Closure

Abstract

A closure for a container is provided. The closure comprises a cap and a retaining ring arranged under the cap for retaining the closure on the container in use. The cap and ring are joined by a pair of connecting arms. A first arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially anticlockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end. A second arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially clockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end. The cap can be tilted away from the ring with the arms providing a hinge-like function, and each of the arms twists between its cap tether end and its ring root end, whereby tension is generated in the arms.

1 . A tethered closure for a container mouth, comprising a cap having a generally cylindrical sidewall, and an annular retaining ring arranged under the cap for retaining the closure on a container, the cap is partially separable from the ring, the cap and ring are joined by arcuate arms, the arms are positioned axially between the cap and ring, the arms permit axial separation of the cap from the ring and whereby the cap remains tethered to the ring, in which at least part of the arcuate arms have an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the corresponding at least part of the sidewall and/or the corresponding at least part of the ring which are axially adjacent the said at least part of the arms. 
     
     
         2 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the outer diameter is greater by virtue of increased radial extent of the material of the arms. 
     
     
         3 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the arms are connected to the cap by links. 
     
     
         4 . A closure as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the links are flexible. 
     
     
         5 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the links are generally triangular or generally trapezoidal or generally squared or generally rectangular. 
     
     
         6 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the links are formed as film hinges. 
     
     
         7 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which each arm has the shape of an arc of a circle and is connected to the cap on the one hand, at the level of one of the links, and to the ring on the other hand. 
     
     
         8 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which each arm is connected to the ring at a location which is angularly distant with respect to a link to which it is connected. 
     
     
         9 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the arms extend under the links. 
     
     
         10 . A closure as claimed in  claim 9 , in which part of the arms with a greater outer diameter is under the links. 
     
     
         11 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the links extend axially between the arms and the cap. 
     
     
         12 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the links do not extend axially into the cap. 
     
     
         13 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the arms terminate at approximately the same circumferential point as the links. 
     
     
         14 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the material of the links is thinner than the material of the arms. 
     
     
         15 . A closure according to  claim 3 , in which the cap comprises a tongue between the links. 
     
     
         16 . A closure according to  claim 15 , in which the links are symmetrical with respect to the median axis of the tongue. 
     
     
         17 . A closure according to  claim 1 , in which along the upper and/or lower edge of the arms there are frangible bridges. 
     
     
         18 . A tethered closure for a container mouth, comprising a cap having a generally cylindrical sidewall, and an annular retaining ring arranged under the cap for retaining the closure on a container, the cap is partially separable from the ring, the cap and ring are joined by arcuate arms, the arms are positioned axially between the cap and ring, the arms permit axial separation of the cap from the ring whereby the cap remains tethered to the ring when opened, in which the arms are connected to the cap by links, in which the arms extend under the links, in which the ring includes an axially inclined portion under the links. 
     
     
         19 . A closure according to  claim 18 , in which there are two arcuate arms, two links, and two inclined portions. 
     
     
         20 . A closure according to  claim 19 , in which the inclined portions extend, circumferentially, at least the extent of the links.