Patent Publication Number: US-11040805-B2

Title: Closure for a container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a closure for a container of a substance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART 
     Closures are employed to selectively prevent or permit communication between the exterior and interior of a container (e.g., bottle, flexible pouch, machine, vessel, etc.) through an opening in the container. A typical closure includes at least (1) a receiving structure (e.g., a body, base, fitment, etc.) arranged at an opening to the container interior, and (2) a closing element (e.g., a lid, cover, cap, etc.) that is cooperatively received by the receiving structure. 
     The receiving structure of the closure can typically be either (1) a separate structure that can be attached at the container opening, and that defines a passage through the structure for communicating with the container opening and the container interior, or (2) an integral structure that is a unitary portion of the container, and which defines a passage through the structure such that the passage functions as the opening, per se, to the container. 
     The closing element typically is movable relative to the receiving structure passage between (1) a fully closed position occluding the passage, and (2) an open position at least partially exposing the passage. Some closures may include additional elements (e.g., tamper-evident features, locking elements, etc.). 
     A closure specifically designed for dispensing a fluent substance may be described as a dispensing closure. Various fluent materials or substances (including oils, lotions, creams, gels, liquids, food items, granules, powders, etc.) may be packaged in a rigid, flexible, or collapsible container having a dispensing closure that can be opened and closed. A flexible container may be pressurized by a user to force the fluent substance from the container and through the closure body to dispense the fluent substance at a target region or onto a target surface area. The container with the closure mounted thereon, and the contents stored therein, may be characterized as a “package.” 
     One type of closure is typically provided with a closing element in the form of a lid that is hingedly attached, or otherwise connected, to a closure body. A user of such a closure would typically encounter the lid in a closed position. The lid may be provided with a region for being lifted by a user of the closure to rotate the lid with respect to a stationary portion of the closure (e.g., closure body), thus moving the lid from the closed position into an open position such that a fluent substance may be dispensed through the closure. 
     The inventor of the present invention has noted that such closures, when installed on a container of a fluent substance, may be susceptible to inadvertent opening during shipping or handling, which can result in premature or messy leaking of the fluent substance stored within the container. For example, the closed lid may be accidentally bumped open, or the lid may accidentally open if the inside of the lid is subjected to a sudden impact from the fluent substance or if the internal pressure of the container increases significantly during shipping or storage in high temperature environments. The inventor has found that such premature leakage through a conventional closure may be especially pronounced in an e-commerce scenario, whereby an individual package is shipped and handled in an unconstrained manner and may be subjected to a variety of forces, orientations, and temperatures. 
     The inadvertent opening of such a closure may be prevented, or at least minimized, by applying an adhesive seal or a film wrap around at least a portion of the closure to mechanically prevent movement of the lid until the seal or wrap has been removed by a user of the closure. However, such additional adhesive seals and film wraps are typically designed and provided for only a “one-time” use (non-reusable) application to withstand lid opening forces during shipping. Moreover, such additional seals or wraps may increase the cost of the closure, require additional manufacturing steps, or present a nuisance to the user who must remove and discard such a seal. 
     Furthermore, the inventor has found that the inadvertent opening of such a closure may be prevented, or at least minimized, by molding or otherwise forming the closure with a removable plastic tear band or tamper band to mechanically prevent movement of the lid until the tear band or tamper band has been removed by a user of the closure. However, such additional features may increase the cost and complexity of the closure and are typically designed and provided for only a “one-time” use (non-reusable) application to withstand lid opening forces during shipping. 
     The inventor of the present invention has determined that it would be desirable to provide a robust closure that may prevent or minimize the likelihood of the inadvertent opening of the closure during shipping or handling. The inventor of the present invention has further found that it would be beneficial to provide a closure that includes a unitarily formed lid and body, which would not require separate assembly and would be amenable to mass production. 
     The inventor of the present invention has also determined that, in many applications, it may be desirable to provide an improved closure that minimizes the likelihood of inadvertent opening of the closure during shipping or handling as part of a package wherein the improved closure eliminates the need for any additional protective packaging, such as a larger box or carton, or the inclusion of dampening structures or inserts that would otherwise be included to minimize the likelihood of the inadvertent opening of the closure. 
     The inventor of the present invention has also determined that it would be desirable to provide an improved closure that minimizes the likelihood of inadvertent opening of the closure during shipping or handling and that such an improved closure would open only when engaged by a user applying a specific, yet simple, action to disengage the lid from the body of the closure. 
     The inventor of the present invention has also determined that, in many applications, it may be desirable to provide an improved closure as part of a package wherein the closure structure facilitates or accommodates the cleaning of the closure and/or minimizes the potential for accumulation of residue, dirt, grime, etc. during the useful life of the package. 
     The inventor of the present invention has also determined that it would be desirable to provide an improved closure that can be configured for use with a container of a fluent substance so as to have one or more of the following advantages: (1) an improved ease of manufacture and/or assembly, and (ii) a reduced cost of manufacture and/or assembly. 
     The inventor of the present invention has invented a novel structure for a closure for use with a container wherein the closure includes various advantageous features not heretofore taught or contemplated by the prior art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to broad aspects of one form of the present invention, a closure is provided for use with a container having an opening between an exterior of the container and an interior of the container where a substance may be stored. The closure has a closure body that can be located at the container opening and that defines an inlet portion for communicating with the container. The closure body further defines a through passage terminating in an orifice to accommodate the movement of a substance through the closure body. The closure body further defines a first latch portion. 
     The closure has a lid that is connected to the closure body and that is movable between (i) a closed position occluding the orifice, and (ii) an open position spaced from the orifice. The lid includes a flexible, recessed press portion defining a second latch portion. 
     The closure body and the lid have a latched configuration with the lid in the closed position, wherein the first latch portion and the second latch portion are oriented in a confronting relationship to prevent the lid from moving into its open position. 
     The closure body and the lid further have an unlatched configuration with the lid in the closed position wherein the recessed press portion is deflected inwardly to move the second latch portion out of the confronting relationship with the first latch portion to permit the lid to move from its closed position into its open position. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the closure body is one of the following: a separate structure for being attached to the container at the container opening; and an integral structure that is a unitary part of a container formed at the container opening. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the body and the lid are connected by a hinge and are formed together as a unitary structure. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, the lid further includes a lift projection that extends laterally outwardly beyond the recessed press portion, and which is also located above the recessed press portion, when the lid is located in its closed position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the body further includes an aperture which is located laterally inwardly, toward the interior of the body, of the first latch portion. The aperture accommodates the second latch portion of the lid when the lid is located in its closed position. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, the body further includes a resilient spring member which is located laterally inwardly of the first latch portion. The resilient spring member is configured to bias the recessed press portion laterally outwardly with the closure body and the lid in their latched configuration. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, the body includes a top deck from which the resilient spring member projects downwardly and laterally outwardly. 
     In one aspect, the resilient spring member is a generally rectangular tab having a proximal end extending from the top deck and a distal end configured to engage the recessed press portion when the closure body and the lid are in their latched configuration. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, the resilient spring member includes a central rib extending from the top deck along an inner side of the resilient spring member. 
     In another form of the present invention, the resilient spring member is a partial dome having a laterally outward, convex side and a laterally inward, concave side. The convex side of the dome is configured to engage the recessed press portion with the closure body and the lid located in their latched configuration. 
     According to another form of the present invention, the body further includes a top deck and a spout extending from and above the top deck. The orifice is located in the spout. The lid includes a top end and a cylindrical wall extending downwardly from the top end for sealing around the spout with the lid located in its closed position. 
     In another form of the present invention, the closure body includes a peripheral skirt and the first latch portion extends radially inwardly from the peripheral skirt. The first latch portion has a sloping top surface and a substantially flat bottom surface. The lid&#39;s second latch portion extends radially outwardly and has a sloping bottom surface and a substantially flat top surface with the lid located in its closed position. 
     In yet another form of the invention, the first and second latch portions are located below the connection between the lid and the closure body with the lid located in its closed position. The lift projection is located above the connection between the lid and the closure body with the lid located in its closed position 
     In yet another form of the invention, the recessed press portion is configured to deflect elastically inwardly in response to a force applied by a user to move the second latch portion out of the confronting relationship with the first latch portion, which permits the lid to be moved by a user from its closed position into its open position. 
     In one form of the invention, the lid and the closure body are generally cylindrical. Furthermore, each of the first latch portion and the second latch portion are arcuate in shape, and have a length that extends generally around a portion of the respective periphery of the lid and the closure body. Preferably, the first latch portion and the second latch portion each have an arcuate shape that defines a central angle of between about twenty-five degrees and about thirty-five degrees relative to a central axis of the closure. 
     In one form of the invention, the closure is provided in combination with a container of a fluent substance in the form of a package. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a closure is provided for use with a container having an opening between an exterior of the container and an interior of the container where a substance may be stored. The closure has a closure body that can be located at the container opening and that defines an inlet portion for communicating with the container. The closure body further defines a through passage terminating in an orifice to accommodate the movement of a substance through the closure body. The closure body further defines a first latch portion. 
     The closure has a lid that is hingedly connected to the closure body, and unitarily molded with the closure body. The lid is movable between (i) a closed position occluding the orifice, and (ii) an open position spaced from the orifice. The lid includes a flexible, recessed press portion defining a second latch portion. The lid further includes a lift projection extending laterally outwardly beyond, and located above, the recessed press portion with the lid in its closed position. 
     The closure body and the lid have a latched configuration with the lid in the closed position, wherein the first latch portion and the second latch portion are oriented in a confronting relationship to prevent the lid from moving into its open position. 
     The closure body and the lid further have an unlatched configuration with the lid in the closed position wherein the recessed press portion is elastically deflected inwardly to move the second latch portion out of the confronting relationship with the first latch portion to permit the lid to move from its closed position into its open position. 
     It should be appreciated that the invention may include any or all of the above-described features, include only one of the above features, more than one of the above features, and any combination of the above features. Furthermore, other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the entire specification including the appended claims and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view, taken from above, of a first embodiment of a closure of the present invention shown with the lid in the closed position and the closure in a latched configuration, the closure prior to being installed at the opening of a container wherein only a fragmentary, upper portion of the container is illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of only the closure illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of only the closure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a is a right side elevation view of only the closure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of only the closure illustrated in  FIG. 1 , taken generally along the plane  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the closure that is similar to  FIG. 5 , except  FIG. 6  shows the latching feature of the lid moved away from and out of a confronting relationship with the latching feature of the closure body; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the closure that is similar to  FIG. 6 , except  FIG. 7  shows the lid rotated away from the closed position into an open position; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view, taken from above and in front, of only the closure illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 8  shows the closure with the lid oriented in an as-molded, open position; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view, taken from above and behind, of only the closure illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 9  shows the closure with the lid oriented in an as-molded, open position; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view, taken from above, of a second embodiment of a closure of the present invention shown with the lid oriented in an as-molded, open position; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view, taken from below, of the second embodiment of the closure illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the closure illustrated in  FIG. 10 , taken generally along a vertical plane through the center of the closure, and  FIG. 12  shows the lid of the closure in the closed position and the closure in a latched configuration; 
         FIG. 13  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of the portion of the closure enclosed in the broken line designated as “ FIG. 13 ” in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the closure that is similar to  FIG. 12 , except  FIG. 14  shows the latching feature of the lid moved away from the latching feature of the closure body; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view, taken from above, of a third embodiment of a closure of the present invention shown with the lid oriented in an as-molded, open position; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view, taken from below, of the third embodiment of the closure illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the closure illustrated in  FIG. 15 , taken generally along a vertical plane through the center of the closure, and  FIG. 17  shows the lid of the closure in the closed position and the closure in a latched configuration; 
         FIG. 18  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of the portion of the closure enclosed in the broken line designated as “ FIG. 18 ” in  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the closure that is similar to  FIG. 17 , except  FIG. 19  shows the latching feature of the lid moved away from the latching feature of the closure body; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view, taken from below, of a fourth embodiment of a closure of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view, taken from below, of a fifth embodiment of a closure of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
     For ease of description, many figures illustrating the invention show embodiments of a closure in the typical orientation that the closure would have when located at the opening of a container, the container in the form of an upright bottle, and terms such as “inward”, “outward”, “upper”, “lower”, “axial”, “radial”, “lateral”, etc., are used with reference to this orientation. The term “axially inward” is to be understood as in the direction along a central axis  30  (visible in  FIGS. 3-5 ) of the closure, toward the interior of the container. The term “axially outward” is to be understood as in the direction along a central axis  30  of the closure, away from the interior of the container. The term “radially inward” is to be understood as in the radial direction toward the central axis  30  of the closure. The term “radially outward” is to be understood as in the radial direction away from the central axis  30  of the closure. The term “laterally inward” is to be understood as in a direction toward the central axis  30  of the closure, in a plane normal to the central axis  30 . The term “laterally outward” is to be understood as in a direction away from the central axis  30  of the closure, in a plane normal to the central axis  30 . It will be understood, however, that the closures of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the orientation described and illustrated. 
     The closures of this invention are especially suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special containers, the details of which, although not fully illustrated or described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of such containers. The particular container illustrated is not intended to limit the present invention. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill that novel and non-obvious inventive aspects are embodied in the described closures alone. 
     The closures described herein are especially suitable for use on a container that contains a fluent material or substance in the form of a lotion or cream that can be dispensed, or otherwise discharged, from the container through the opened closure. Such fluent substances may be, for example, a personal care product, a food product, an industrial product, a household product, or other types of products. Such substances may be for internal or external use by humans or animals, or for other uses (e.g., activities involving medicine, commercial or household maintenance, agriculture, manufacturing, etc.). 
     A first embodiment of a closure of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 , wherein the closure is designated generally by the reference number  40 . The first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40  has the form of a separate article that is configured to be attached or assembled to a container  44  (a portion of which is visible in  FIG. 1  only) at the container opening  46  ( FIG. 1  only), the container  44  having the form of a bottle that would typically contain a fluent substance. 
     It will be understood that the container may be any conventional type, such as a collapsible, flexible pouch, or may be a generally rigid bottle that has somewhat flexible, resilient walls.  FIG. 1  shows the first embodiment of the closure  40  for being attached to a container  44  which is a generally rigid bottle having a wall that is somewhat flexible and that can be squeezed by the user to dispense a product when the closure  40  is opened and the container  44  is inverted by the user. In other applications, the closure  40  may instead be used on a larger dispensing system (not illustrated) which may include, or be part of, for example, a medical device, processing machine, dispenser, reservoir on a machine, etc., wherein the system has an opening to the system interior. 
     The container, or a portion thereof, may be made from a material suitable for the intended application. For example, the container may be a pouch made from a thin, flexible material (wherein such a material could be a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or a polyethylene film and/or an aluminum foil). Alternatively, a more rigid container (e.g., a bottle) could be made from a thicker, less flexible material such as molded polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylchloride, glass, or other materials. 
     In applications wherein the closure is mounted to a container such as a bottle, it is contemplated that typically, after the closure manufacturer would make the closure (e.g., by molding the closure from a thermoplastic polymer), the closure manufacturer will then ship the closure to a container filler facility at another location where the container is either manufactured or otherwise provided, and where the container is filled with a product prior to installation of the closure. If the container is a collapsible pouch, then the closure may include a suitable fitment portion that can be sealed or otherwise attached to the pouch as the pouch is being made and filled, or as the pouch is being made but before the pouch is subsequently filled through the open closure or through open regions of the pouch walls that are later sealed closed. 
     In the first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40  in  FIGS. 1-9 , the closure  40  is provided as a separately manufactured article, component, or unit for being snap fit onto the upper, open end of the container  44 . It will be appreciated, however, that in some applications, it may be desirable for the closure  40  to be screw threaded onto a container or attached to a container in a tamper-resistant manner that would not allow a user to easily remove the closure  40 . Further, it may be desirable for the closure (or at least the body of the closure) to be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container (e.g., a bottle) wherein such a unitary part or extension also (i.e., simultaneously) defines an end structure of the container, per se. 
     The container  44 , per se, does not form a part of the broadest aspects of the present invention. The container may have any suitable configuration. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the container  44  is a bottle, which includes an upper end portion that defines the container mouth or opening  46  and a snap-fit bead  47  or threaded portion (not illustrated) for mating with a cooperating snap-fit bead  48  (or threaded portion, not illustrated) of the closure  40 , which is discussed in detail hereinafter. The container upper end portion has a cross-sectional configuration with which the closure  40  is adapted to engage. Extending downwardly from the container upper end portion is a depending main body portion  50  of the container. The main body portion  50  of the container  44  has a cross-sectional configuration which is larger than the cross-sectional configuration of the container upper end portion at the container opening  46 . In other types of containers, the container may instead have the same shape along its length or height. 
     The first embodiment of the closure  40  illustrated in the  FIGS. 1-9  is especially suitable for use with a container  44  that is a bottle having a substantially flexible wall or walls that can be squeezed or deflected laterally inwardly by the user to increase the internal pressure within the container  44  so as to force the fluent substance out of the container  44  and through the opened closure  40 —especially when the user inverts the container  44  while squeezing. The walls have sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the container walls return to the normal, unstressed shape. 
     In other applications, it may be desirable to employ a generally rigid container, and to pressurize the container interior at selected times with a piston or other pressurizing system (not illustrated), or to reduce the exterior ambient pressure so as to suck the material out through the open closure. 
     In some other applications, the closure  40  may be used with a product containment system or other type of system (not illustrated), where the closure  40  can function to permit or prevent the egress or ingress of substances relative to the system in which the closure  40  is installed. For example, in some applications it may be desirable to also accommodate filling or refilling of the container  44  with the fluent contents through the opened closure  40  into the container  44 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the closure  40  includes the following basic components of a closure body  54  and a lid  56  that is movably mounted atop the closure body  54 . The lid  56  is provided with a flexible, recessed press portion  58  for being pressed by a finger or thumb of a user of the closure  40 , and the recessed press portion  58  is laterally inwardly movable or deflectable in response to the force applied by the user (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). The closure body  54  defines a first latch portion  60  and the recessed press portion  58  of the lid  56  defines a second latch portion  64 , the detailed structure of which will be discussed in herein. The lid  56  and the closure body  54  have a latched configuration that exists when the first latch portion  60  of the closure body  54  and the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56  are oriented in a confronting (interfering but spaced) relationship, securing the lid  56  atop the closure body  54 . In other embodiments (not illustrated), the first and second latch portions may be in contact and abutting in the confronting relationship. The lid  56  and the closure body  54  also have an unlatched configuration that exists when the first latch portion  60  of the closure body  54  and the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56  are moved out of the confronting relationship, permitting the user to lift the lid  56  to move it relative to the closure body  54 . 
     The closure body  54  and the lid  56  are preferably formed or molded as a unitary structure from a suitable thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Other materials may be employed instead. It will be understood that in alternative designs (not illustrated), one or more of the basic components or sub-components may be separately or sequentially formed or molded (such as through bi-injection molding). Alternatively, the basic components may be molded initially as one connected structure, and then broken apart, and then re-assembled into an operative combination. Further, it will be understood that in an alternate embodiment (not illustrated), the closure body  54  may be unitarily formed or molded as an extension of the upper end of the container  44  and need not be a separately formed article of manufacture. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the lid  56  is connected to the closure body  54  by a hinge  66  and is movable between an open position ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) and a closed position ( FIGS. 1-5 ). One form of a hinge that may be used is an over-center, butterfly, snap-action type hinge. Other types of hinges could be used depending on the specific application. In some applications, the hinge between the lid and the closure body could be omitted altogether, such that the lid is not connected as a unitary part of the closure body (e.g., the lid is connected to the closure body by a screw thread, tether, or snap fit connection). In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), the lid may be a separate component adapted to be mounted to, and completely removed from, the closure body. 
     As will be discussed in greater detail below, the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56  is movable relative to the first latch portion  60  of the closure body  54 , between (i) a latched configuration ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) with the lid  56  in its closed position, and (ii) an unlatched configuration ( FIG. 6 ) with the lid  56  in its closed position. In the latched configuration, the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  are sufficiently confronting (e.g., either in a non-touching confronting relationship (as seen in  FIG. 5 ), or in an alternate embodiment (not illustrated) in a contacting, abutting confronting relationship) to prevent the lid  56  from moving out of its closed position ( FIGS. 1-5 ) toward an open position ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). In the unlatched configuration the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  are separated or spaced sufficiently to permit the lid  56  to be rotated about the hinge  66  away from the closed position ( FIGS. 1-5 ) toward an open position ( FIG. 7  showing the lid  56  slightly open and  FIG. 8  showing the lid  56  open to a greater extent). 
     As used in this specification and claims with respect to the first embodiment of the closure  40 , and the other embodiments, the term “unlatched configuration” means a relative orientation of the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  in which the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56  is moved sufficiently inwardly and away from the first latch portion  60  of the closure body  54  such that the two structures are sufficiently moved apart from one another to permit the lid  56  to be moved from its closed position to an open position as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The recessed press portion  58  of the lid  56 , which defines the second latch portion  64 , is preferably sufficiently resilient or elastic to return to its as-molded configuration after being pressed laterally inwardly by a user of the closure  40  to move the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  apart. An upwardly directed secondary force is required by the user to lift the lid  56  away from the closed position over the closure body  54  while the user is simultaneously depressing the recessed press portion  58  of the lid  56 . 
     The inventor has found that closure  40  is especially suited for preventing inadvertent opening of the lid  56  during the shipping and handling of the closure  40  attached to a container  44  of a substance in the form of a package, such as in e-commerce, whereby the package may be packed in one of a number of possible orientations and may be shipped in a wide variety of parcels that may be subjected to a wide range of impulse forces, vibrations, pressures, temperatures, and changes in orientation. Inadvertent opening of the lid  56  may result in undesirable leaks of the substance during transit and/or damage to the lid  56  or hinge  66  during transit. The inventor has further found that the closure  40  may be especially robust in the above-mentioned scenarios because the closure  40  requires specific, yet simple actions from the user upon the recessed press portion  58  in order to move the latch portions  60  and  64  apart and open the lid  56 , and such actions are not readily replicated by random forces to which the package is subjected during transit of the package from the manufacturer to the ultimate end user. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the closure body  54  includes a generally cylindrical skirt or outer wall  68  having an inlet portion or lower end  70  and a transverse wall or top deck  74 . The closure body  54  is hollow and defines a through passage  76  for being located at the opening  46  of the container  44  ( FIG. 1 ) to communicate with an interior of the container  44  which contains a substance to be dispensed. While the closure body  54  is illustrated as having a generally cylindrical shape, it will be appreciated, however, that the closure body  54  may take a variety of forms and need not be limited to a cylindrical shape. For example, the outer wall  68  may be elliptical, polygonal, or some other, irregular cross-sectional shape, when viewed in a plane that is normal to the central axis  30 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the interior of the closure body  54  is provided with an internal wall  78  that extends below the deck  74  and which is provided with a plurality of the aforementioned snap-fit beads  48 . The snap-fit beads  48  extend radially inwardly from the internal wall  78  and cooperate with one or more external beads  47  on the container  44  ( FIG. 1 ) to securely attach the closure body  54  to the container  44  at the opening of the container  44 . It will be appreciated that other conventional or special means of connecting the closure body  54  to the container  44  could be employed, such as mating screw threads, bi-injection molding, adhesives, mechanical locks, spin welding of the closure to the container, etc. 
     If the closure body is to be used on a flexible pouch (not illustrated), then it is presently contemplated that the closure body lower end would have a suitable boat-shaped fitment configuration (e.g., such as that shown and described in PCT/US2013/043065, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) for being sealed with the pouch, and most pouch manufacturers will prefer to install the closure body lower end at an opening formed in the pouch with heat sealing techniques or ultrasonic sealing techniques. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the closure body deck  74  has a raised, cylindrical spout  80  extending upwardly therefrom and has a circular, central hole or orifice  84  therein in communication with the through passage  76  for permitting communication of a substance through the closure  40  (e.g., dispensing or filling) when the lid  56  is sufficiently opened (e.g.,  FIG. 8 ) relative to the closure body  54 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , the closure body  54  is further provided with a second cylindrical wall  86  that extends downwardly from the deck  74 , into the hollow body  54 , and which mates within the inside surface of the opening  46  at the upper end of the container  44  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , a front portion of the top deck  74  of the closure body  54  is provided with a plurality of downwardly-extending walls  90 , the internal surfaces of which define a channel, recess or aperture  94  in the top deck  74 . The aperture  94  is located on an opposite side of the closure body  54  with respect to the hinge  66  that connects the closure body  54  with the lid  56 . The aperture  94  accommodates movement of the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56  into a confronting relationship with the first latch portion  60  of the closure body  54 , when the lid  56  is placed in its closed position relative to the closure body  54 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , the outer wall  68  of the closure body  54  defines a recessed, semi-circular, sloping surface  98  at the front thereof, which leads inwardly to the first latch portion  60 . The first latch portion  60  extends radially inwardly from the wall  68  into the aperture  94  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). The first latch portion  60  has an inwardly and downwardly sloping top surface  102  and a substantially flat bottom surface  106 . The sloping top surface  102  functions to guide the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56  laterally and axially inward past first latch portion  60 . The bottom surface  106  functions to confront a mating flat surface of the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56 , as discussed in greater detail hereinafter. When the closure  40  is in its as-molded, open position (as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ), and each of the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  is viewed in a plane normal to the central axis  30 , each of the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  has an arcuate length that extends generally around a small portion of the perimeter of the closure  40 . The arcuate first and second latch portions  60  and  64  preferably each define an internal angle of between about twenty-five to about thirty-five degrees, relative to the central axis  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the outer wall  68  of the closure body  54  defines a substantially flat circumferential shoulder  110  for confronting and accommodating a bottom surface of the lid  56  when the lid  56  is in the closed position atop of the closure body  54  (as is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 9 , the lid  56  has a somewhat planar transverse cover or top end  114  with a substantially cylindrical, circumferential peripheral wall  118  extending therefrom. The wall  118  has a bottom, annular surface  120  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) that confronts or abuts the shoulder  110  of the closure body  54  with the lid  56  in the closed position. The front region of lid wall  118  defines a finger lift or projection  124 , extending above and around the recessed press portion  58 , for accommodating a finger or thumb of a user to lift the lid  56  away from the closure body  54  after the user has disengaged or moved the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  out of their confronting relationship. The projection  124  is somewhat arcuate in shape, and overhangs the recessed press portion  58  when the lid  56  is closed. 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it can be seen that the recessed press portion  58  is located substantially laterally inwardly of each of the projection  124  of the lid  56  and the upper end of the sloping surface  98  of the closure body  54 . This configuration provides the closure  40  with a robust latching mechanism that minimizes the likelihood of inadvertent opening of the lid  56  during transit, while presenting a user with a conveniently located area of contact for actuating the latching mechanism of the closure  40 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 7 , the detailed structures of the second latch portion  64 , which extends from the distal end of the recessed press portion  58 , will next be discussed. The second latch portion  64  is generally hook-shaped, when viewed in a vertical cross-sectional plane that contains the central axis  30  and that extends through the center of the second latch portion  64 . As previously discussed above, the second latch portion  64  is arcuate when viewed from above (e.g.,  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) to conform to the curvature of the generally cylindrical wall  118  of the lid  56 . As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the second latch portion  64  includes a chamfered or sloping bottom surface  128  and a substantially flat top surface  132 . The second latch portion  64  is spaced from the remainder of the recessed press portion  58  by a recess  136  located axially outwardly from, or above, the top surface  132 , with the lid  56  in the closed position (e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , when the lid  56  is rotated from an open position toward the closed position atop the closure body  54 , the sloping bottom surface  128  of the second latch portion  64  of the lid  56  cooperates with the sloping top surface  102  of the first latch portion  60  to guide the second latch portion  64  axially and laterally inward past first latch portion  60 . Movement of the second latch portion  64  axially inward of the first latch portion  60  into the latched configuration causes the recessed press portion  58  to deflect temporarily laterally inward. The flat top surface  132  of the second latch portion  64  is slightly spaced from, yet confronts, the bottom surface  106  of the first latch portion  60  to prevent any substantial movement of the lid  56  away from its closed position when the lid  56  and closure body  54  reach their latched configuration in  FIG. 5 . Furthermore, in the latched configuration, the first latch portion  60  is laterally constrained within the recess  136  of the second latch portion  64 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the top end  100  of the lid  56  is provided with a plug seal or internal cylindrical wall  140  extending downwardly therefrom, which serves to seal against the periphery of the spout  80  of the closure body  54  when the lid  56  is located in the closed position ( FIG. 5 ), so as to occlude the orifice  84  of the closure body  54  and prevent ingress or egress of a substance through the closure  40 . 
     One method of assembling the closure  40  is next discussed. It will be understood that the method of assembly described herein is illustrative only, and there may be other methods of assembling the components of the closure  40 . The closure body  54  and the lid  56  are preferably integrally molded in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , whereby the lid  56  is oriented in an open position. The lid  56  is subsequently rotated about the hinge  66  with respect to the closure body  54  into the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 , such that annular bottom surface  120  of the lid  56  is seated against the shoulder  110 , and such that the internal lid wall  140  seals around the spout  80  of the closure body  54 . 
     In order for the lid  56  to move from an open position (e.g.,  FIG. 7 ) into the closed position (e.g.,  FIG. 5 ), the recessed press portion  58  of the lid  56  flexes laterally inwardly to permit the second latch portion  64  to move axially inwardly past the first latch portion  60  as discussed above. Once the first latch portion  60  of the closure body  54  is retained within the recess  136 , the resilient recessed press portion  58  returns laterally outwardly substantially to its as-molded configuration to establish a secure, latched configuration between the closure body  54  and the lid  56 . 
     The detailed operation and function of the closure  40  will next be described with initial reference to  FIG. 1 . Typically, a user, such as a customer, will encounter the closure  40  as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the closure  40  installed upon the top end of a container  44  of a fluent substance—the closure  40 , container  44 , and fluent substance within the container  44  together defining a package. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , the closure  40  is typically presented to a user with the lid  56  oriented in a non-dispensing, closed position relative to the closure body  54  and the latch portions  60  and  64  (visible in  FIG. 5 ) oriented in a confronting relationship in the latched configuration. The interior wall  140  of the lid  56  seals against, and around, the circumference of the spout  80  to occlude the orifice  84  and prevent leakage of the fluent substance with the lid  56  in the closed position. In the latched configuration, the flat top surface  132  of the second latch portion  64  is somewhat spaced from the bottom surface  106  of the first latch portion  60  and is located in a confronting relationship sufficient to prevent, or at least minimize, the likelihood of the inadvertent opening of the lid  56  during shipping or handling of the package, or from increased pressures that may be developed within the package. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the user can open the closure  40  by gripping the closure body  54  and/or the container  44  (visible in  FIG. 1 ) and initially pressing with a thumb or finger against the recessed press portion  58  at a location below the projection  124 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the user will overcome the inherent stiffness the recessed press portion  58  when a sufficient pre-determined force is applied to the recessed press portion  58  to deflect it laterally inwards a sufficient lateral distance such that the second latch portion  64  clears the first latch portion  60  as shown in  FIG. 6 . More specifically, the deflection of the press portion  58  moves the recess  136  away from the first latch portion  60  such that the latch portion flat surfaces  106  and  132  are no longer in a confronting relationship. As the user presses against the recessed press portion  58  with the lid  56  in the closed position, (1) the point of rotation of the recessed press portion  58  and the projection  124  are located axially outward of the axis of rotation of the hinge  66 , while (2) the first and second latch portions  60  and  64  are located axially inward of the axis of rotation of the hinge  66 . 
     With the reference to  FIG. 7 , while the user presses the recessed press portion  58  laterally inwardly, the user may subsequently apply an axially outwardly (e.g., upward) force to the lid  56  then to lift the lid  56  to rotate it about the hinge  66  into an open position. The resiliency of the recessed press portion  58  will return it laterally outwardly to its as-molded position as the user decreases the force applied against it. The user may continue to rotate the lid  56  about the hinge  66  a sufficient degree such that the interior cylindrical wall  140  of the lid  56  disengages from around the spout  80  to expose the dispensing orifice  84  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     The user may grasp and squeeze the flexible, resilient container  44  to partially collapse, or otherwise reduce the internal volume of the container  44 , to pressurize the fluent substance contained therein. In some situations, the user may also invert the container  44 . In any event, during dispensing of the fluent substance, the fluent substance initially enters into the interior volume of the closure body  54 , travels through the through passage  76 , and exits the closure  40  from the exposed orifice  84 . 
     When the user ceases to squeeze (i.e., pressurize) the container  44 , the outward flow of the fluent substance terminates, and the substance may even be sucked back toward the container  44  by a temporary lower pressure within the container  44  (e.g., if the container has resilient walls that return from a “squeezed in” configuration to the normal, nondeformed configuration). This may allow some or all of the residual fluent substance within the spout  80  to be forced by the greater ambient air pressure back through the closure  40  and toward the container  44  to help maintain the overall cleanliness of the package. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , after dispensing a fluent substance through the closure  40 , the user may then return the lid  56  to the closed position by rotating the lid  56  about the hinge  66  relative to the closure body  54  such that the lid cylindrical wall  140  re-seals around the spout  80  of the closure body  54 . 
     The first and second latch portions  60  and  64  are advantageously self-actuating as the lid  56  is moved from an open position into the closed position, whereby the user or manufacturer does not need to apply any special force to the lid  56  in addition to the normal lid closing force, or perform any special action to engage the latch portions  60  and  64 . The first and second latch portions  60  and  64  are reusable and do not require the user to discard any frangible parts or extra packaging (e.g., adhesive seals, foils, or tapes) while simultaneously securing the lid  56  against a likelihood of inadvertently moving into an open position during transit or handling, or storage at elevated pressures and/or temperatures. 
     A second embodiment of a closure according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-14  and is designated generally by the numeral  40 A. The numbered features of the second embodiment of the closure  40 A illustrated in  FIGS. 10-14  are designated generally with the suffix letter “A” and are analogous to features of the first embodiment of the closure  40  that share the same number (without the suffix letter “A”). As with the first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 , the second embodiment of the closure  40 A includes the basic components of a closure body  54 A and a lid  56 A movably mounted atop the closure body  54 A. The closure body  54 A is unitarily molded with the lid  56 A and connected thereto by a hinge  66 A. Similarly, the closure body  54 A is provided with a first latch portion  60 A and the lid  56 A is provided with a recessed press portion  58 A having a second latch portion  64 A at the distal, cantilevered end thereof. The first and second latch portions  60 A and  64 A cooperate in a latched configuration to prevent movement of the lid  56 A away from a closed position over the closure body  54 A. Further, the closure body  54 A is provided with a plurality of downwardly-extending walls  90 A, the internal surfaces of which define a channel, recess or aperture  94 A in the deck  74 A, and which is located generally on an opposite side of the closure body  54 A with respect to the hinge  66 A. The second illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 A operates in an identical manner as described in detail above with respect to the first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 , with one notable exception, discussed in detail below, relating to an integral spring-bias feature for biasing the first and second latch portions  60 A and  64 A together. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the second embodiment of the closure  40 A differs from the first embodiment of the closure  40  in that the second embodiment of the closure  40 A includes a rectangular, tab-like protrusion or resilient spring member  200 A that extends laterally outwardly from the portion of the wall  90 A that is opposite of the first latch portion  60 A of the closure body  54 A. The spring member  200 A includes a central reinforcing rib  204 A extending along a majority of the length of the spring member  200 A (visible in  FIG. 11 ). The spring member  200 A has an as-molded configuration that extends into the aperture  94 A a sufficient distance to contact and bias the second latch portion  64 A of the lid  56 A when the lid  56 A is closed. As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , with the lid  56 A closed and the lid  56 A and closure body  54 A in their latched configuration, a distal end of the spring member  200 A contacts a back surface  208 A of the second latch portion  64 A. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , when the recessed press portion  58 A is pressed laterally inwardly by a user, the back surface  208 A of the second latch portion  64 A is pressed against the spring member  200 A and deflects the spring member  200 A laterally inwardly. As with the first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 , the lid  56 A of the second illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 A may be lifted open by the user with the recessed press portion  58 A depressed or deflected sufficiently laterally inwardly to move the second latch portion  64 A away from it confronting relationship with the first latch portion  60 A. 
     The inventor has found that the provision of a closure  40 A having a spring member  200 A to bias the first and second latch portions  60 A and  64 A together in the latched configuration may be especially advantageous in preventing inadvertent opening of the lid  56 A during the shipping and handling of the closure  40 A attached to a container of a substance. Depending on the material or materials selected for the resilient press portion  58 A, the inherent resiliency of the material or materials may not be sufficient to ensure that the first and second latch portions  60 A and  64 A maintain their confronting relationship in the latched configuration when the closure  40 A is subjected to impact forces or vibrations that may inadvertently urge the lid  56 A open. Therefore, the spring member  200 A provides an additional resistive force to decrease the likelihood that impact forces or vibrations would inadvertently urge the lid  56 A from the closed position to an open position. It will be understood that the size and/or shape of the spring member  200 A and the rib  204 A, and the material or materials of the closure  40 A, may be selected to provide a user-friendly amount of resistance for actuation and opening of the closure  40 A. For example, multiple ribs  204 A or no rib  204 A may be necessary in some applications, depending on the material or materials used. 
     A third embodiment of a closure according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 15-19  and is designated generally by the numeral  40 B. The numbered features of the third embodiment of the closure  40 B illustrated in  FIGS. 15-19  are designated generally with the suffix letter “B” and are analogous to features of the first embodiment of the closure  40  and the second embodiment of the closure  40 A that share the same number (without the suffix letter “B”). As with the first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 , the third embodiment of the closure  40 B includes the basic components of a closure body  54 B and a lid  56 B movably mounted atop the closure body  54 B. The closure body  54 B is unitarily molded with the lid  56 B and connected thereto by a hinge  66 B. Similarly, the closure body  54 B is provided with a first latch portion  60 B and the lid  56 B is provided with a recessed press portion  58 B having a second latch portion  64 B, the first and second latch portions  60 B and  64 B cooperating in the closure&#39;s latched configuration to prevent movement of the lid  56 B away from a closed position over the closure body  54 B. Further, the closure body  54 B is provided with a plurality of downwardly-extending walls  90 B, the internal surfaces of which define a channel, recess or aperture  94 B in the deck  74 B, and the recess  94 B is located generally on an opposite side of the closure body  54 B from the hinge  66 B. The third illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 B operates in an identical manner as described in detail above with respect to the first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 , with one notable exception, discussed in detail below, relating to a spring-bias feature for biasing the first and second latch portions  60 B and  64 B together. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 15 and 18 , the third embodiment of the closure  40 B includes a partially spherical, dome-like protrusion or spring member  200 B that extends laterally outwardly from the portion of one of the walls  90 B that is opposite of the first latch portion  60 B of the closure body  54 B. The spring member  200 B has a concave interior side and a convex exterior side facing the first latch portion  60 B, as best viewed in  FIG. 18 . The spring member  200 B has an as-molded configuration that extends into the aperture  94 B a sufficient distance to contact and bias the second latch portion  64 B of the lid  56 B laterally outwardly when the lid  56 B is located in its closed position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , with the first and second latch portions  60 B and  64 B in their confronting relationship in the latched configuration of the lid  56  and the closure body  54 , the convex side of the spring member  200 B contacts a rear or back surface  208 B of the second latch portion  64 B. As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , when the recessed press portion  58 B is pressed inwardly by a user, the back surface  208 B of the second latch portion  64 B of the lid  56 B is pressed against, and deflects inwardly, the spring member  200 B. As with the first illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 , the lid  56 B of the third illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 B may be lifted open by the user with the recessed press portion  58 B depressed or deflected sufficiently laterally inwardly to move the second latch portion  64 B out of its confronting relationship with the first latch portion  60 B. 
     The inventor has found that the provision of a closure  40 B having dome-like spring member  200 B to bias the first and second latch portions  60 B and  64 B in the latched configuration may be especially advantageous in preventing inadvertent opening of the lid  56 B during the shipping and handling of the closure  40 B attached to a container of a substance. Depending on the material or materials selected for the resilient press portion  58 B, the inherent resiliency of the material or materials may not be sufficient to ensure that the latch portions  60 B and  64 B maintain the latched configuration when the closure  40 B is subjected to impact forces or vibrations that may inadvertently urge the lid  56 B open. Therefore, the spring member  200 B provides an additional resistive force to decrease the likelihood that impact forces or vibrations would inadvertently urge the lid  56 B from the closed position to an open position. It will be understood that the shape and/or size of the spring member  200 B, and the material or materials of the closure  40 B, may be selected to provide a user-friendly amount of resistance for actuation and opening of the closure  40 B. The third embodiment of the closure  40 B having a partially spherical spring member  200 B may be more easily and economically manufactured as compared to the second embodiment of the closure  40 A having a multi-faceted, tab-like spring member  200 A. 
     It will be appreciated that in one alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the recessed press portion may be located on the closure body instead of being located on the lid. The first and second latch portions would be reversed, or otherwise modified, to account for a user&#39;s engagement and deflection of a portion of the closure body instead of the lid to effect relative lateral movement of the first and second latch portions. Specifically, in such a design, a user would press against the recessed press portion on the body to deflect it, causing the latch portion at the end of the recessed press portion to move inwardly toward an unlatched configuration relative to the relatively stationary latch portion located on the lid. It will be understood that such an arrangement of the recessed press portion on the closure body, instead of the lid, may require two-handed operation by the user to (1) unlatch the lid from the body, and (2) open the lid, and such two-handed operation may be less advantageous to a user compared to the illustrated embodiments, but may still have the advantage of minimizing the likelihood of the inadvertent opening of the lid during transit (i.e., shipment of the package from the manufacturer to the ultimate end user). 
     A presently preferred fourth embodiment of a closure according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 20  and is designated generally by the numeral  40 C. The numbered features of the fourth embodiment of the closure  40 C illustrated in  FIG. 20  are designated generally with the suffix letter “C” and are analogous to features of the third embodiment of the closure  40 B that share the same number (without the suffix letter “B”). As with the third illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 B, the fourth embodiment of the closure  40 C includes the basic components of a closure body  54 C and a lid  56 C movably mounted atop the closure body  54 C. The closure body  54 C is unitarily molded with the lid  56 C and connected thereto by a hinge  66 C. Similarly, the closure body  54 C is provided with a first latch portion  60 C and the lid  56 C is provided with a recessed press portion  58 C having a second latch portion  64 C, the first and second latch portions  60 C and  64 C cooperating in the closure&#39;s latched configuration to prevent movement of the lid  56 C away from a closed position over the closure body  54 C. Further, the closure body  54 C is provided with a plurality of downwardly-extending walls  90 C, the internal surfaces of which define a channel, recess or aperture  94 C in the deck  74 C, and the recess  94 C is located generally on an opposite side of the closure body  54 C from the hinge  66 C. The fourth illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 C operates in an identical manner as described in detail above with respect to the third illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 B, with one notable exception, discussed in detail below, relating to a spring-bias feature for biasing the first and second latch portions  60 C and  64 C together. 
     With reference to  FIG. 20 , the fourth embodiment of the closure  40 C includes a partially spherical, dome-like protrusion or spring member  200 C that extends laterally outwardly from the portion of one of the walls  90 C that is opposite of the first latch portion  60 C of the closure body  54 C. The spring member  200 C has a concave interior side and a convex exterior side facing the first latch portion  60 C. The spring member  200 C has an as-molded configuration that extends into the aperture  94 C a sufficient distance to contact and bias the second latch portion  64 C of the lid  56 C laterally outwardly when the lid  56 C is located in its closed position. The spring member  200 C is further provided with a pair of semi-circular cutouts  210 C located on either side of the area of contact between the spring member  200 C and the second latch portion  64 C of the lid  56 C when the lid  56 C is located in the closed position. The cutouts  210 C permit the spring force of the spring member  200 C to be decreased or tuned compared to the third embodiment of the closure  40 B. It will be understood that the size, shape, and location of the cutouts  210 C may be selected depending on the spring force or biasing force required for the particular application. 
     A fifth embodiment of a closure according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 21  and is designated generally by the numeral  40 D. The numbered features of the fifth embodiment of the closure  40 D illustrated in  FIG. 21  are designated generally with the suffix letter “D” and are analogous to features of the fourth embodiment of the closure  40 C that share the same number (without the suffix letter “C”). As with the fourth illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 C, the fifth embodiment of the closure  40 D includes the basic components of a closure body  54 D and a lid  56 D movably mounted atop the closure body  54 D. The closure body  54 D is unitarily molded with the lid  56 D and connected thereto by a hinge  66 D. Similarly, the closure body  54 D is provided with a first latch portion  60 D and the lid  56 D is provided with a recessed press portion  58 D having a second latch portion  64 D, the first and second latch portions  60 D and  64 D cooperating in the closure&#39;s latched configuration to prevent movement of the lid  56 D away from a closed position over the closure body  54 D. Further, the closure body  54 D is provided with a plurality of downwardly-extending walls  90 D, the internal surfaces of which define a channel, recess or aperture  94 D in the deck  74 D, and the recess  94 D is located generally on an opposite side of the closure body  54 D from the hinge  66 D. The fifth illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 D operates in an identical manner as described in detail above with respect to the third illustrated embodiment of the closure  40 B, with one notable exception, discussed in detail below, relating to a spring-bias feature for biasing the first and second latch portions  60 D and  64 D together. 
     With reference to  FIG. 21 , the fifth embodiment of the closure  40 D includes a partially spherical, dome-like protrusion or spring member  200 D that extends laterally outwardly from the portion of one of the walls  90 D that is opposite of the first latch portion  60 D of the closure body  54 D. The spring member  200 D has a concave interior side and a convex exterior side facing the first latch portion  60 D. The spring member  200 D has an as-molded configuration that extends into the aperture  94 D a sufficient distance to contact and bias the second latch portion  64 D of the lid  56 D laterally outwardly when the lid  56 D is located in its closed position. The spring member  200 D is further provided with an elongate central slot or cutout  210 D at the area of contact between the spring member  200 D and the second latch portion  64 D of the lid  56 D when the lid  56 D is located in the closed position. The cutout  210 D permits the spring force of the spring member  200 D to be decreased or tuned in a different manner compared to the fourth embodiment of the closure  40 C. It will be understood that the length, width, shape, and location of the cutout  210 D may be selected depending on the spring force or biasing force required for the particular application. 
     Various modifications and alterations to this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Illustrative embodiments and examples are provided as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.