Abstract:
An apparatus and method for allowing a user to use the same mechanism to connect a container to another object and to open a normally-closed opening in the container. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a closure body having an opening therein; a stopper that closes the opening; and a carabiner that comprises a spine that is fixed to said body and a gate that is operably connected to said stopper. In use, this embodiment of the invention is operated by moving the gate to a full open position, which causes the stopper to move away from the opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a closure for a bottle. In particular, the invention relates to a closure for a bottle for holding a liquid. 
     The background art is characterized by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,386; 109,212; 3,739,938; 3,967,748; 5,270,909; 5,706,985; 5,875,941; 5,967,380; 6,012,616; 6,062,419; and 6,098,834 the disclosures of which patents are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The purpose of the invention is to allow a user to use the same closure to connect a container to another object and to open a normally-closed opening in the container. One advantage of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that it can be operated with one hand. Another advantage of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that it has a mouthpiece that can fit in a user&#39;s mouth with only about ten percent of the area of the user&#39;s open mouth not being blocked by the mouthpiece. This enables the user to “chug’ the liquid at will, that is, to allow a continuous flow of liquid to enter the user&#39;s mouth. Yet another advantage of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that allows its user to carry the bottle to which it is attached with one or two fingers from above. A further advantage of a preferred embodiment is to enable its user to unclip a water bottle to which the closure has been installed from a support, take a drink, and reclip the water bottle to the support, all without having to change his hand position on the water bottle. In a preferred embodiment, the closure cap can be screwed onto any wide-mouth Nalgene® bottle. 
     One object of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to be operable with one hand. Another object of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to have a mouthpiece that almost fills a user&#39;s mouth. Another object of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to be capable of being carried with one or two fingers. 
     The invention is an apparatus and method for allowing a user to use the same closure to connect a container to another object and to open a normally-closed opening on the closure. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a closure body having an opening therein; a stopper that closes the opening; and a carabiner that comprises a spine that is fixed to said body and a gate that is operably connected to said stopper. In use, this embodiment of the invention is operated by moving the gate to a full open position, which causes the stopper to move away from the opening. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body, said cap body being attachable to the bottle, said cap body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, said cap body having a dispensing opening therein, said dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouth piece, and said cap body having a tubular passage therein into which an O-ring having an inner diameter is installed; a carabiner spine that is fixed to said cap body, said carabiner spine having a first hook; a carabiner gate that is pivotably attached to said cap body at a pivot point, said carabiner gate having a second hook that is connectable to said first hook, said carabiner gate being capable of assuming a connected position, an intermediate position and a full open position; a sealing member comprising a stopper, a lever arm having a lug, and a pivoting end that is pivotably attached to said fulcrum, said sealing member having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port, said sealing member being urged into said closed position by a first spring; a piston and a second spring that are movably seated in said tubular passage, the inner diameter of said O-ring accommodating said piston, said piston having two ends, a first end having a slot into which said lug extends, said piston being urged by said second spring in a direction that causes said sealing member to assume said closed position and said hooks to connect, and a second end; and a connecting member that movably connects said pivot point to said second end; whereby said closure is operative to close said opening when said carabiner gate is in the connected position or in the intermediate position and is operative to open said opening when said carabiner gate is in the full open position. Preferably, said inner port comprises a ridge around said dispensing opening and said stopper comprises an elastomeric pad that is configured to seal against said ridge. Preferably, said elastomeric pad is conical in shape and operative to shed water. 
     In a preferred embodiment, said mouthpiece is oval in shape and is sized to allow a user&#39;s mouth opening to fit around it, leaving about ten percent of said mouth opening available for air to enter said mouthpiece during a drinking operation. This enables the user to “chug’ the liquid being drunk at will, that is, to allow a continuous flow of liquid to enter the user&#39;s mouth. Preferably, said cap body, said carabiner spine and said carabiner gate produce a handle defining an aperture and are configured to allow a user to grasp the closure by inserting two or three fingers into the aperture defined by this handle. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a container comprising: a bottle; and a dispensing closure disclosed herein. The bottle may be any type of container and the bottle and the dispensing closure may be separate components or integral. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of operating a dispensing closure comprising: providing a user with a container disclosed herein, said container having water therein; pressing downward on the carabiner gate placing it in the full open position; and placing the mouthpiece in the user&#39;s mouth and tipping the container up, thereby allowing the water to flow into the user&#39;s mouth. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, said cap body having a dispensing opening and a piston guide therein; a piston slidably disposed in said piston guide, said piston having a first end and a second end; a connecting member that is pivotably connected to said first end; an operating lever having one end that is pivotably connected to said outer surface and an intermediate portion that is pivotably connected to said connecting member, said operating lever having an up position and a down position; a sealing member comprising a sealing end, a lever arm and a pivoting end, said lever arm being pivotably connected to said second end and said pivoting end being pivotably connected to said fulcrum; and a first spring that is mounted in said piston guide that urges said piston to a position that causes said sealing end to seal said dispensing opening and said operating lever to assume said up position. Preferably, the dispensing closure further comprises: a second spring that is mounted on said fulcrum that urges said sealing end to seal said dispensing opening. Preferably, the dispensing closure further comprises: a carabiner spine that is fixed to said outer surface, said carabiner spine having a first hook; and wherein said lever is a carabiner gate having a second hook that engages with said first hook when said carabiner gate is in the up position. Preferably, the dispensing closure further comprises: a mouthpiece that protrudes from said outer surface; and wherein said dispensing opening perforates said mouthpiece. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body, said cap body being attachable to the bottle, said cap body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, and said cap body having a dispensing opening therein, said dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece, and said cap body having a tubular passage therein; a loop that is fixed to said cap body, said loop forming an aperture; a button that is movably attached to said cap body, said button being situated in said aperture and being capable of linear movement between an up position and a down position; a sealing member comprising a stopper end, a lever arm having a lug, and a pivoting end that is pivotably attached to said fulcrum, said sealing member having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port; a piston that is movably seated in said tubular passage into which an O-ring is installed, the inner diameter of said O-ring accommodating said piston, said piston having two ends, one end having a slot into which said lug extends, said piston being urged in a direction that causes said sealing member to assume a closed position by a spring, and another end that is connected to said button; whereby said closure is operative to close said opening when said button is in up position and is operative to open said opening when said button is moved to the down position. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body, said cap body being attachable to the bottle, said cap body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, and said cap body having a dispensing opening therein, said dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece; a carabiner spine that is fixed to said cap body, said carabiner spine having a first hook; a carabiner gate that is pivotably attached to said cap body, said carabiner gate having a second hook that is connectable to said first hook, said carabiner gate comprising a first pivot point and being capable of assuming a connected position and an unconnected position; a button that is movably attached to said cap body, said button being capable of linear movement in a first direction between an out position and a depressed position; a sealing member comprising a stopper end, a lever arm having a lug, and a pivoting end that is pivotably attached to said fulcrum at a second pivot point, said sealing member having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port; a mechanism that links said button to said sealing member, said mechanism causing movement of said button in said first direction to move said sealing member about said second pivot point; whereby said closure is operative to close said opening when said button is in the out position and is operative to open said opening when said button is in the depressed position. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body, said cap body being attachable to the bottle, said cap body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, and said cap body having a dispensing opening therein, said dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece; a carabiner spine that is fixed to said cap body, said carabiner spine having locating pin; a carabiner gate that is slidably attached to said cap body, said carabiner gate having a hole that accepts said locating pin, said carabiner gate being capable of assuming a connected position and an unconnected position; a button that is movably attached to said cap body, said button being capable of linear movement in a first direction between an out position and a depressed position, said button being attached to said carabiner gate and moving with said carabiner gate; a sealing member comprising a stopper end, a lever arm having a lug, and a pivoting end that is pivotably attached to said inner surface at said fulcrum, said sealing member having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port; a mechanism that links said button to said sealing member, said mechanism causing movement of said button in said first direction to move said sealing member about said pivot point; whereby said closure is operative to close said opening and said carabiner gate when said button is in the out position and is operative to open said opening and said carabiner gate when said button is moved to the depressed position. 
     In a further alternative embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body, said cap body being attachable to the bottle, said cap body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, and said cap body having a dispensing opening therein, said dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece, and said cap body having a tubular passage therein; a loop having a first portion that is fixed to said cap body and a second portion that is capable of pivoting movement around a first pivot point between a connected position and an unconnected position; a sealing member comprising a stopper end, a lever arm that is pivotably attached to said fulcrum, and a pivoting end, said sealing member having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port; and a connecting member that links said second portion to said pivoting end, said mechanism causing movement of said second portion to said out position to move said sealing member to said open position. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body comprising an outer surface having a mouthpiece and an inner surface having a fulcrum, said cap body having a dispensing opening therein; means for connecting said cap body to a carabiner; means for operating that is movably attached to said cap body, said means for operating having a first position and a second position; a sealing member comprising a sealing end and a lever arm, said lever arm being connected to said means for operating and to said fulcrum, said sealing member having a closed position and an open position; and a first spring that is mounted on said cap body that is operative to urge said sealing end to assume said closed position in which it seals said dispensing opening when said means for operating is in said first position; wherein movement of said means for operating to said second position is operative to cause said sealing end to assume said open position in which it does not seal said dispensing opening; and wherein said mouthpiece is oval in shape and is sized to allow a user&#39;s mouth opening to fit around it, leaving a portion of said mouth opening available for air to enter said mouthpiece during a drinking operation. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body, said cap body being attachable to the bottle, said cap body having a slide cavity and a dispensing opening therein, said dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece; a carabiner spine that is fixed to said cap body, said carabiner spine having a first hook; a carabiner gate that is pivotably attached to said cap body, said carabiner gate having a second hook that is connectable to said first hook, said carabiner gate being capable of assuming a connected position and an unconnected position; and a slide that is mounted in said slide cavity, said slide having a hole therein and being capable of linear movement in a first direction between an out position and a depressed position, said slide having a closed position in said hole is not aligned with said inner port and an open position in which said hole is aligned with said inner port; whereby said closure is operative to close said dispensing opening when said slide is in the out position and is operative to open said dispensing opening when said slide is in the depressed position. Preferably, the dispensing closure further comprising at least one spring, said closure body further comprises a pin and said slide is provided with a main indent, a side indent and at least one cavity, said main indent accommodating an O-ring, said side indent accommodating said pin and said at least one cavity accommodating said at least one spring. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the invention is a dispensing closure for a bottle, said closure comprising: a cap body, said cap body having a dispensing opening therein; means for connecting said cap body to a carabiner; means for operating that is movably attached to said cap body, said means for operating having a first position and a second position; a sealing member, said sealing member having a closed position and an open position; and a first spring that is mounted on said cap body that is operative to urge said sealing member to assume said closed position in which it seals said dispensing opening when said means for operating is in said first position; wherein movement of said means for operating to said second position is operative to cause said sealing member to assume said open position in which it does not seal said dispensing opening; and wherein said mouthpiece is oval in shape and is sized to allow a user&#39;s mouth opening to fit around it, leaving a portion of said mouth opening available for air to enter said mouthpiece during a drinking operation. 
     Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description of preferred embodiments of the invention. A person skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments of the invention are possible and that the details of the invention can be modified in a number of respects, all without departing from the concept. Thus, the following drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle with the carabiner gate in the connected position. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle with the carabiner gate in the intermediate position. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle with the carabiner gate in the full open position. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle with the carabiner gate in the connected position. This view shows the handle formed by the carabiner. 
         FIG. 5  is another elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle with the carabiner gate in the connected position. This view is from the carabiner side of the closure. 
         FIG. 6  is another elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle with the carabiner gate in the connected position. This view is from the mouthpiece side of the closure. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan (top) view of a preferred embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are elevation views of an alternative embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle. 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are elevation views of another alternative embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are elevation views of yet another alternative embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle. 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are elevation views of yet another alternative embodiment of the closure installed on the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the invention installed on a bottle. In this view, the closure is in the closed condition. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective cross sectional view of the embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 18  installed on a bottle. In this view, the closure is in the open condition. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the plunger of the embodiment of the invention of  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
     
    
    
     The following reference numerals are used to indicate the parts and environment of the invention on the drawings: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 closure, dispensing closure 
               
               
                 12 
                 bottle 
               
               
                 14 
                 cap body 
               
               
                 16 
                 outer surface 
               
               
                 18 
                 inner surface 
               
               
                 20 
                 dispensing opening 
               
               
                 22 
                 inner port 
               
               
                 24 
                 mouthpiece 
               
               
                 26 
                 tubular passage, piston guide 
               
               
                 28 
                 piston 
               
               
                 30 
                 first spring 
               
               
                 31 
                 second spring 
               
               
                 32 
                 carabiner spine 
               
               
                 34 
                 first hook 
               
               
                 36 
                 carabiner gate 
               
               
                 38 
                 second hook 
               
               
                 40 
                 sealing member 
               
               
                 41 
                 connection point 
               
               
                 42 
                 stopper, stopper end 
               
               
                 44 
                 lever arm 
               
               
                 46 
                 lug 
               
               
                 48 
                 pivoting end 
               
               
                 49 
                 fulcrum 
               
               
                 50 
                 O-ring 
               
               
                 52 
                 slot, hole 
               
               
                 54 
                 connecting member 
               
               
                 59 
                 loop 
               
               
                 60 
                 ridge 
               
               
                 61 
                 aperture 
               
               
                 62 
                 elastomeric pad 
               
               
                 64 
                 vertically-oriented button 
               
               
                 66 
                 horizontally-oriented button 
               
               
                 70 
                 pivoting mechanism 
               
               
                 72 
                 locating pin 
               
               
                 74 
                 first portion 
               
               
                 76 
                 second portion 
               
               
                 78 
                 pivot point 
               
               
                 80 
                 slide 
               
               
                 82 
                 slide cavity 
               
               
                 84 
                 main indent 
               
               
                 86 
                 side indent 
               
               
                 88 
                 main hole 
               
               
                 90 
                 spring cavities 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a preferred embodiment of closure  10  on bottle  12  is illustrated. In this embodiment, closure  10  comprises cap body  14  which has outer surface  16  and inner surface  18 . Cap body  14  has dispensing opening  20  in it, which connects inner port  22  to the top of mouthpiece  24 , and tubular passage  26  in it, in which piston  28  and first spring  30  are mounted. While  FIG. 1  shows closure  10  being attached to bottle  12  by means of threads on closure  10  and on the neck of bottle  12 , a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that closure  10  may be attached to bottle  12  by any means, either temporarily or permanently. Preferably, bottle  12  is a wide-mouth Nalgene® bottle. 
     In this embodiment, carabiner spine  32 , having a first hook  34 , is fixed to cap body  14 , and carabiner gate  36 , having second hook  38  and pivot point  41 , is pivotably attached to cap body  14 . Carabiner gate  36  is shown in a connected position in  FIG. 1 . Inner port  22  can be closed by sealing member  40 , which comprises stopper end  42 , lever arm  44  having lug  46  and pivoting end  48  that is pivotably attached to fulcrum  49  on inner surface  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , carabiner gate  36  is shown in a connected position. Sealing member  40  is disposed in the closed position, in which position it is seated against and closes inner port  22 . In this condition, the liquid in bottle  12  is not accessible via mouth piece  24 . Preferably, ridge  60  is formed around inner port  22  and stopper  42  is provided with elastomeric pad  62  that is configured to seal against ridge  60  when stopper  42  is in the closed position. Preferably, elastomer pad  62  has the shape of an inverted cone, which shape causes any liquid present in mouthpiece  24  to drain back into container  12  when it is held in the upright position and stopper  42  is not in the closed position. 
     In this embodiment, cap body  14 , carabiner spine  32  and carabiner gate  32  produce a handle and are configured to allow a user to grasp the closure by inserting two or three fingers in the space defined by this handle. In this condition, the liquid in bottle  12  is not accessible and closure  10  can be attached to a support or a carabiner. 
     O-ring  50  is mounted in the inner surface of tubular passage  26  and has an interference fit with piston  28 , preventing the contents of bottle  12  from entering tubular passage  26 . Piston  28  has a slot  52  in its lower end which engages with lug  46  and is movably attached to connection point  41  by connecting member  54 . Piston  28  is urged in an upward direction and its movement in that direction causes sealing member  40  to assume a closed position and hooks  34  and  38  to connect. Closure  10  is operative to close dispensing opening  20  when carabiner gate  32  is in the connected position (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) or in the intermediate position (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) and is operative to open opening  20  when carabiner gate  32  is in the full open position (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). Piston  28  may have any cross-sectional shape, but it cross-sectional shape is preferably circular. In a preferred embodiment, the moveable parts of the invention are fastened to one another by means of shape fitted components. For example, connecting member  54  preferably snaps onto connection point  41 . 
     In this embodiment, closure  10  further comprises second spring  31  that also urges sealing member into the closed position. Second spring  31  does not act upon piston  28  until piston  28  is moved downward to the extent that lug  46  is moved to the top of slot  52 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , closure  10  is illustrated with carabiner gate  32  in the intermediate position. In this position, piston  28  moves downward but sealing member  40  is not pivoted downward. In this position, stopper  42  is still urged against inner port  22 , closing it. In this condition, the liquid in bottle  10  is not accessible and closure  10  can be hung from attached to a support. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , closure  10  is illustrated with carabiner gate  36  in the full open position and with stopper  42  in the open position. In this condition, the liquid in bottle  12  is accessible. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , elevation view of a preferred embodiment of closure  10  is presented. In this embodiment, mouthpiece  24  is preferably oval in shape and is sized to allow a user&#39;s mouth opening to fit around it, leaving about ten percent of said mouth opening available for air to enter said mouthpiece during a drinking operation. This enables the user to “chug’ the liquid, that is, to allow a continuous flow of liquid to enter the user&#39;s mouth. 
     In this embodiment, the inside surface of mouthpiece  24  is angled such that if bottle  12  is perpendicular to the floor or if bottle  12  is angled at about forty-five degrees from the perpendicular (toward the drinker&#39;s mouth), the inside surface of mouthpiece  24  is still disposed at an angle that directs the flow of liquid in dispensing opening  20  back into bottle  12 . The surface that directs liquid back into bottle  12  is void of texture so as to enhance the flow rate of the liquid back into bottle  12  before the stopper  42  closes port  22  by sealing against ridge  60 . The conical shape of elastomeric pad  62  aids in the process of emptying dispensing opening of liquid after the user is finished drinking from bottle  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a plan view of closure  10  on bottle  12  is presented. In this view, dispensing opening  20  is visible and the preferred oval shape of mouthpiece  24  is apparent. In this embodiment, elastomeric pad  62  has a substantially flat tip with a diameter of about 1/16 inch. 
     Operation of the invention involves filling bottle  12  with water and installing closure  10  or providing a user with a bottle/closure combination that contains water or some other liquid. When the user desired to drink some of the liquid, he presses downward on the carabiner gate placing it in the full open position and places the mouthpiece in his mouth and tipping the container up, thereby allowing the water to flow into his mouth. With preferred embodiments, mouthpiece  24  fills only about 90 percent of the user&#39;s mouth opening, allowing air to enter his mouth opening and mouthpiece  24  during a drinking operation, thus enabling the user to “chug’ the liquid at will, that is, allow a continuous flow of liquid to enter the user&#39;s mouth. 
     Alternatively, if the carabiner of closure  10  is connected to a support object or another carabiner, carabiner gate  36  is first moved to the intermediate position and the closure/bottle combination is disconnected from the support object. In the intermediate position, dispensing opening  20  is sealed in the closed condition by stopper  42 . Then, the user moves carabiner gate  36  to the full open position, which opens dispensing opening  20 , and drinks. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment is similar to the preferred embodiment described above, except that a user uses a vertically-oriented button to operate the closure instead of a carabiner gate. In this embodiment, dispensing closure  10  comprises cap body  14  having an inner surface to which a fulcrum (not shown) is attached and a inner port (not shown), loop  59  that is fixed to cap body  14 , said loop forming aperture  61  and vertically-oriented button  64  that is movably attached to cap body  14 . Button  64  is preferably situated in aperture  61  and is capable of linear movement between an up position and a down position. Dispensing closure  10  also comprises a sealing member (not shown) comprising a stopper end, a lever arm having a lug, and a pivoting end that is pivotably attached to the fulcrum. The sealing member can assume a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port. Piston  28  is movably seated in said tubular passage into which an O-ring is installed, the inner diameter of said O-ring accommodating piston  28 . Piston  28  has two ends, one end having a hole into which the lug extends, the piston being urged in a direction that causes the sealing member to assume a closed position by at least one spring, and another end that is connected to button  64 . Closure is operative to close said opening when vertically-oriented button  64  is in up position (illustrated in  FIG. 8 ) and is operative to open said opening when button  64  is moved to the down position by the user (illustrated in  FIG. 9 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , another alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment is similar to the preferred embodiment described above, except that a user uses a horizontally-oriented button to operate the closure instead of a carabiner gate. In this embodiment, dispensing closure  10  comprises cap body  14 , said cap body being attachable to the bottle  12 . Cap body  14  comprises an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, and has a dispensing opening therein, the dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece. Carabiner spine  32  is fixed to cap body  14 . Carabiner gate  36  is pivotably attached to cap body  14  at a first connection point and is capable of assuming a connected position and an unconnected position. Horizontally-oriented button  66  is movably attached to cap body  14 , button  66  being capable of linear movement in a first direction between an out position (illustrated in  FIG. 10 ) and a depressed position (illustrated in  FIG. 11 ). A sealing member (not shown) comprises a stopper end, a lever arm having a lug, and a pivoting end that is pivotably attached to said fulcrum, said sealing member having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port. Pivoting mechanism  70  (shown in  FIG. 12 ) preferably links button  66  to lug  46  through piston  28 , said mechanism causing movement of button  66  in said first direction to pivot said sealing member about pivot  72 . A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other mechanisms could be used to convert the horizontal motion of button  66  into vertical motion of piston  28 . Closure  10  is operative to close the dispensing opening when button  66  is in the out position and is operative to open the dispensing opening when button  66  is in the depressed position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13-14 , another alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment is also similar to the preferred embodiment described above, except that a user uses a horizontally-oriented button to operate the closure instead of a carabiner gate. In this embodiment, dispensing closure  10  comprises cap body  14 , said cap body being attachable to the bottle  12 . Cap body  10  comprises an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, and has a dispensing opening therein, the dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece. Carabiner spine  32  is fixed to cap body  14  and comprises locating pin  72 . Carabiner gate  36  is slidably attached to cap body  14 , carabiner gate  36  having a hole that accepts locating pin  72  and being capable of assuming a connected position and an unconnected position. Horizontally-oriented button  66  is movably attached to cap body  14 , button  66  being capable of linear movement in a first direction between an out position (illustrated in  FIG. 13 ) and a depressed position (illustrated in  FIG. 14 ). A sealing member (not shown) comprises a stopper end, a lever arm having a lug, and a pivoting end that is pivotably attached to said fulcrum, said sealing member having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes said inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close said inner port. Pivoting mechanism  70  (shown in  FIG. 12 ) preferably links button  66  to lug  46  through piston  28 , said mechanism causing movement of button  66  in said first direction to pivot said sealing member about pivot  72 . A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other mechanisms could be used to convert the horizontal motion of button  66  into vertical motion of piston  28 . Closure  10  is operative to close the dispensing opening when button  66  is in the out position and is operative to open the dispensing opening when button  66  is in the depressed position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15-16 , yet another alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment is similar to the preferred embodiment described above, except that a user uses a portion of a loop connected to cap body  14  to operate the closure. In this embodiment, dispensing closure  10  comprises cap body  14 , said cap body being attachable to the bottle  12 . Cap body  10  comprises an outer surface and an inner surface having a fulcrum, and has a dispensing opening therein, the dispensing opening connecting an inner port to a mouthpiece. Loop  60  has first portion  74  that is fixed to cap body  14  and second portion  76  that is capable of pivoting movement around pivot point  78  between a connected position (illustrated in  FIG. 15 ) and an unconnected position (illustrated in  FIG. 16 ). Referring to  FIG. 17 , second portion  76  is preferably connected to sealing member  40  by piston  28 . Sealing member  40  comprises stopper end  42  and lever arm  44  that is pivotably attached to fulcrum  49 , sealing member  40  having a closed position in which it is seated against and closes the inner port and an open position in which it is not seated against and does not close the inner port. A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other mechanisms could be used to convert the pivoting motion of second portion  76  into vertical motion of piston  28 . Closure  10  is operative to close the dispensing opening when second portion  76  is in the closed position and is operative to open the dispensing opening when second portion  76  is in the open position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , another alternative embodiment of the invention is presented. In this embodiment, a user uses a horizontally-oriented button to operate the closure instead of a carabiner gate. Dispensing closure  10  comprises cap body  14 , cap body  14  being attachable to the bottle  12 . Cap body  14  has a dispensing opening therein, the dispensing opening connecting inner port  22  to mouthpiece  24 . Cap body  14  is provided with slide cavity  18  for accommodating slide  80 . Carabiner spine  32  is preferably fixed to cap body  14 . Carabiner gate  36  is preferably pivotably attached to cap body  14  at a first connection point and is capable of assuming a connected position (shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 ) and an unconnected position (not shown). Slide  80  is movably attached to cap body  14 , slide  80  being capable of linear movement in a first direction between an out position (illustrated in  FIG. 18 ) and a depressed position (illustrated in  FIG. 19 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , a preferred embodiment of slide  80  is presented in detail. Slide  80  is preferably provided with main indent  84 , which is sized to accommodate an O-ring (not shown). The O-ring seals slide  80  against the walls of slide cavity  82  and prevents the contents of bottle  12  from leaking out of slide cavity  82 . Slide  80  is also preferably provided with side indent  86  into which a pin (not shown) attached to body  14  protrudes, preventing the removal of slide  80  from slide cavity  82 . Closure  10  is operative to close the dispensing opening when slide  80  is in the out position (and main hole  88  is not in alignment with inner port  22 ) and is operative to open the dispensing opening when slide  80  is in the depressed position (and main hole  88  is at least partially in alignment with inner port  22 ). In a preferred embodiment, slide  80  is also provided with spring cavities  90  in which compression springs (not shown) are mounted. The compression springs urge slide  80  into the out position. 
     Many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Some variations include incorporation and use of a lever-like member instead of a carabiner gate for operation of the piston. Other variations call for incorporation and use of a carabiner-like member or a button-like member. All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     Although some embodiments are shown to include certain features, the applicant specifically contemplates that any feature disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the invention.