, diagonally opposite to the bumped portion.

[0039] Regarding the FIGS 9 and 10, sectional views of the closure 10 are shown and illustrate the fitting of the closing member 33 into the opening 40 with the flap 30 located in its closed position. There is also an illustration of the fitting of the pivot 32 into the circular notch 31 , and the fitting of the ring element 401 in the posterior part of the opening 40.

[0040] In another aspect, the present invention includes a container 9 of a fluent substance assembled with the closure 10, in which the container 9 is used in an inverted manner such that the closure 10 is located at the bottom of the container 9. In other words, the package of the closure 10 and the container 9 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 would be inverted from their illustrated positions during typical storage and use of the package.

[0041] In another aspect, the present invention includes the manufacturing method of assembly of the closure 10 in a container 9. The manufacturer of the closure 10 would initially mold or form the main body 20, flap 30, ring element 401 , and self-sealing slit valve 42 from appropriate polymers. For example, the main body 20, flap 30, and / or the ring element 401 may be formed from a suitably rigid polymer. The flap 30 may be form PP, PE, TPE, or a blend of PP and EVA. The main body 20 should be rigid and may be formed from PET, PP, or PP. The ring element 401 may be formed from PP or PE. Other materials may be used. The slit valve 42 may preferably be formed from a suitable elastomer such as silicone or TPE. The manufacturer would assemble the flap 30 with the main body 20 at the pivot connection of the pivot 32 retained within the circular notch 31 in the closed position of the flap 30 such that the closing member 33 is retained within the opening 40 of the main body 20. The self-sealing slit valve 42 is then located within the ring element 401 and secured on the posterior side of the main body 20 by mating snap-fit beads or other suitable means. The assembled closure 10 may then be shipped to a bottler or filler which would fill a container 9 with a fluent product or substance and secure the closure 10 to the container 9 opening by screw-threading posterior portion of the main body 20 to mating screw threads of the container 9. Other mating means may be used such as snap-fit beads, friction fits, welds, adhesives, locks, etc.

[0042] In another aspect, the present invention includes the method for operating the closure 10. One preferred method of using or actuating the closure 10 of the present invention will now be discussed. The user would encounter the closure 10 installed upon the opening of a container 9 with the flap 30 located inthe closed position. In this closed position of the flap 30 (e.g., FIGS. 6, 9, and 10), the cylindrical closing member 33 of the flap 30 is sealingly secured within the opening 40 of the main body 20 and the distal end of the flap 30 with the aperture 34 overlies the recess 22. The user may then grasp or engage the distal end of the flap 30 to pivot or rotate the flap 30 away from the closed position. The closing member 33 is disengaged from the opening 40 by movement of the flap 30 in the axial outward direction along the central axis 13 of the closure 10 and the flap 30 may be rotated between about 30 and 60 degrees into the open position (FIG. 7). The flap 30 may be advantageously secured by engagement of the closing member 33 within the hole 26 to maintain the flap 30 in the open position. The user may then grasp the flap 30 and return it to the closed position in reverse process as described above.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the flap 30 is designed in a different color compared to the main body 20 of the closure 10. This color differentiation enhances the visibility of the flap 30.

[0044] Moreover, the present invention offers an enhanced ergonomic solution for consumers, particularly benefiting the elderly, by introducing a pivotable flap 30 within the closure 10. This design ensures a comfortable and hassle-free opening experience, eliminating the need for liner removal. Additionally, the recess 22 in the main body of the closure 10 facilitates gripping the pivotable flap 30 with ease. In contrast, existing closures with opening liners often prove cumbersome and challenging to remove. To further improve usability, the pivotable flap 30 in one embodiment is distinctively colored, enhancing its visibility within the main body of the closure 10.

[0045] The present invention further comprises a pivotable flap 30 that enhances the flexibility of the closure 10, making it effortless to open. Additionally, the pivotable flap 30 serves as a protective measure, preventing any accidental spills of the container's contents. By utilizing fewer types of polymers, the closure 10 not only promotes improved recycling practices but also contributes tosustainability and cost reduction. Notably, the pivotable flap 30 remains attached to the main body of the closure 10, allowing for convenient recycling alongside the rest of the closure 10. Furthermore, the pivotable flap 30 can be molded using the same tooling as the main body 20, eliminating the need for an external machine to incorporate a liner or similar components that may increase costs, manufacturing complexity, or hinder recyclability.

[0046] With reference now to FIG. 15, additional embodiments of the closure according to the present invention are illustrated. The numbered features of the embodiments of the closure illustrated in FIG. 15 are analogous to features of the first embodiment of the closure 10 that share the same number, but without the suffixes “A-I”. The closures 10A-10I are shown in the open position and operate in the same basic manner as the previously discussed closure 10.

[0047] The closure 10A includes a relatively small, solid flap 30A without any aperture. The closure 10B includes a flap 30A having an aperture 34B with a circular shape for being grasped by a user. The closure 10C includes a flap 30C with an aperture 34C having an ovoid shape with a narrow end facing the pivot of the flap 30C and a wide end facing away from the pivot for being grasped by a user. The closure 10D includes a flap 30D with an irregularly shaped aperture 34D following the contour of the flap 30D for being grasped by a user. The closure 10E includes a flap 30E with the presently preferred, D-shaped aperture 34E for being grasped by a user. The closure 10F includes a flap 30F with a reverse D-shaped aperture 34F for being grasped by a user.

[0048] Still referring to FIG. 15, the closure 10G includes a generally semicircular flap 30G with a small recess or aperture 34G for providing an unobstructed flow path for a dispensed fluent substance with the flap 30G located in the open position as shown. The closure 10H includes a generally C-shaped flap 30H with a circular aperture 34H that overlies the dispensing opening of the closure body in the open position of the flap 30H as shown to permit dispensing from the closure body. In the closed position of the flap 30H (not illustrated) theremaining portion of the flap 30H rotates over, and occludes or plugs, the opening of the closure body. The closure 101 includes a generally elliptical flap 301 with a circular aperture 341 that overlies the dispensing opening of the closure body in the open position of the flap 301 as shown to permit dispensing from the closure body. In the closed position of the flap 301 (not illustrated) the remaining portion of the flap 301 rotates over, and occludes or plugs, the opening of the closure body.

[0049] Other shapes and arrangements of the flap are contemplated depending on the intended use of the closure.

[0050] It must be understood that the present disclosure does not limit the application of this invention to the details described herein, and that it is capable of being applied in other embodiments and to be practiced or performed in a variety of ways within the scope of the claims. Although specific terms have been used, such terms should be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense, without limitations.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A closure for use in dispensing a fluent product that may be stored within an interior of a container, the closure comprising: a main body which comprises a front side and side walls extending upwardly beyond the front side, the front side further comprising an opening to dispense the fluent product; and a flap for selectively opening and closing the opening to control the fluent product flow from the opening, wherein the side walls include a recess, and wherein the flap is pivotally connected to the main body on the front side at a location spaced from the side walls and is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening and extending into the recess, and ii) an open position exposing the opening and moved away from the recess.

2. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the recess is located proximate a diagonal axis that is transverse relative to a vertical axis that extends through the opening and the connection of the flap with the main body.

3. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the front side includes two curved gaps positioned opposite each other.

4. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the front side includes a hole for retaining the flap in the open position.

5. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the flap comprises a curved, laminar shape with rounded corners, the flap being secured on the front side within acircular notch by a pivot.

6. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the flap includes an indicium for indicating a location of a cylindrical closing member extending from a posterior portion of the flap for occluding the opening in the closed position of the flap.

7. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the flap includes an aperture configured to align with the recess in the closed position of the flap.

8. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises a posterior side from which a cylindrical wall extends, the cylindrical wall including an inner threaded portion for securing the closure to the opening of a container.

9. The closure according to claim 1 further comprising a ring element secured on a posterior side of the opening, the ring element securing a self-sealing slit valve which controls the flow of a fluent substance through the opening of the closure.

10. The closure according to claim 1 further comprising a ring element wherein a posterior part of the ring element comprises at least one reinforcement rod supporting a posterior wall to inhibit direct flow through the opening.

11. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the flap has a different color than the main body of the closure.

12. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the flap is located laterally inwardly from the side walls in the open position and the closed position.

13. The closure according to claim 1 in combination with a container of a fluent substance, wherein the container, together with the closure is used in an upsidedown position.

14. A method of opening a closure, the method comprising the steps of:A) obtaining a closure, the closure having a main body which comprises a front side and side walls extending upwardly beyond the front side, the front side further comprising an opening to dispense the fluent product; and a flap for selectively opening and closing the opening to control the fluent product flow from the opening; wherein the side walls include a recess, and wherein the flap is pivotally connected to the body on the front side at a location spaced from the side walls and is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening and extending into the recess, and ii) an open position exposing the opening and moved away from the recess; andB) moving a portion of the flap located within the recess to pivot the flap from the closed position occluding the opening to the open position exposing the opening to permit dispensing of a fluent substance through the closure.

15. The method of opening a closure according to claim 14, the method comprising the further step of:C) securing the flap in the open position by engaging means on the flap and the main body.

16. A method of manufacturing a closure, the method comprising the steps of:A) obtaining a main body which comprises a front side and side walls extending upwardly beyond the front side, the front side further comprising an opening to dispense the fluent product, the side walls including a recess;B) obtaining a flap for selectively opening and closing the opening to control the fluent product flow from the opening; andC) connecting the flap to the body on the front side at a location spaced from the side walls such that the flap is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening and extending into the recess, and ii) an open position exposing the opening and moved away from the recess.

17. The method of manufacturing a closure according to claim 16, the method comprising the further steps of:D) obtaining a ring element;E) obtaining a self-sealing slit valve; andF) securing the self-sealing slit valve across the opening in the main body by engagement of the ring element and the main body with the self-sealing slit valve held captive therebetween.

18. A closure (10), for use in dispensing a fluent product that may be stored within an interior of a container, the closure (10) comprising: a main body (20) which comprises a front side (21) and side walls (23) extending upwardly beyond the front side (21 ), the front side (21 ) further comprising an opening (40) to dispense the fluent product; and a flap (30) for selectively opening and closing the opening (40) to control the fluent product flow from the opening (40),wherein the side walls (23) include a recess (22), and wherein the flap (30) is pivotally connected to the main body (20) on the front side (21 ) at a location spaced from the side walls (23) and is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening (40) and extending into the recess (22), and ii) an open position exposing the opening (40) and moved away from the recess (22).

19. The closure (10) according to claim 18, characterized in that the recess (22) is located proximate a diagonal axis (11 ) that is transverse relative to a vertical axis (12) that extends through the opening (40) and the connection of the flap (30) with the main body (20).

20. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-19, characterized in that the front side (21) includes two curved gaps (25) positioned opposite each other.

21. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-20, characterized in that the front side (21 ) includes a hole (26) for retaining the flap (30) in the open position.

22. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-21 , characterized in that the flap (30) comprises a curved, laminar shape with rounded comers, the flap (30) being secured on the front side (21 ) within a circular notch (31 ) by a pivot (32).

23. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-22, characterized in that the flap (30) includes an indicia for indicating a location of acylindrical closing member (33) extending from a posterior portion of the flap (30) for occluding the opening (40) in the closed position of the flap (30).

24. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-23, characterized in that the flap (30) includes an aperture (34) configured to align with the recess (22) in the closed position of the flap (30).

25. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-24, characterized in that the body (20) comprises a posterior side (211 ) from which a cylindrical wall (212) extends, the cylindrical wall (212) including an inner threaded portion for securing the closure (10) to the opening of a container.

26. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-25, characterized in that the closure (10) further comprises a ring element (401) secured on a posterior side of the opening (40), the ring element (401 ) securing a self-sealing slit valve (42) which controls the flow of a fluent substance through the opening (40) of the closure (10).

27. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-26, characterized in that the closure (10) comprises a ring element (401 ) wherein a posterior part of the ring element (401) comprises at least one reinforcement rod (411) supporting a posterior wall (43) to inhibit direct flow through the opening (40).

28. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-27, characterized in that the flap (30) has a different color than the main body (20) of the closure (10).

29. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-28, characterized in that the flap (30) is located laterally inwardly from the side walls (23) in the open position and the closed position.

30. The closure (10) according to any of the preceding claims 18-29 in combination with a container (9) of a fluent substance, characterized in that the container (9), together with the closure (10), is used in an upside-down position.

31. A method of opening a closure (10), the method comprising the steps of:A) obtaining a closure (10), the closure (10) having a main body (20) which comprises a front side (21 ) and side walls (23) extending upwardly beyond the front side (21), the front side (21) further comprising an opening (40) to dispense the fluent product; and a flap (30) for selectively opening and closing the opening (40) to control the fluent product flow from the opening (40); wherein the side walls (23) include a recess (22), and wherein the flap (30) is pivotally connected to the body (20) on the front side (21) at a location spaced from the side walls (23) and is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening (40) and extending into the recess (22), and ii) an open position exposing the opening (40) and moved away from the recess (22); andB) moving a portion of the flap (30) located within the recess (22) to pivot the flap (30) from the closed position occluding the opening (40) to the open position exposing the opening (40) to permit dispensing of a fluent substance through the closure (10).

32. The method of opening a closure (10) according to claim 31 , the method comprising the further step of:C) securing the flap (30) in the open position by engaging means (26, 33) on the flap (30) and the main body (20).

33. A method of manufacturing a closure (10), the method comprising the steps of:A) obtaining a main body (20) which comprises a front side (21) and side walls (23) extending upwardly beyond the front side (21), the front side (21) further comprising an opening (40) to dispense the fluent product, the side walls (23) including a recess (22);B) obtaining a flap (30) for selectively opening and closing the opening (40) to control the fluent product flow from the opening (40); andC) connecting the flap (30) to the body (20) on the front side (21 ) at a location spaced from the side walls (23) such that the flap (30) is movable between i) a closed position occluding the opening (40) and extending into the recess (22), and ii) an open position exposing the opening (40) and moved away from the recess (22).

34. The method of manufacturing a closure (10) according to claim 33, the method comprising the further steps of:D) obtaining a ring element (401);E) obtaining a self-sealing slit valve (42); andF) securing the self-sealing slit valve (42) across the opening (40) in the main body (20) by engagement of the ring element (401) and the main body (20) with the self-sealing slit valve (42) held captive therebetween.

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