Patent ID: 8540121

Claim:
A dispensing actuator for a container that has a dispensing valve for dispensing a fluent product, wherein the dispensing valve is normally biased from an actuated, open dispensing position to a closed position, said dispensing actuator comprising: a dispensing actuator base for extending from said container at said dispensing valve; a lid including a hinge connecting said lid with said dispensing actuator base to accommodate movement of said lid between: (1) a closed position, and (2) an opened position to permit the dispensing of a product from said container; an opening element mounted on said dispensing actuator base for linear movement with respect thereto from a closed position to an opened position, said opening element being engageable with said lid, so that generally lateral movement of said opening element from said closed position to said opened position moves said lid from said closed position thereof toward said opened position thereof; and an actuating element on said dispensing actuator base, said actuating element being accessible when said lid is in said opened position thereof, said actuating element being resiliently deflectable, so that downward, deflecting movement of said actuating element operates said dispensing valve to thereby permit dispensing of the fluent product within said container through a dispensing orifice defined by said dispensing actuator; said opening element includes a proximal, button portion configured for manipulation to urge said opening element from said closed position toward said opened position thereof, said opening element including at least one distal, pusher portion, generally opposite said proximal portion, engageable with said lid as said opening element moves from said closed position to said opened position to move said lid from the closed position thereof toward the opened position thereof; said pusher portion being positioned in fixed relationship with respect to said proximal portion for linear movement with said proximal portion as said opening element is moved linearly with respect to said dispensing actuator base; wherein said hinge for said lid of said dispensing actuator includes a pair of spaced-apart hinge elements, said dispensing orifice being positioned on said dispensing actuator base to direct the substance being dispensed generally between said hinge elements; said opening element includes a pair of distal, pusher portions respectively engageable with said pair of hinge elements.