Tape cartridge improved boss door
View Patent ↗The tape cartridge improved boss door provides a sleeve between the lower boss for the torsion spring to rotate around to decrease the stress applied to the top coil of the torsion spring. An improved catch contacts the top leg of the torsion spring at a point distant from the torsion spring coils to further reduce the force applied to the torsion spring and the frictional drag as the torsion spring rotates around the sleeve, thus decreasing the failure rate of the tape cartridge due to premature failure of the torsion spring.
1. An improved door for a tape cartridge having a housing, the housing comprising a cover, base, a post extending between the cover and the base, a door having an upper and a lower boss, the upper and lower boss having a cylindrical-shaped hole formed therein to fit over the post, the upper and lower boss rotating on the post, and a torsion spring located between the lower boss and the tape cartridge housing base, the torsion spring having a plurality of coils, a top leg and a bottom leg, the improved door comprising:
a sleeve integral to and extending downward from the lower boss to the base, wherein the torsion spring rotates around the sleeve to reduce stress applied to the torsion spring as the door rotates to an open position.
2. The improved door of claim 1 , further comprising:
a catch to make contact with the torsion spring top leg, wherein the catch contacts the top leg distal from the plurality of coils to reduce the force required to pivot the door open and to reduce the stress applied to the torsion spring.
3. An improved door for a tape cartridge having a housing that encloses a single reel on which is wound a length of tape media, the housing having a cover, a base and a post integral to the housing, a door having an upper and a lower boss wherein the upper and lower boss rotate around the post as the door pivots between an open and a closed position, and a torsion spring located between the lower boss and the base of the tape cartridge housing, the torsion spring having a plurality of coils, a top leg and a bottom leg, the improved door comprising:
a sleeve integral to the lower boss, the sleeve extending downward between the lower boss and the base,
an improved catch integral to the door to make contact with the torsion spring top leg, wherein the improved catch contacts the top leg distal from the plurality of coils and as the improved catch applies a force to the top leg, the torsion spring rotates around the sleeve reducing the stress applied to the plurality of coils as the door rotates open.