Abstract: A videotape cassette has a visor-type door, at each end of which is an ear or corner part at which a pin hinges the door to a housing. As in the prior art, the door is biased to either a fully opened or fully closed position. In the novel cassette, the biasing results from a free-standing finger formed in a wall of the housing, which finger acts as a spring against a squarish platform on the inner face of an ear of the door.

Abstract: Videocassette tape spool, the wear button of which is a protuberance of a small plastic piece which may serve to lock the parts of the spool together. By using a small piece for the wear button, substantial savings in raw material can be realized since highly wear-resistant plastics tend to be quite expensive. The novel tape spool also can be assembled less expensively compared to tape spools now used in videocassettes.

Abstract: A prior tape spool comprises two hub parts which are wedged together to pinch a tape leader between the walls of a narrow passage that opens through the tape-winding surface. The novel tape spool differs from the prior tape spool in that the passage pinches the leader only in a region remote from the opening through the tape-winding surface, so that if the leader is accidentally crimped or off center, it would tend to straighten out before emerging from the opening.

Abstract: A tape roller has a plastic sleeve which is journalled between bearings formed in opposing walls of a plastic cassette housing. The wall is cored out around at least one of those bearings so that the bearing is supported only by bridges which bow outwardly to receive an oversize sleeve. Preferably there are two such bridges at the bearing, the thicknesses of which are about 20% that of the wall.

Abstract: A stake for securing a garden hose or a soaker hose, or the like. Including provisions for preventing twisting of the soaker hose.

Abstract: A switch wherein an expanded coil spring is utilized as a first contact and a striker bar having a transverse member disposed in the compression path of coil is utilized as a second contact. Various contact structures and mechanisms for compression spring contact are described.

Abstract: A momentary contact switch having low bounce switching characteristics achieved by maintaining a contact arm continuously biased in accordance with a predetermined force characteristic against a stationary conductor during a wiping contact. An embodiment utilizing a stationary primary contact and a unitary conductive spring contact disposed on a base, is disclosed. The unitary spring contact comprises a spring body portion arranged for compression along an axis normal to the base, and a contact arm portion extending transversely to the spring body portion. The primary contact includes a striking portion disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of compression disposed to cooperate in wiping contact with the contact arm as the spring body is compressed. The angular disposition of the striking plate causes the contact arm to be biased thereagainst with ever increasing force during the wiping contact.