Dispensing closure utilizing a sealing element supported by a washer spring

Claim 1

A dispensing closure having a cap provided with an opening leading through said cap between the interior and the exterior of said cap, sealing means for forming a seal with a spout located on the exterior of said cap around and adjacent to said opening and mounting means for holding a spout so that it can be moved relative to said cap, said dispensing closure also having a spout provided with a base and a passage extending through said spout from said base, said spout being held by said mounting means so as to be movable from a closed position in which said sealing means engages said base so as to seal off said opening and an open position in which said opening is aligned with said passage and in which said sealing means engages said base around said passage in which the improvement comprises: said cap including a resilient spring-like member supporting said sealing means and extending outwardly therefrom so as to have a periphery spaced from said sealing means, said periphery being attached to and supported by the remainder of said cap, said spring-like member holding said sealing means resiliently against said base of said spout at all times during the movement of said spout between said open and closed positions and when said spout is in said positions, said sealing means comprises a surface located on said spring-like member which is held by said spring-like member so as to resiliently engage said base on said spout, said cap, said spring-like member and said sealing means are integral with one another and are formed of a polymer material selected from the group of polymers consisting of injection moldable polyolefin polymers and polymers having the physical properties of injection moldable polyolefin polymers, said periphery of said spring-like member is attached to and supported by the remainder of said cap so as to be substantially immobile.