Patent ID: 7198180

Claim:
A container closure that is attachable to a container to cover over an opening of the container, the container closure comprising: a base having opposite interior and exterior surfaces and an orifice passing through the base interior and exterior surfaces, the base interior surface being attachable to the container with the base orifice aligned with the container opening; a valve retainer attached to the base interior surface around the base orifice; and, a tubular valve element positioned between the base interior surface and the valve retainer, the valve element having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions, the valve element being movable radially while being axially stationary relative to both the base and the valve retainer, the valve element moving radially between a closed position and an opened position where in the closed position the valve element engages the base interior surface and blocks communication of the base orifice with the opening of the container attached to the closure, and in the opened position the valve element is displaced from the base interior surface and opens communication of the base orifice with the opening of the container attached to the closure, and the valve element being biased to the closed position.