Dispensing structure with displaceable penetrator and bistable cover

Abstract

A dispensing structure is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior which can be initially closed by a membrane occluding the opening. The dispensing structure includes a body for extending around the container opening over the membrane. The body includes a peripheral wall and a flexible panel. The panel is connected with the peripheral wall, extends around a dispensing aperture, is normally biased to an outwardly displaced configuration as viewed from outside the body, and accommodates movement of the panel to an inwardly displaced configuration. The body also includes a penetrator extending inwardly from the panel for penetrating the membrane when the panel is in the inwardly displaced configuration. The dispensing structure also includes a cover for accommodating movement between a closed position over the body and an open position away from the closed position. The cover includes a peripheral frame mounted on the body, and a convex top. The convex top is connected with the peripheral frame, is normally biased to an outwardly convex configuration as viewed from outside the cover, and accommodates flexure of the top to a self-maintained, inverted, inwardly concave configuration for moving the body panel to the inwardly displaced configuration wherein the penetrator penetrates the membrane.