ELASTIC DISPENSING CLOSURE AND PACKAGE

Abstract

An elastic dispensing closure includes an outer closure stand at least partially circumferentially surrounding an inner elastic dispensing element, which includes an open end establishing an inlet, an elastic sidewall extending axially away from the open end and establishing a reservoir, and a normally-closed end terminating the elastic sidewall and having an outlet. The stand includes a container support annulus, and a radially outer skirt extending away from the container support annulus and terminating in a rest surface establishing a support open end of the outer closure stand. A package includes the elastic dispensing closure and a rigid container including a container closed end, a sidewall extending away from the container closed end, and a container open end terminating the sidewall and coupled to the elastic dispensing closure.

Claims

1. An elastic dispensing package, comprising: a rigid container including a closed end, a sidewall extending away from the closed end, and a container open end terminating the sidewall; and an elastic dispensing closure coupled to the container open end of the rigid container, and including an inner elastic dispensing element, and an outer closure stand at least partially circumferentially surrounding the inner elastic dispensing element and terminating in a package rest surface establishing a support open end of the outer closure stand, wherein the elastic dispensing package is restable on the package rest surface of the outer closure stand in an inverted position of the rigid container.

2. The elastic dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the rigid container is composed of glass and at least the inner elastic dispensing element of the elastic dispensing closure is composed of an elastomeric polymer.

3. An elastic dispensing closure, comprising: an inner elastic dispensing element including an open end establishing an inlet through which a longitudinal axis extends, an elastic sidewall extending axially away from the open end and establishing a reservoir, and a normally-closed end terminating the elastic sidewall and having an outlet; and an outer closure stand at least partially circumferentially surrounding the inner elastic dispensing element and including a container support annulus, and a radially outer skirt extending away from the container support annulus and terminating in a rest surface establishing a support open end of the outer closure stand.

4. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, further comprising: a cover coupled to the outer closure stand and that establishes a planar rest surface on which the elastic dispensing closure is restable in an inverted orientation.

5. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 4, wherein the cover includes a portion in contact with the normally-closed end of the inner elastic dispensing element.

6. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the outlet is openable and closeable, such that when the inner elastic dispensing element is manually squeezed the elastic sidewall moves from a relaxed state to a deformed state and the outlet opens to permit fluent material to be actively pumped out of the reservoir of the inner elastic dispensing element, and when the inner elastic dispensing element is manually released the elastic sidewall moves back from the deformed state to the relaxed state.

7. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 6, wherein when the inner elastic dispensing element is manually released the outlet closes to prevent flow of fluent material out of the reservoir of the inner elastic dispensing element.

8. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the rest surface extends axially beyond the outlet of the normally-closed end of the inner elastic dispensing element.

9. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the rest surface of the radially outer skirt of the outer closure stand establishes a planar rest surface on which the elastic dispensing closure is restable in an inverted orientation.

10. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the inner elastic dispensing element is configured to hold a volume of fluent product therein, and is configured dispense at least a portion of the volume of the fluent product through the outlet upon manual compression of the inner elastic dispensing element.

11. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, further comprising: a closure coupling ring including a base wall engaged with the open end of the inner elastic dispensing element and having a central aperture through which a portion of the inner elastic dispensing element extends, and a skirt extending away from the base wall and having a radially inner surface carrying a container coupling element, and a radially outer surface releasably received in the container support annulus of the outer closure stand.

12. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 11, wherein the outer closure stand further includes a radially inner dispensing element container.

13. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 12, wherein a portion of the normally-closed end of the inner elastic dispensing element rests against a corresponding portion of the radially inner dispensing element container.

14. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the outer closure stand includes one or more apertures extending transversely through the radially outer skirt to provide finger access to the inner elastic dispensing element.

15. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the container support annulus of the outer closure stand includes a base wall engaged with the open end of the inner elastic dispensing element and having a central aperture through which a portion of the inner elastic dispensing element extends, and a radially inner surface carrying a container coupling element.

16. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the inner elastic dispensing element and the outer closure stand are unitary.

17. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 16, wherein the inner elastic dispensing element and the outer closure stand are integrally molded as a single component.

18. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 16, wherein the container support annulus of the outer closure stand has a container coupling open end and wherein the open end of the inner elastic dispensing element is spaced axially away from the support open end of the outer closure stand.

19. An elastic dispensing package, comprising: the elastic dispensing closure of claim 3; and a rigid container including a container closed end, a sidewall extending away from the container closed end, and a container open end terminating the sidewall and coupled to the elastic dispensing closure.

20. A method of containing and dispensing fluent product out of an elastic dispensing package, comprising: containing a fluent product in a container that includes a base, a sidewall extending away from the base, and an open end terminating the sidewall; resting the elastic dispensing package on an outer closure stand of a dispensing closure such that the container rests in an inverted position with the open end below the base; inverting the container so that the open end is below the base; and squeezing an inner elastic dispensing element of the elastic dispensing package coupled to the open end of the container to pump the fluent product out of the container and through the outer closure stand.

21. An elastic dispensing closure, comprising: a manual pumping means for manually pumping a fluent product flowing from an open end of the manual pumping means toward a normally-closed end of the manual pumping means and out of an outlet of the normally-closed end; and a supporting means for supporting the elastic dispensing closure in a position where the normally-closed end is below the open end and including a container coupling open end and a support open end.

22. The elastic dispensing closure of claim 21, wherein the support open end has a circumference greater than that of the container coupling open end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an elastic dispensing package in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, and including a bottle and an elastic dispensing closure to be coupled to the bottle and including a bulb, a closure coupling ring to couple the bulb to the bottle, and a closure stand to support the package and close the bulb.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispensing package subassembly being lifted out of the closure stand.

[0005] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing package subassembly resting in the closure stand.

[0006] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the elastic dispensing package of FIG. 3.

[0007] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an elastic dispensing package in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, and including the bottle, the bulb, and a closure stand to couple the bulb to the bottle and to support the package in an inverted orientation of the bottle.

[0008] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dispensing package with the bottle uncoupled from the bulb and the stand and closure coupling.

[0009] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dispensing package lifted away from a support surface and arrows indicating how a user squeezes the bulb to dispense fluent product from the package.

[0010] FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the elastic dispensing package of FIG. 7.

[0011] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an elastic dispensing package in accordance with a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, and including a bottle, and a unitary bulb and stand, and a cover for the dispensing closure and to support the package in an inverted orientation of the bottle.

[0012] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dispensing package with the bottle coupled to the unitary bulb and stand and shown with arrows to indicate how a user squeezes the unitary bulb and stand to dispense fluent product from the package.

[0013] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the dispensing package with the cover configured to be coupled to the unitary bulb and stand.

[0014] FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the elastic dispensing package of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] An elastic dispensing closure and a related elastic dispensing package are described below with reference to applications for dispensing food condiments, but the presently disclosed closure and package are suitable for dispensing any fluent material, including liquids, fluent solids, semi-solid/semi-liquid materials, and/or the like. The presently disclosed elastic dispensing closure generally includes an inner elastic dispensing element establishing a reservoir configured to hold fluent material supplied from a glass container and an outer closure stand at least partially circumferentially surrounding the dispensing element and configured to support the glass container in an inverted position. The dispensing element is manually squeezable by a user to dispense the fluent material out of the glass container, without having to squeeze the glass container, which, of course, is not elastic because it is rigid. Accordingly, the presently disclosed dispensing closure facilitates provision of dispensing packages including glass containers, or even metal or plastic containers with thick-walled bodies that are configured to be rigid and not elastic upon manual squeezing thereof. Likewise, the container is illustrated and disclosed as a bottle, but the container may be a jar, jug, or any other suitable type of container.

[0016] With specific reference now to the drawing figures, FIGS. 1 and 4 show an illustrative embodiment of an elastic dispensing package 10 including a rigid container 12 and an elastic dispensing closure 14 coupled to the container 12. In contrast to prior elastic dispensing packages having elastic dispensing containers, which, upon manual squeezing of the containers, flex an amount sufficient to dispense fluent product out of the packages of which such containers are a part, the presently disclosed container is rigid and, thus, is not elastic. Instead, the presently disclosed closure 14 itself is elastic to render the presently disclosed package 10 elastic. As used herein, the terminology rigid container includes a container having one or more walls or portions that cannot be distorted from a rest position to a distorted position by application of a user's manual force to expel fluent material therefrom and, likewise, does not return to the rest position when the force is removed. In contrast, as used herein, the terminology elastic dispensing closure includes a closure having one or more walls or portions that are distorted from a rest position to a distorted position by application of a user's manual force to expel fluent material therefrom and, likewise, return to the rest position when the force is removed.

[0017] The container 12 includes a closed end 16, a sidewall 18 extending away from the closed end 16, and an open end 20 terminating the sidewall. The sidewall 18 may include a neck 22 that may include one or more closure engagement elements 24, for example, one or more threads, lugs, or the like. The container 12 may be composed of glass, ceramic, metal, plastic, or any other material configured as a rigid container, but not as an elastic dispensing container.

[0018] The dispensing closure 14 is configured to be coupled to the open end 20 of the container 12, and includes an inner elastic dispensing element 26, a closure coupling ring 28 coupled to the container 12 to couple the dispensing element 26 to the container 12, and an outer closure stand 30 that may at least partially circumferentially surround the dispensing element 26 and at least a portion of the coupling ring 28. The container 12, the dispensing element 26, and the coupling ring 28 may constitute a dispensing package subassembly apart from the closure stand 30, which may be a component separate from the subassembly. The dispensing element 26 may be composed of rubber, an elastomeric polymer or any other polymeric material, or any other material suitable for use as an elastic dispensing component that, upon manual squeezing, flexes from a rest state an amount sufficient to dispense fluent product out of the 10 package of which such a component is a part and, upon release of the manual squeezing, elastically returns to the rest state. In one example, the dispensing element 26 may be composed of a silicone polymer, or any other elastomeric or polymeric material, or any other material suitable for use as an elastic dispensing component. The coupling ring 28 may be composed of glass, ceramic, plastic or any other polymeric material, metal, or any other material suitable for use in coupling an elastic element to a rigid container. In one example, the coupling ring 28 may be composed of polypropylene. The closure stand 30 may be composed of plastic or any other polymeric material, glass, ceramic, metal, or any other material suitable for use as a package-supporting component that, upon resting of the package 10 in the inverted position of the container 12 as shown, is capable of maintaining the package 10 in such an inverted rest position. In fact, the closure stand 30 even may be composed of an elastomeric material so long as the wall thickness and/or other parameters of the closure stand 30 are configured to maintain the package 10 in the inverted rest position without buckling, collapse, or other such failure of the closure stand 30.

[0019] The dispensing element 26 is illustrated in the form of a bulb, but may take the form of a bellows, or any other configuration suitable for use as an elastic dispensing element. As used herein, the terminology elastic dispensing element includes a product having one or more walls or portions that may be distorted from a rest position to a distorted position by application of a user's manual force to expel fluent material therefrom and that return to the rest position when the force is removed. Notably, the resilience of the element may be internal or inherent to material composition and/or configuration of the element, or may be external or imposed to the element by a spring or any other biasing element (not shown) suitable for use in dispensing any particular fluent material. The dispensing element 26 or at least portions thereof may be formed of an resiliently flexible or elastic material, or the dispensing element 26 may include rigid members connected together by pliant material. The dispensing element 26 has an internal volume that is varied by manually distorting all or a portion of the dispensing element 26, whereby a resulting increase in pressure within the internal volume is used to move the fluent material to be dispensed.

[0020] The dispensing element 26 includes an open end 32 establishing an inlet through which a longitudinal axis A extends, an elastic sidewall 34 extending axially away from the open end 32, circumferentially surrounding the axis A, and establishing a reservoir, and a normally-closed end 36 terminating the sidewall 34 and establishing an outlet. At the open end 32, the dispensing element 26 may include a radially outwardly extending flange 38 that may be trapped between the coupling ring 28 and the container 12. The flange 38 may serve as part of a means for coupling the dispensing element 26 to the container 12 via the coupling element 28, and/or may serve as a means for sealing the dispensing element 26 to the container 12 via the coupling element 28. Although not separately shown, a separate seal, for example, an O-ring, may be used between the dispensing element 26 and the container 12 and/or between the coupling ring 28 and the container 12. At least the sidewall 34 of the dispensing element 26 may have a wall thickness that is less than a wall thickness of the coupling ring 28. The dispensing element 26 may have a major outer diameter, for example, the major outer diameter of the sidewall 34, that may be larger than a minor inner diameter of the open end 20 of the container 12, for instance, a mouth opening of the neck 22. The dispensing element 26 is configured to hold a volume of fluent product therein, and is configured dispense at least a portion of the volume of fluent product through the outlet upon manual compression of the dispensing element 26. The normally-closed end 36 of the element may include a collection well 40 that is stepped down from the sidewall 34, and the outlet may be an aperture, a slit, an intersection of slits, or any other outlet configuration suitable for use in dispensing fluent product therefrom. In any case, the outlet may be openable and closeable, such that when the dispensing element 26 is manually squeezed, the sidewall 34 moves from a relaxed state to a deformed state, for instance, radially inwardly, and the outlet opens to permit fluent material to be actively pumped out of the reservoir of the dispensing element 26. Conversely, when the dispensing element 26 is manually released, the sidewall 34 moves back from the deformed state to the relaxed state. Accordingly, when the dispensing element 26 is manually released, the outlet may close to prevent flow of fluent material out of the reservoir of the dispensing element 26. The dispensing element 26 may constitute one example of a manual pumping means for manually pumping a fluent product flowing from the open end 32 of the dispensing element 26 toward the normally-closed end 36 of the dispensing element 26 and out of the outlet of the normally-closed end 36 of the dispensing element 26.

[0021] The coupling ring 28 includes a base wall 42 engaged with the open end 32 of the container 12, for instance, the flange 38, of the dispensing element 26, and a skirt 44 extending away from the base wall 42. The base wall 42 has a central aperture 46 through which a portion of the dispensing element 26 extends. The skirt 44 has a radially inner surface 48 carrying a container coupling element 50 (or multiple such elements), and a radially outer surface 52 releasably received in the closure stand 30. The radially outer surface 52 may be cylindrical or, as illustrated, may be tapered for easy insertion and removal from the closure stand 30. The container coupling element 50 may include one or more threads, lugs, or the like that cooperate with the one or more closure engagement elements 24 of the container 12.

[0022] The closure stand 30 includes a container support annulus 54, and a radially outer shroud or skirt 56 extending away from the container support annulus 54 and terminating in a package rest surface 58 establishing a rest or support open end 60 of the closure stand 30 on which the dispensing closure 14 is restable in an inverted orientation. The support open end 60 may have a circumference greater than that of the container support annulus 54. The package 10 is restable on the package rest surface 58 of the closure stand 30 in an inverted position of the container 12. The package rest surface 58 extends axially beyond the outlet of the normally-closed end 36 of the dispensing element 26. The container support annulus 54 may include a radially inner surface 62 that may be cylindrical or, as illustrated, may be tapered inwardly for easy receipt and removal of the dispensing subassembly from the closure stand 30. The container support annulus 54 may have a container coupling open end 64, and the open end 32 of the dispensing element 26 is spaced axially away from the container coupling open end 64 of the closure stand 30. The skirt 56 may be cylindrical or, as illustrated, may be tapered outwardly for good stability. The closure stand 30 also may include a radially inner dispensing element container 66, for example, to collect any drips of the fluent material from the dispensing element 26. Also, with reference to FIG. 3, a portion of the normally-closed end 36 of the dispensing element 26 may rest against a corresponding closed portion of the dispensing element container 66 of the closure stand 30. More specifically, the dispensing element container 66 may include a projection 68 that corresponds with the outlet of the dispensing element 26. The closure stand 30 may constitute one example of a supporting means for supporting the dispensing closure 14 in a position where the normally-closed end 36 is below the open end 32 of the dispensing element 26.

[0023] In use, and with reference to FIG. 2, a user grasps the container 12 with a first hand, lifts the dispensing subassembly out of the closure stand 30, translates the dispensing assembly to a desired location, grasps the dispensing element 26 with fingers of a second hand, and squeezes the dispensing element 26 with those fingers to dispense fluent material out of the dispensing subassembly. Of course, fluent material may be provided from the container 12 to the dispensing element 26 via gravity, and the fluent material is pumped out of the dispensing element 26 upon the user squeezing the dispensing element 26. Once a desired amount of dispensing is complete, the user stops squeezing the dispensing element 26 with the second hand, translates the dispensing assembly over the closure stand 30 with the first hand, lowers the dispensing assembly into the closure stand 30, and releases the container 12 with the first hand. Of course, when the dispensing element 26 is manually released, the elastic sidewall resiliently returns or moves back from the deformed state to the relaxed state, drawing air therein in the process.

[0024] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate another illustrative embodiment of an elastic dispensing package 110. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 and like numerals between the embodiments generally designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, the descriptions of the embodiments are hereby incorporated into one another, and description of subject matter common to the embodiments generally may not be repeated.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, the package 110 includes the container 12 and an elastic dispensing closure 114 coupled to the container 12 and including an outer closure stand 130 and the dispensing element 26 coupled to the container 12 by the closure stand 130. In this embodiment, the closure stand 130 may be carried by the container 12 along with the dispensing element 26, instead of being a separate component. For example, the stand 130 may be coupled directly to the container 12. More specifically, the stand 130 may include a container support annulus 154 that may have a radially inner surface 148 with one or more container engagement elements 150 coupled to the closure engagement elements 24 of the container 12. Accordingly, the dispensing element 26 may be coupled to the container 12 by the closure stand 130 itself with no need for a separate closure coupling ring. Also in this embodiment, the closure stand 130 may be apertured to allow access to the dispensing element 26. More specifically, the stand 130 may include a radially outer skirt 156 extending away from the container support annulus 154 and having one or more apertures 157 extending transversely through the radially outer skirt 156 to provide finger access to the dispensing element 26. In any case, the radially outer skirt 156 terminates in a package rest surface 158 establishing a rest or support open end 160 of the stand 130 on which the dispensing closure 114 and package 110 is restable in an inverted orientation of the container 12 and through which the fluent product is dispensed.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 7, this embodiment may facilitate one-handed use of the package 110, in which a user grasps the skirt 156 of the stand 130 with a hand, lifts the package 110 off of a rest surface, translates the package 110 to a desired location, applies fingers of the same hand through the one or more apertures 157 of the skirt 156, and squeezes the dispensing element 26 with those fingers to dispense fluent material out of the package 110. Once a desired amount of dispensing is complete, the user stops squeezing the dispensing element 26, translates the package 110 to a desired location, lowers the package 110 onto the rest surface 158, and releases the skirt 156 of the stand 130. Of course, when the dispensing element 26 is manually released, the elastic sidewall resiliently returns or moves back from the deformed state to the relaxed state, drawing air therein in the process.

[0027] FIGS. 9-12 illustrate another illustrative embodiment of an elastic dispensing package 210. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8 and like numerals between the embodiments generally designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, the descriptions of the embodiments are hereby incorporated into one another, and description of subject matter common to the embodiments generally may not be repeated.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 12, the package 210 includes the container 12 and an elastic dispensing closure 270 coupled to the container 12 and a cover 272 to cover the dispensing closure 270. The dispensing closure 270 includes an inner elastic dispensing element 226 and an outer closure stand 230 coupled to the container 12. In this embodiment, the dispensing element 226 and the stand 230 are unitary. For instance, the dispensing element 226 and the stand 230 may be integrally molded as a single component. In a specific example, the dispensing element 226 and the stand 230 may be molded from the same material, for example, an elastomeric material. In another specific example, the dispensing element 226 may be co-molded (or co-injection molded) with the stand 230, over-molded (or insert-molded) onto the stand 230, or molded according to any other suitable molding method. Alternatively, the stand 230 first may be injection molded and the dispensing element 226 assembled and/or adhered to the stand 230 in a subsequent manufacturing step. If co-molding, over-molding, or like methods are used, it may be desirable that the polymer used to form the dispensing element 226 be compatible with, and capable of adhering to, the polymer used to form the stand 230. The dispensing element 226 includes an open end 232 establishing an inlet, an elastic sidewall 234 extending axially away from the open end 232, and establishing a reservoir, and a normally-closed end 236 terminating the sidewall 234 and establishing an outlet.

[0029] Also in this embodiment, the cover 272 may include a base wall 274, an outer skirt 276 extending away from the base wall 274, and a sealing portion 278 extending away from the base wall 274 at a location radially inward of the outer skirt 276 to seal with the normally-closed end 236 of the dispensing element 226. The outer skirt 276 may circumscribe a corresponding outer surface of a skirt 256 of the stand 230, for example, in an interference or snap fit arrangement, or may be coupled to the closure stand 230 in any other suitable manner. The cover 272 may be unitary with the rest of the closure, for example, connected via an integral living hinge, or, as illustrated, may be a separate component that may be snap-fit or coupled in any other suitable manner to the rest of the dispensing closure 270. The base wall 274 of the cover 272 may establish a planar rest surface on which the dispensing closure 270 is restable in an inverted orientation, or a rest surface 258 of the skirt 256 may establish the rest surface and a support open end 260 when a cover is not used. The other embodiments disclosed herein also may include a cover.

[0030] Additionally, the elastic dispensing closure 270 may include a valve 271 that may be coupled to the dispensing element 226 to establish the normally-closed end 236. The valve 271 may include an elastic component which may be interference fit to the dispensing element 226, molded thereto or therewith, or coupled thereto in any other suitable manner. In any case, the valve 271 may include elastic petals that flex outwardly upon a desired pressure to open the normally-closed end 236 to allow fluent product to flow outwardly and, upon release of the desired pressure, flex inwardly to close and block flow of fluent product.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 10, this embodiment also may facilitate one-handed use of the package 210, in which a user grasps a skirt 256 of the stand 230 with a hand, lifts the package 210 off of a rest surface, translates the package 210 to a desired location, applies fingers of the same hand to the skirt 256, and squeezes the dispensing element 226 via the skirt 256 with those fingers to dispense fluent material out of the package 210. Once a desired amount of dispensing is complete, the user stops squeezing the dispensing element 226 via the skirt 256, translates the package 210 to a desired location, lowers the package 210 onto the rest surface, and releases the skirt 256 of the stand 230. When the dispensing element 226 is manually released, the elastic sidewall resiliently returns or moves back from the deformed state to the relaxed state, drawing air therein in the process.

[0032] According to a first embodiment, an elastic dispensing package comprises a rigid container including a closed end, a sidewall extending away from the closed end, and a container open end terminating the sidewall; and an elastic dispensing closure coupled to the container open end of the rigid container, and including an inner elastic dispensing element, and an outer closure stand at least partially circumferentially surrounding the inner elastic dispensing element and terminating in a package rest surface establishing a support open end of the outer closure stand. The elastic dispensing package is restable on the package rest surface of the outer closure stand in an inverted position of the rigid container.

[0033] The first embodiment may have one or more of the following aspects. The rigid container is composed of glass and at least the inner elastic dispensing element of the elastic dispensing closure is composed of an elastomeric polymer.

[0034] According to a second embodiment, an elastic dispensing closure comprises an inner elastic dispensing element including an open end establishing an inlet through which a longitudinal axis extends, an elastic sidewall extending axially away from the open end and establishing a reservoir, and a normally-closed end terminating the elastic sidewall and having an outlet. An outer closure stand at least partially circumferentially surrounds the inner elastic dispensing element and includes a container support annulus, and a radially outer skirt extending away from the container support annulus and terminating in a rest surface establishing a support open end of the outer closure stand.

[0035] The second embodiment may have one or more of the following aspects. The elastic dispensing closure further comprises a cover coupled to the outer closure stand and that establishes a planar rest surface on which the elastic dispensing closure is restable in an inverted orientation. The cover includes a portion in contact with the normally-closed end of the inner elastic dispensing element. The outlet is openable and closeable, such that when the inner elastic dispensing element is manually squeezed the elastic sidewall moves from a relaxed state to a deformed state and the outlet opens to permit fluent material to be actively pumped out of the reservoir of the inner elastic dispensing element, and when the inner elastic dispensing element is manually released the elastic sidewall moves back from the deformed state to the relaxed state. When the inner elastic dispensing element is manually released the outlet closes to prevent flow of fluent material out of the reservoir of the inner elastic dispensing element. The rest surface extends axially beyond the outlet of the normally-closed end of the inner elastic dispensing element. The rest surface of the radially outer skirt of the outer closure stand establishes a planar rest surface on which the elastic dispensing closure is restable in an inverted orientation. The inner elastic dispensing element is configured to hold a volume of fluent product therein, and is configured dispense at least a portion of the volume of the fluent product through the outlet upon manual compression of the inner elastic dispensing element. The elastic dispensing closure further comprises a closure coupling ring including a base wall engaged with the open end of the inner elastic dispensing element and having a central aperture through which a portion of the inner elastic dispensing element extends, and a skirt extending away from the base wall and having a radially inner surface carrying a container coupling element a radially outer surface releasably received in the container support annulus of the outer closure stand. The outer closure stand further includes a radially inner dispensing element container. A portion of the normally-closed end of the inner elastic dispensing element rests against a corresponding portion of the radially inner dispensing element container. The outer closure stand includes one or more apertures extending transversely through the radially outer skirt to provide finger access to the inner elastic dispensing element. The container support annulus of the outer closure stand includes a base wall engaged with the open end of the inner elastic dispensing element and having a central aperture through which a portion of the inner elastic dispensing element extends, and a radially inner surface carrying a container coupling element. The inner elastic dispensing element and the outer closure stand are unitary. The inner elastic dispensing element and the outer closure stand are integrally molded as a single component. The container support annulus of the outer closure stand has a support open end and wherein the open end of the inner elastic dispensing element is spaced axially away from the support open end of the outer closure stand.

[0036] According to a third embodiment, an elastic dispensing package comprises the elastic dispensing closure of the second embodiment and a rigid container including a container closed end, a sidewall extending away from the container closed end, and a container open end terminating the sidewall and coupled to the elastic dispensing closure.

[0037] According to a fourth embodiment, a method of containing and dispensing fluent product out of an elastic dispensing package comprises containing a fluent product in a container that includes a base, a sidewall extending away from the base, and an open end terminating the sidewall, resting the elastic dispensing package on an outer closure stand of a dispensing closure such that the container rests in an inverted position with the open end below the base, inverting the container so that the open end is below the base, and squeezing an inner elastic dispensing element of the elastic dispensing closure coupled to the open end of the container to pump the fluent product out of the container and through the outer closure stand.

[0038] According to a fifth embodiment, an elastic dispensing closure comprises a manual pumping means for manually pumping a fluent product flowing from an open end of the manual pumping means toward a normally-closed end of the manual pumping means and out of an outlet of the normally-closed end, and a supporting means for supporting the elastic dispensing closure in a position where the normally-closed end is below the open end and including a container coupling open end and a support open end. The support open end has a circumference greater than that of the container coupling open end.

[0039] As used in herein, the terminology for example, e.g., for instance, like, such as, comprising, having, including, and the like, when used with a listing of one or more elements, is to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing does not exclude additional elements. Also, as used herein, the term may is an expedient merely to indicate optionality, for instance, of a disclosed embodiment, element, feature, or the like, and should not be construed as rendering indefinite any disclosure herein. Finally, the subject matter of this application is presently disclosed in conjunction with several explicit illustrative embodiments and modifications to those embodiments, using various terms. All terms used herein are intended to be merely descriptive, rather than necessarily limiting, and are to be interpreted and construed in accordance with their ordinary and customary meaning in the art, unless used in a context that requires a different interpretation. And for the sake of expedience, each explicit illustrative embodiment and modification is hereby incorporated by reference into one or more of the other explicit illustrative embodiments and modifications. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such embodiments and modifications of the subject matter of this application, and equivalents thereto, as fall within the broad scope of the accompanying claims.