Abstract: A pair of spaced reel springs are integrally molded on a cassette cover to extend inwardly and downwardly at an angle. When the cassette cover and base are mated, the springs bias movable tape reels against the cassette base. A removable dust door includes an extension having a pair of integrally formed projections. The projections extend, when the removable dust door is positioned on the cassette, into openings formed in the tape cassette around the reel springs. The projections abut the springs, hold the tape reels against the cassette base and relieve the load from the springs.

Abstract: A CD package is provided, including a pivotable CD holder and a foldable cardboard cover. The holder includes a square central panel and two side, substantially rectangular profile "flip" panels each with a substantially semicircular cutout corresponding to half of a CD. The cover includes four portions separated by strips, each portion foldable relative to each other, and a plurality of cutouts to temporarily receive projections formed on the underside of the holder. The cover is slidably received within clasps, also formed on the underside of the holder. The flip panels are pivoted, coplanar to the central panel to create a retail configuration, with two portions of the cover extending over each of the front and back, respectively, of the holder. The cover and holder are then shrink wrapped together. This retail configuration forms a rigid "long box" since the holder spans cover strips. The consumer removes the shrink wrap, unfolds the cover and removes the CD.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a phase change material is provided which comprises a container holding the phase change material, a tube surrounding the container to define an annular space therebetween, and at least two divider walls extending across the annular space to divide the annular space into at least upper and lower flow passageways. The heat exchanger can preferably be operated in either a melt cycle or a freeze cycle. In the melt cycle, the lower flow passageway is configured to receive heat exchange fluid to initiate melting of the phase change material from the bottom so that newly-formed liquid phase change material is displaced toward the top of the container. In the freeze cycle, the upper flow passageway receives heat exchange fluid to initiate freezing of the phase change material at the top. The newly-formed solid phase change material falls to the bottom of the container, displacing liquid phase change material toward the top.

Abstract: A method of making an aluminum extrusion having a pair of thermal brakes therein and the extrusion, comprising the steps of providing an aluminum extrusion having a pair of side walls, upper and lower wall members, each secured to each of the side walls and a chamber forming a portion of each of the wall members spaced from the side walls, one of the chambers having a continuous bridge member forming a wall thereof and forming the only bridge connecting portions of the upper wall member, the other of the chamber having a discontinuous bridge member forming a portion of a wall thereof, and a "V"-shaped member bridging the discontinuity in the discontinuous bridge member, disposing thermal braking material in the chamber having a continuous bridge member and allowing the thermal braking material to set in the chamber, providing a continuous slit in the continuous bridge member and the V-shaped member to cause a thermal separation of the side walls from each other, placing a leak preventing member in the V-shape

Abstract: A reel spring including a wire having a flat central portion and two angled arms, each terminating in substantially planar pads, curved portions or pivot buttons. The flat central portion includes two spaced, open loops which receive corresponding projections formed on the cassette cover. The pads, curved portions or pivot buttons abut and bias the tape reel hubs downwardly when the cassette cover and base are mated. The methods of assembly include the steps of moving the loops against the projections until the corresponding projections are received by the loops and caulking or swaging the projections. The wire reel spring can be removed by merely moving the wire reel spring in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A cassette assembly line including, a tape reel leadering and placement station having a table rotatable between reel supply, leader supply/clip/cutting and tape reel placement substations. The reel supply substation places unleadered tape reels in equally spaced relation on the rotary table. The table rotates to present unleadered tape reels to the leader supply/clip/cutting substation. A first reel is fed a leader supply, which leader is secured by a leader clip. The rotary table is then rotated so that the leader supply extends across a second and third tape reel, and leader clips secure the leader supply to the second and third tape reels. The leader is then cut between the second and third tape reels to form an exact length leader for the first and second tape reels. The leadered pair is then transferred to a cassette shell by the reel placement substation. In effect, the cut end still attached to the leader supply becomes the leader for the next pair.

Abstract: A write enable tab is repeatedly movable from a first position, enabling writing on a signal storage unit, to a second position, disabling writing thereon. The write enable tab preferably includes a central body and a flexible member which exert force against first and second walls of a tape cassette shell. The flexible member is attached at a first end to the central body. A second end of the flexible member projects into first and second depressions in the first wall when the central body is in the first and second positions, respectively.

Abstract: A short leg and coil of a torsion spring fit on a dust door polar member and a long leg having a first end connected to the coil and a second free end extends therefrom. An offset is formed between the first and second ends of the long leg and is received by a cassette cover and the free end engages a perpendicular projection formed on a dust door latch. In a second embodiment, a lower portion of the latch can flex relative to an upper portion, and a leaf spring is integrally formed to extend from the upper portion. The dust door polar member has a cam which cooperates with the leaf spring. In the first embodiment, when the latch is actuated by a pin the dust door is unlatched and rotated to the open position. When the pin is released, the long leg biases the latch back into a latched position and, simultaneously, the rest of the spring closes the door.

Abstract: Integrally molded dust door latches for a video cassette. The latch never needs to be preloaded and includes a planar latch body having a flexing member formed integrally therein to impart inherent spring action to the latch. The latch includes two lateral supports and a first and second projections which enter openings formed in the cassette base. The latch is assembled in the cassette such that the latch can flex or deflect via the flexing member when pressure is applied to one of the projections.

Abstract: Reel leaf spring/cassette cover combinations are described, wherein the leaf spring is removably mounted on the cover. In a cam fit embodiment, the spring is held within opposing pairs of projections. In a press fit embodiment, the spring includes lateral pointed members, which are caught between parallel projecting members formed on the cover. A related method of assembly includes the steps of: forming a cassette cover to include a plurality of opposing projections; inserting a leaf spring against the cover at an angle between the projections; and rotating the leaf spring to be removably engaged by the projections. In an alternate embodiment, the leaf spring includes lateral pointed members and the spring is installed straight down, such that the pointed members catch the plurality of projections.

Abstract: A bumper bar for vehicles formed from rolled sheet steel having a closed tubular profile designed to have a high impact resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, and a low cost of manufacture. The bar is preferably swept along its longitudinal axis to create a curvature consistent with modern automotive design.

Abstract: A bumper bar for vehicles formed from rolled sheet steel having a closed tubular profile designed to have a high impact resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, and a low cost of manufacture. The bar is preferably swept along its longitudinal axis to create a curvature consistent with modern automotive designs.

Abstract: A roll-formed door beam is provided for a vehicle which has an elongated shaped including a hat shaped portion and one to two looping portions. The hat shaped portion includes an upper flat surface for attachment and downwardly extending sides. The looping portions includes a bottom flat surface for attachment and looping sides which loopingly extend backwardly toward the base of the hat shaped portion. The looping sides cooperate with the side of the hat portion to stabilize the beam during flexure thus increasing the strength to thickness ratio of the beam.

Abstract: An integral actuator/reel lock/spring for a video cassette is described, including: (a) a lock body having a first end and a second end, an inclined opening at the first end to receive a tape player/recorder pin, lateral wings, angled grooves and a lead in for a self-centering rib in the cassette base; and (b) a spring bar connected centrally at the second end of the lock body, the spring bar including a pawl and a lower dog leg combination formed at each end. The lock body is received in the cassette base in an area defined by: (a) a first, elongated, central portion having parallel side walls, between which is formed a self-centering rib; and (b) a pair of lateral, substantially triangular walled portions, each spaced from the central portion.

Abstract: Window/cassette cover combinations and more economical methods for assembling the window in the cassette are described. A planar window is: rectangular and includes a pair upper lips, each an opposite sides, and a pair of lower riges or ledges, each on other sides; generally square and includes an upper discontinuous lip and a pair of lower ridges or ledges on opposite sides; or circular and includes an upper continuous lip and a lower continuous ridge or ledge. In each of these three embodiments, the upper lips and lower ledges or ridges cooperate to receive the borders of a window opening formed in the cassette cover, and a label can be applied between the windows and optionally covering one or more windows. In each embodiment of the method, the window is flexed to position opposing ledges under the borders and the window is returned to its original planar position so that the upper lip abuts the top of the border.

Abstract: A static tape cassette reel lock is described. In one embodiment a tape reel flange has on the outer circumference thereof a plurality of teeth, and the cassette base includes a plurality of slanted vertical ribs and a centered slanted horizontal rib. The teeth of the flange are able to move past the angled ribs so that the tape reel can rotate in one direction, but does not allow rotation in the other direction. In another embodiment the reel hub includes a chamfered ring of teeth. The cassette base includes a corresponding ratchet ring of ramped teeth. Again, rotation in one direction is allowed, but not in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An integrally molded dust door latch/spring for a video cassette and related method of assembly are described. The latch/spring includes: a planar latch body having a flexing member formed between a first upper end and a second lower end. The first end includes two lateral supports and a projecting, substantially planar perpendicular member. The second end includes first and second projections which enter openings formed in the cassette base. The latch/spring is assembled in the cassette such that the first end is fixed between the cassette base and cover, but the second end can flex or deflect via the flexing member relative to the first end. The method includes the steps of: (1) locating the two projections in the openings formed in the cassette base; (2) locating the supports in receptacles formed in the base; and (3) placing the cassette cover on the base so that the first end of the latch body is fixed relative to the cassette and the first end can flex relative to the first end via the flexing member.

Abstract: A write/protect tab assembly including a substantially planar jacket base and a write/protect tab slidably mounted in a tab pocket formed in the jacket base, such that the tab is encaptured by the jacket base. The tab is alternatively encaptured by: a latch formed at the tab pocket for receiving the tab; shelf-like projections formed on the tab pocket for receiving corresponding elongated recesses formed on the sides of the tab; a cap attached to the tab with the tab pocket being disposed between the tab and the cap; or guides formed adjacent the tab pocket for receiving in sliding relation the sides of the tab. The present invention also includes a method of encapturing the tabs in the jacket base before the cover is positioned on the jacket base.