CLOSURE PROVIDED WITH A LINK AND A GUIDE WALL FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract

 A closure (10) for a container comprises an annular base (18) defining a reference axis (100), a cap (25) having a top wall (14) and an annular skirt (20), a link (21) permanently connecting the cap (25) to the base (18) and allowing the cap (25) to pivot relative to the base (18) between a closed position of the closure (10) and an open position of the closure (10), and a guide wall (60), which protrudes from the top wall (14), radially inside the annular skirt (20). The link (21) and at least a part of the guide wall (60) are located on the same side of a reference plane (Q) containing the reference axis (100). The guide wall (60) is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry (PS) which is perpendicular to the reference plane (Q) and contains the reference axis (100). The guide wall (60) has, as seen in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the reference axis (100), an arcuate cross-section with a concavity facing the reference axis (100).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure for a container provided with a permanent link between a cap and a base, so as to remain attached to the container after opening.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A plastic closure designed to remain attached to the container after opening is known from WO2021/021095 A1. The closure is made in one piece and comprises a lid and a safety ring projecting from the lid. The safety ring is permanently connected to the lid by a first and a second straps. A first parting line and a second parting line delineate the safety ring and the straps. A tab extending from the cap into a gap of the safety ring can be added in a shape that holds the cap in the open position. The elasticity of the straps and the shape and location of the tab hold the lid in a flipped position where a top plate of the lid faces in a downward direction. While the opening of the closure is intuitive and ergonomic, the closing movement proves less easy, because of a lack of guidance as long as the lid is not engaged with the container neck.

[0003] A closure device for a container neck having a cap which is pivotable between closed open configurations, comprising: a base; an outer wall extending circumferentially around the base; a plug seal extending from the base, at an inner face of the cap, and spaced from the outer wall to define a channel for receiving the container neck and for forming a seal against an inner wall of the container neck when the cap is in the closed configuration is known from WO2021/189127. A lifting member extending from the base and positioned radially inwardly from the plug seal, is positioned at a pivot-side of the cap and has a contact face at a free end of the lifting member for contacting a top end of the container neck before the top end contacts the plug seal during actuation of the cap from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

[0004] This solution may prove satisfactory if the position of the pivot axis is well defined during the closing movement, i.e. if the hinge between the cap and the base has a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the hinge axis. It is, however, less suitable for closure provided with straps that do not provide a symmetrical hinge and a well-defined pivot axis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention aims to provide a tethered closure which is easy to close.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure for a container, comprising: an annular base defining a reference axis, a cap having a top wall and an annular skirt, a link permanently connecting the cap to the base and allowing the cap to pivot relative to the base between a closed position of the closure and an open position of the closure, and a guide wall, which protrudes from the top wall, radially inside the annular skirt, wherein the link and at least a part of the guide wall are located on the same side of a reference plane containing the reference axis, wherein the guide wall is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to the reference plane and contains the reference axis, and the guide wall has, as seen in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the reference axis, an arcuate cross-section with a concavity facing the reference axis.

[0007] Thanks to its symmetry, the guide wall provides two symmetric contact points with the container neck during the initial phase of contact between closure and the container neck when the closure is moved from an open to a closed position, and the position of the cap formed by the top wall and the annular skirt is well defined even though the link may offer insufficient guidance. Moreover, the symmetrical arcuate shape of the guide wall increases its resistance to deformation when pushed sideways by the cap.

[0008] The closure is particularly adapted to closures with links which do not define a precise instantaneous axis of rotation of the annular skirt relative to the safety ring from the open to the close position. This is the case in particular when the link is not symmetric relative to a geometric plane containing the reference axis.

[0009] In one embodiment, the arcuate cross-section has a radius of curvature which, at an intersection with the plane of symmetry, is smaller than a distance between the intersection and the reference axis. Preferably, the radius of curvature of the arcuate cross-section continuously increases with the distance to the intersection with the plane of symmetry. These shapes prove particularly resistant to deformation and ensure symmetric contact points that are ideally spaced apart for guiding the closure movement of the cap. The shape of the cross-section is preferably parabolic or elliptic.

[0010] In one embodiment, the guide wall has a free edge, and a distance between the top wall and the free edge, measured parallel to the reference axis, varies continuously along the free edge. The variation can be monotonic along the free edge, or can include increases and decreases. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the top wall and the free edge passes through a relative maximum at an intersection between the free edge and the plane of symmetry. This intersection is the last point of contact between the free edge and the container neck before the guide wall enters the container neck. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the top wall and the free edge passes through a relative minimum at two symmetric points located at a distance from the plane of symmetry. These two symmetric points are ideally the first points of contact between the free edge and the container neck.

[0011] The plane of symmetry is more or less perpendicular to an instantaneous axis of rotation of the cap between the open and the closed position, compatible with the link.

[0012] In one embodiment, the closure comprises an annular plug seal, which protrudes from the top wall in an axial direction parallel to a reference axis for forming a seal against an inner wall of a container neck of the container when the closure is in the closed position. Preferably, the guide wall is located radially inwardly from the annular plug seal, at a distance thereof. In one embodiment, closure comprises an annular sealing lip which protrudes from the top wall in the axial direction and surrounds the annular plug at a distance thereof.

[0013] In one embodiment, the link comprises a first and a second straps (22, 24) each permanently connecting the annular skirt to the base. The annular skirt may be provided with an inner thread defining an unscrewing direction of rotation about the reference axis, wherein in a closed position of the closure, each of the first and second straps extends in the unscrewing direction from a connection area with the annular skirt to a connection area with the base. Preferably, the connection area of the second strap with annular skirt is at an angle from the connection area of the first strap with the base, measured in the unscrewing direction, which is larger than an angle from the connection area of the second strap with the base to the connection area of the second strap with the annular skirt, measured in the unscrewing direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the connection area of the second strap with the annular skirt and the connection area of the first strap with the safety ring are on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry. Preferably, the second strap and the first strap are on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the closure consists of a one-piece body, and is preferably moulded in the closed position.

[0016] In one embodiment, the closure has an annular wall, which projects from a periphery of the top wall in an axial direction parallel to a reference axis of the closure, the annular wall comprising the annular skirt, the base at a free end of the annular wall, as well as the link.

[0017] In one embodiment, the base comprises or consists of a safety ring for permanently engaging a tamper-evident bead of a container neck.

[0018] In one embodiment, the base of the safety ring is provided with hook-shape resilient portions projecting towards the reference axis. When the closure is engaged with the neck of a container, the resilient hook-shaped portions snap under an annular retention bead formed on the neck of the container to prevent the safety ring from being torn off.

[0019] The length of the straps is preferably chosen so as to enable a flipping movement of the annular skirt relative to the safety ring.

[0020] Obviously, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of a container neck having a rim and a tamper-evident bead with the closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base engages the tamper-evident bead.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure for a container, comprising a one-piece body, the one-piece body comprising: a top wall, an annular wall which projects from a periphery of the top wall in an axial direction parallel to a reference axis of the closure, the annular wall comprising an annular skirt, a safety ring at a free end of the annular wall, as well as a first and a second straps each permanently connecting the annular skirt to the safety ring, and a guide wall, which protrudes from the top wall, radially inside the annular wall, wherein the guide wall and the first and second straps are located on the same side of a reference plane containing the reference axis. The guide wall is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to the reference plane and contains the reference axis, and the guide wall has, as seen in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the reference axis, an arcuate cross-section with a concavity facing the reference axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Other advantages and features of the invention will then become more clearly apparent from the following description of specific embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a rear view of a closure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a closed position;
• Figure 2 is a side view of the closure of figure 1 in the closed position;
• Figure 3 is a bottom view of the closure of figure 1 in the closed position;
• Figure 4 is an isometric view of the closure of figure 1 in the closed position;
• Figure 5 is a cross-section through the plane A-A of figure 3;
• Figure 6 is a cross-section through the plane B-B of figure 3;
• Figures 7A through 7G illustrate successive steps of closing the closure of figure 1.

[0024] Corresponding reference numerals refer to the same or corresponding parts in each of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] With reference to figures 1 to 6, a plastic closure 10 for a container consists of a one-piece body 12 comprising a top wall 14 and an annular side wall 16, which projects from a periphery of the top wall 14 in an axial direction parallel to a reference axis 100 of the closure 10.

[0026] The annular side wall 16 forms a safety ring 18 at its free end axially opposed to the top wall 14, an annular skirt 20 between the top wall 14 and the safety ring 18 as well as an articulation link 21 consisting of a first and a second straps 22, 24 for permanently connecting the annular skirt 20 to the safety ring 18. The top wall 14 and annular skirt 20 forms a lid 25 of the closure 10, whereas the safety ring 18 forms a base, which in this embodiment is designed to be permanently fixed to a container neck.

[0027] The annular skirt 20 is provided with an inner thread 26 depicted in figure 5, which defines an unscrewing direction of rotation 200 (see figure 3) about the reference axis 100, which will also be referred to as the unscrewing direction of the closure 10. The safety ring 18 may be provided with one or more hook-shaped resilient portions 28 projecting radially towards the reference axis 100 to snap under an annular bead of a container neck and secure the closure 10 to the container.

[0028] The straps 22, 24 and the safety ring 18 are delineated by a first parting line 30 and a second parting line 40, which have no intersection. The first parting line 30 extends in the unscrewing direction over an angle, which is greater than 180°, e.g. greater than 220°, about the axis of refence 100 between a first end 31 and a second end 32 of the first parting line 30 while the second parting line 40 extends, in the direction opposed to the unscrewing direction, over an angle, which may be greater than 50° and less than 180° about the axis of refence 100 between a first end 41 and a second end 42 of the second parting line 40.

[0029] The first strap 22 is delineated by a first set of one or more line segments 33 of the first parting line 30 and a first set of one or more line segments 43, 44 of the second parting line 40, which at least partially overlaps with the first set of one or more line segments 33 of the first parting line 30 in the unscrewing direction of rotation 200. The first set of line segments 33 of the first parting line consists of a terminal segment, which lies in a first reference plane P1 perpendicular to the reference axis 100 and extends from the first end 31 of the first parting line 30 in the unscrewing direction 200 towards the second end 32 of the first parting line 30, while the first set of line segments of the second parting line 40 consists of a terminal segment 43, which lies in a second reference plane P2 parallel to and distant from the first reference plane P1 and extends from the first end 41 of the second parting line 40 in the direction opposed to the unscrewing direction 200, and of an adjacent line segment 44. As a result, the first strap extends 22 in the unscrewing direction 200 from a connection area 221 with the annular skirt 20 to a connection area 222 with the safety ring 18.

[0030] The second strap 24 is delineated by a second set of one or more line segments 35, 36 of the first parting line 30 and a second set of one or more line segments 48, 49 of the second parting line, which at least partially overlap with the second set of line segments 35, 36 of the first parting line 30 in the unscrewing direction of rotation 200. More specifically, the second set of line segments of the first parting line 30 consists of a terminal segment 36, which lies in the second reference plane P2 and extends from the second end 32 of the first parting line 30 in the direction of rotation opposed to the unscrewing direction 200 towards the first end 31 of the first parting line 30, and of an adjacent line segment 35, while the second set of line segments of the second parting line 40 consists of a terminal segment 49, which lies in the first reference plane P1 and extends from the second end 42 of the second parting line 40 in the unscrewing direction 200 towards the first end 41 of the second parting line 40, and of an adjacent line segment 48. Hence, the second strap 24 extends in the unscrewing direction 200 from a connection area 241 with the annular skirt 20 to a connection area 242 with the safety ring 18.

[0031] The length of the straps 22, 24 in the unscrewing direction 200 is defined by the overlap between the first and second parting lines 30, 40. The length of the first and second straps 22, 24 is preferably the same, which means that an overlap angle between the first set of one or more line segments 33 of the first parting line 30 and the first set of one or more line segments 43, 44 of the second parting line measured about the reference axis 100 is equal to an overlap angle between the second set of one or more line segments 35, 36 of the first parting line 30 and the second set of one or more line segments 48, 49 of the second parting line 40 measured about the reference axis 100. This overlap angle is preferably greater than 5°, more preferably greater than 10°, and preferably less than 60°, more preferably less than 30°.

[0032] The first parting line 30 further comprises a set of one or more intermediate line sections 34, which do not overlap with the second parting line 40 and connect the first set of line sections 33 of first parting line 30 with the second set of line sections 35, 36 of the first parting line 30. These one or more intermediate line sections 34 delineate a separation between a front part of the annular skirt 20 and the safety ring 18. In the present embodiment, the set of one or more intermediate sections consists of one line section 34 only, which lies in the first reference plane P1, but other configurations are also possible.

[0033] The second parting line 40 further comprises a set of one or more intermediate line section 45, 46, 47, which do not overlap with the first parting line 30 and connect the first set of line sections 43, 44 of second parting line 40 with the second set of line sections 48, 49 of the second parting line 40. These intermediate line sections 45, 46, 47 delineate a separation between a rear or hinged part of the annular skirt 20 and the safety ring 18. In the present embodiment, the intermediate line sections include at least one intermediate line section 47 which lies in a third reference plane P3 perpendicular to the reference axis 100 and one intermediate line section 45 which lies in a fourth reference plane P4 perpendicular to the reference axis, to form a tab 50 of the annular skirt, which lies between the first and second straps 22, 24 and protrudes towards the safety ring 18 and an adjacent tab 52 of the safety ring 18, which protrudes towards the annular skirt 20 and lies between the tab 50 of the annular skirt 20 and the first strap 22. The tabs 50, 52 preferably have a trapezoidal shape, which converges towards their free end, i.e. towards the third and fourth reference planes P3, P4, respectively.

[0034] The set of intermediate line sections 34 of the first parting line is provided with frangible bridges 54, which link the front part of the annular skirt 20 to the safety ring 18 before the first opening of the closure and break when the closure is unscrewed.

[0035] When the closure 10 is moved in the unscrewing direction 200 of rotation relative to the container, the lid 25 and the safety ring 18 move away from each other in the axial direction and the frangible bridges 54 break without difficulty, because they link parts of the safety ring 18 and of the lid 25 which are rigid, i.e. more rigid than the straps 22, 24. As the lid 25 continues to rotate and to move away from the safety ring 18 in the axial direction, the straps 22, 24 unfold, which causes the safety ring 18 to rotate relative to the lid 25 in the direction opposed to the unscrewing direction 200. Once the lid 25 is unscrewed, the user can flip the lid 25 relative to the safety ring 18 about an instantaneous hinge axis which at each instant lies in a plane perpendicular to the reference axis 100 at a distance from the reference axis 100.

[0036] The length and elasticity of the first and second straps 22, 24 are such that the first and second straps 22, 24 are stretched when the lid 25 reaches the flipped position against the safety ring, thereby providing a stable open position.

[0037] In this particular embodiment, the second and third reference plane P2, P3 are coplanar, but more generally, the third reference plane P3 can be located anywhere between the first reference plane P1 and the second reference plane P2 or closer to the second reference plane P2 than to the first reference plane P1 so that the length and position of the tab 50 of the annular skirt 20 can be adapted. Similarly, the fourth reference plane P4 in this particular embodiment is coplanar with the first reference plane P1 but could be located anywhere at a distance from the third reference plane P3 between the third reference plane P3 and the first reference plane P1 or closer to the first reference plane P1 than to the third reference plane P3, so that the length and position of the tab 52 of the safety ring 18 can be adapted.

[0038] Each of the first and second parting lines 30, 40 consists of a series of consecutive line segments. The parting lines 30, 40 are preferably obtained by specific shapes of a moulding cavity of a mould for the one-piece closure 10. Alternatively, they can be obtained with blades after the closure has been moulded.

[0039] The top wall 14 of the closure 10 is provided with an annular plug seal 56 and an annular sealing lip 58, which both protrude from the top wall 14 in an axial direction parallel to a reference axis 100. The plug seal 56 forms a seal against an inner wall of a container neck when the closure is in the closed position, while the annular sealing lip 58 surrounds the annular plug at a distance thereof to seal a top rim of the container neck. The plug seal 56 and the sealing lip 58 are surrounded by the annular wall 20.

[0040] The one-piece closure 10 is further provided with a guide wall 60, which protrudes from the top wall 14, radially inside the plug seal 56, preferably at a distance thereof. The guide wall 60 is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry PS, which contains the reference axis 100 and is located between the connection area 241 of the second strap 24 with the annular skirt 20 and the connection area 222 of the first strap 22 with the safety ring 18, and preferably between the connection area 242 of the second strap 24 with the safety ring 18 and the connection area of the first strap 22 with the annular skirt 20. While the position of instantaneous hinge axis of the cap 25 relative to the safety ring 18 between the closed and the open position is not constant and not well defined, it can be said that the plane of symmetry PS is substantially perpendicular to this imaginary hinge axis.

[0041] The guide wall 60 is entirely located on the same side of a plane Q perpendicular to the plane of symmetry PS and containing the reference axis 100 as the straps 22, 24. As illustrated in figure 3, the guide wall 60 has an arcuate cross-section through a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the reference axis 100, with a concavity facing the reference axis 100 and a radius of curvature R which, at an intersection 64 with the plane of symmetry PS, is smaller than the distance between the intersection 64 and the reference axis 100. The arcuate cross-section faces away from the link 21 and has a radius of curvature, which increases with the distance to the intersection with the plane of symmetry, and has a parabolic shape.

[0042] The guide wall 60 has a free edge 62 at an end opposed to the top wall 14. The distance D between the top wall 14 and the free edge 62, measured in the direction of the reference axis 100, varies continuously along the free edge 62. This distance D passes through a relative maximum at the intersection 64 between the guide wall 60 and the plane of symmetry and through a relative minimum at two points 66 located at a distance from the plane of symmetry PS. The distance D increases continuously from the relative minima 66 towards the relative maximum 64, and, in the opposite direction, towards a free end 68 of the edge 62.

[0043] The thickness of the guide wall 60 decreases continuously from the top wall 14 to the free edge 62.

[0044] The guide wall 60 guides the closing motion of the cap 25 relative to the safety ring 18, as illustrated in Figure 7A to 7G, corresponding to successive steps A to G.

[0045] In step A, the closure 10 is shown in a semi opened position, in which the safety ring 18 is snapped under an annular bead 70 of a container neck 72 and a first contact is made between the cap 25 at the edge 62 of the guide wall 60 and a rim 74 of a container neck 72. The points of contact are close to the relative minima 66 and the position is relatively stable. The drawings of steps A to G of figure 6 are a cross sections through the plane of symmetry PS, between the first and second straps 22, 24. Hence, the first strap 22 is hidden by the container neck 72 and the second strap 24 is not visible.

[0046] When the cap 25 is pushed sideways towards the container neck 72 in step B, the edge 62 of the guide wall 60 slides against the rim 74 of the of the container neck 72, with two contact points, one on each side of the plane of symmetry PS, until the relative maximum 64 is reached in step C and passed in step D. In this phase from step A through step B to step C, the straps 22, 24 are progressively stretched but the position of the cap 25 relative to the container neck 72 is stabilised by the two contact points with the edge 62 of the guide wall 60 on each side of the plane of symmetry PS. Once this position is passed, the subsequent contact between the cap 25 and the container neck 72 is made between the inner side of the annular skirt 20 and the rim 74 in step D. The annular skirt 20 of the cap 25 now surrounds the rim 74 and the straps 22, 24, which were stretched during steps A to D, tend to move the cap 25 such that the top wall 14 gets closer to the rim 74 from step D to step F. The cap 25 is progressively realigned with the container neck and the inner thread 26 of the cap 25 engages an outer thread 76 of the container neck 72 in step F. The cap 25 can then be screwed on the container neck in step F until the closed position is reached in step G. During the screwing movement, the safety ring 18 rotates with the cap 25. In the closed position in step G, the plug seal 56 is engaged with an inner wall 78 of the container neck and the sealing lip 58 is engaged with the rim 74 of the container neck 72.

[0047] The invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 7. The shape of the of the edge 62 of the guide wall 60 may vary and depends in particular from the length and flexibility of the straps 22, 24. In some cases, the distance D from the top wall 14 to the free edge 62 of the guide wall 60 may decrease towards the intersection 64 of the guide wall 60 with the plane of symmetry PS.

[0048] More generally, the link 21 between the safety ring 18 and the cap 25 does not necessarily consist in a pair of straps 22, 24. The guide wall 60 of the invention can be equally advantageous for types of link allowing a pivoting movement between a closed and an open position, such as conventional butterfly hinges or link arrangements with a main hinge and an auxiliary hinge. The safety ring 18 is but one embodiment of a base for permanently fixing the closure to the container neck and other types of base can be equally used.

Claims

1. A closure (10) for a container, comprising:

- an annular base (18) defining a reference axis (100),

- a cap (25) having a top wall (14) and an annular skirt (20),

- a link (21) permanently connecting the cap (25) to the base (18) and allowing the cap (25) to pivot relative to the base (18) between a closed position of the closure (10) and an open position of the closure (10), and

- a guide wall (60), which protrudes from the top wall (14), radially inside the annular skirt (20), wherein the link (21) and at least a part of the guide wall (60) are located on the same side of a reference plane (Q) containing the reference axis (100),

characterised in that the guide wall (60) is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry (PS) which is perpendicular to the reference plane (Q) and contains the reference axis (100), and the guide wall (60) has, as seen in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the reference axis (100), an arcuate cross-section with a concavity facing the reference axis (100).

2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the arcuate cross-section has a radius of curvature (R) which, at an intersection (64) with the plane of symmetry (PS), is smaller than a distance between the intersection (64) and the reference axis (100).

3. The closure of claim 2, wherein the radius of curvature (R) of the arcuate cross-section continuously increases with the distance to the intersection (64) with the plane of symmetry (PS).

4. The closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide wall (60) has a free edge (62), and a distance (D) between the top wall (14) and the free edge (62), measured parallel to the reference axis (100), varies continuously along the free edge (62).

5. The closure of claim 4, wherein one or more of the following holds true:

- the distance (D) between the top wall (14) and the free edge (62) passes through a relative maximum at an intersection (64) between the free edge (62) and the plane of symmetry (PS); and/or

- the distance between the top wall (14) and the free edge (62) passes through a relative minimum at two symmetric points (66) located at a distance from the plane of symmetry (PS).

6. The closure of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an annular plug seal (56), which protrudes from the top wall (14) in an axial direction parallel to a reference axis (100) for forming a seal against an inner wall (78) of a container neck (72) of the container when the closure (10) is in the closed position.

7. The closure of claim 6, wherein one or more of the following holds true:

- the guide wall (60) is located radially inwardly from the annular plug seal (64), at a distance thereof; and/or

- the closure further comprises an annular sealing lip (56) which protrudes from the top wall (14) in the axial direction and surrounds the annular plug (54) at a distance thereof.

8. The closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link (21) is not symmetrical relative to any plane containing the reference axis (100).

9. The closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link (21) comprises a first and a second straps (22, 24) each permanently connecting the annular skirt (20) to the base (18).

10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the annular skirt (20) is provided with an inner thread (26) defining an unscrewing direction of rotation (200) about the reference axis (100), wherein in a closed position of the closure, each of the first and second straps (22, 24) extends in the unscrewing direction (200) from a connection area (221, 241) with the annular skirt (20) to a connection area (222, 242) with the base (18).

11. The closure of claim 10, wherein the connection area (241) of the second strap (24) with annular skirt (20) is at an angle from the connection area (222) of the first strap (22) with the base (18), measured in the unscrewing direction (200), which is larger than an angle from the connection area (242) of the second strap (24) with the base (18) to the connection area (221) of the first strap (22) with the annular skirt (20), measured in the unscrewing direction (200).

12. The closure of claim 11, wherein one or more of the following holds true:

- the connection area (241) of the second strap (24) with the annular skirt (20) and the connection area (222) of the first strap (22) with the base (18) are on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry (PS), and/or

- the second strap (24) and the first strap (22) are on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry (PS).

13. The closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the following holds true:

- the closure consists of a one-piece body (12); and/or

- the closure has an annular wall (16), which projects from a periphery of the top wall (14) in an axial direction parallel to a reference axis (100) of the closure (10), the annular wall comprising the annular skirt (20), the base (18) at a free end of the annular wall (16), as well as the link (21), and/or

- the base (18) comprises or consists of a safety ring;

- the base (18) is provided with hook-shape resilient portions (28) projecting towards the reference axis (100).

14. A combination of a container neck (72) having a rim (74) and a tamper-evident bead (70) with the closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (18) engages the tamper-evident bead.

Drawing