Dispensing closure

1. A dispensing closure for a container, said dispensing closure comprising:

a base ( 200 ) and mounting means ( 220 ) on said base ( 200 ) for mounting said base ( 200 ) to a container at an opening of the container, said base ( 200 ) also constituting an outer side-wall ( 240 ) of said closure, said outer side-wall ( 240 ) defining at least one opening ( 242 ) extending completely through said side-wall ( 240 );

a dispensing element ( 100 ) having a dispensing channel ( 160 ) and a discharge opening ( 164 ), said dispensing element ( 100 ) being movable between a closed position and an open position;

said dispensing element ( 100 ) comprising at least one operational control element ( 142 ), at least partially extending into said at least one opening ( 242 ) in said outer side wall ( 240 ) of said base ( 200 ) to be accessible by an operator such that a force can be exerted by the operator onto said at least one operational control element in order to move said dispensing element ( 100 ) between said closed and said open position;

said dispensing closure being arranged such that said discharge opening ( 164 ) is closed by said outer side-wall ( 240 ) of said base ( 200 ), when said dispensing element ( 100 ) is in said closed position, and/or such that said dispensing channel ( 160 ) is closed by a shut-off element ( 260 ) of said base ( 200 ), when said dispensing element ( 100 ) is in said closed position.

2. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein said discharge opening is at least partly not closed by said outer side-wall ( 240 ) of said base ( 200 ), when said dispensing element ( 100 ) is in said open position.

3. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing element ( 100 ) is arranged substantially in an area defined by the outer side-wall ( 240 ) of said base ( 200 ).

4. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein said base ( 200 ) and said dispensing element ( 100 ) are arranged such that the movement of the dispensing element ( 100 ), relative to the base ( 200 ), between said closed and said open position is essentially helical.

5. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one operational control element ( 142 ) is in the form of a knob.

6. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening ( 242 ) in said base ( 200 ) is in the form of a slit.

7. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein two operational control elements ( 142 ) are provided at said dispensing element ( 100 ).

8. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein said outer side wall ( 240 ) of said base ( 200 ) has a recess ( 244 ) at said outer side and in the area around the at least one opening ( 242 ) for said operational control element ( 142 ).

9. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein said dispensing element ( 100 ) comprises a dispensing channel ( 160 ), substantially radially extending from a central portion ( 162 ) of the dispensing element ( 100 ) to the discharge opening ( 164 ).

10. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein said dispensing channel ( 60 ) comprises at said central portion an inlet ( 162 ), being closed by said shut-off element ( 260 ) of said base ( 200 ) when said dispensing element ( 100 ) is in said closed position.

11. A dispensing closure according to claim 9 , wherein said shut-off element ( 260 ) is in the form of an essentially dome-like extension.

12. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein a top surface ( 120 ) of said dispensing element ( 100 ) does not extend beyond a top edge ( 248 ) of the outer side-wall ( 240 ), when said dispensing element ( 100 ) is in said closed position.

13. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 , wherein an additional lock or a catch mechanism is provided for locking and/or catching the dispensing element ( 100 ) in said closed position.