1. A closure assembly for closing an opening in a container, the closure assembly comprising:
a closure member including an engagement structure configured to engage the opening;
a tether having a connector portion with a first end coupled to the closure member, and a second end opposite the first end;
a plurality of barbs positioned at the second end of the connector portion, each of the plurality of barbs having a rigid construction, wherein the plurality of barbs define a maximum splayed dimension to retain the closure member with respect to the opening; and
a movable joint coupling each of the plurality of barbs to the second end, wherein each of the plurality of barbs is foldable about the respective movable joint so that the plurality of barbs define a dimension substantially smaller than the maximum splayed dimension to allow insertion through the opening, wherein the movable joint is integrally-formed as a single piece with the second end of the connector portion and the plurality of barbs,
wherein a limiting structure provided on each of the plurality of barbs is configured to selectively contact a corresponding limiting surface provided on the second end of the connector portion to prevent folding of the plurality of barbs beyond the maximum splayed dimension, and wherein the limiting structure and the corresponding limiting surface have complementary shapes, including a projection and a recess.
2. A tether for retaining a closure member with respect to an opening, the tether comprising:
a connector portion having a first end and a second end, and an axis defined therebetween, the first end including a coupling structure configured to secure the closure member;
a plurality of barbs positioned at the second end of the connector portion, each of the plurality of barbs having a rigid construction, wherein the plurality of barbs define a maximum splayed dimension to retain the closure member with respect to the opening; and
a hinge portion coupling each of the plurality of barbs to the second end, wherein each of the plurality of barbs is foldable about the respective hinge portion so that the plurality of barbs define a dimension substantially smaller than the maximum splayed dimension to allow insertion through the opening, wherein each of the hinge portions is integrally-formed as a single molded piece with the second end of the connector portion and the plurality of barbs, and
wherein a limiting structure provided on each of the plurality of barbs is configured to selectively contact a corresponding limiting surface provided on the second end of the connector portion to prevent folding of the plurality of barbs beyond the maximum splayed dimension, wherein the limiting structure and the corresponding limiting surface have complementary shapes, including a projection and a recess.
3. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector portion is shape-stable.
4. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein an aperture is defined in the first end for coupling the first end to the closure member with a fastener.
5. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the movable joint is a flexible strip having a substantially smaller cross-sectional thickness than each of the plurality of barbs.
6. The closure assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of barbs defines a first surface that faces the first end of the connector portion and forms an angle \u03b1 between the axis and the first surface.
7. The closure assembly of claim 6, wherein the angle \u03b1 is substantially 90 degrees when the barbs are in a fully extended position.
8. The closure assembly of claim 7, wherein the limiting structure is configured to limit the flexure of the angle \u03b1 to 90 degrees.
9. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of barbs includes at least two barbs diametrically opposed from each other.
10. The tether of claim 2, wherein the connector portion is shape-stable.
11. The tether of claim 2, wherein the hinge portion is a flexible strip having a substantially smaller cross-sectional thickness than each of the plurality of barbs.
12. The tether of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of barbs defines a first surface that faces the first end of the connector portion and forms an angle \u03b1 between the axis and the first surface.
13. The tether of claim 12, wherein the angle \u03b1 is substantially 90 degrees when the barbs are in a fully extended position.
14. The tether of claim 13, wherein the limiting structure is configured to limit the flexure of the angle \u03b1 to 90 degrees.
15. The tether of claim 2, wherein an aperture is defined in the first end for coupling the first end to the closure member with a fastener.
16. The tether of claim 2, wherein the plurality of barbs includes at least two barbs diametrically opposed from each other.
17. The tether of claim 12, wherein the connector portion includes flanges aligned with the respective plurality of barbs and configured to limit an extent of lateral movement of the tether within the opening.
18. The tether of claim 12, wherein the angle \u03b1 is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees when the barbs are in a naturally biased rest position.
19. The closure assembly of claim 6, wherein the angle \u03b1 is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees when the barbs are in a naturally biased rest position.
20. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the limiting surface on the second end of the connector portion is positioned further from the axis than a proximal end of the movable joint.
21. The tether of claim 2, wherein the limiting surface on the second end of the connector portion is positioned further from the axis than a proximal end of the hinge portion.
22. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the rigid construction of the plurality of barbs and the arrangement of the corresponding movable joints results in each of the plurality of barbs having a single pivot point which is adjacent the axis at the movable joint.
23. The tether of claim 2, wherein the rigid construction of the plurality of barbs and the arrangement of the corresponding hinge portions results in each of the plurality of barbs having a single pivot point which is adjacent the axis at the hinge portion.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, said method comprising:
detecting that a connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure has failed;
determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and
managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the managing comprises preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection exists.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the managing comprises preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, although the determining indicates another connection does not exist, as long as a duplexing command has not been processed beyond a defined point.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the defined point is execution of a ready-to-execute signal.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the managing comprises breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.
6. A system of controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, said system comprising:
means for detecting that a connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure has failed;
means for determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and
means for managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for managing comprises means for preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection exists.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for managing comprises means for preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, although the means for determining indicates another connection does not exist, as long as a duplexing command has not been processed beyond a defined point.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the defined point is execution of a ready-to-execute signal.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for managing comprises means for breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.
11. A system of controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, said system comprising:
a failed connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure;
a coupling facility to facilitate determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and
at least one of a coupling facility and a system having an operating system to facilitate managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining.
12. At least one program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, said method comprising:
detecting that a connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure has failed;
determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and
managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining.
13. The at least one program storage device of claim 12, wherein the managing comprises preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection exists.
14. The at least one program storage device of claim 12, wherein the managing comprises preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, although the determining indicates another connection does not exist, as long as a duplexing command has not been processed beyond a defined point.
15. The at least one program storage device of claim 14, wherein the defined point is execution of a ready-to-execute signal.
16. The at least one program storage device of claim 12, wherein the managing comprises breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.