Torsion spring door for a videocassette

Claim 1

In a videocassette comprising a length of magnetizable recording tape; two reels each supporting a different helically wound end portion of said tape; a generally rectangular housing enclosing and supporting said reels for rotation to transfer tape between said reels, said housing including an outer front wall having generally planar end portions, a recessed portion between said end portions and means for guiding tape between said reels through said outer wall and across said recessed portion to provide a tape access area; a door; a hinge assembly for pivotably mounting said door on said housing for movement between a closed position over said tape access area and an open position spaced from said tape access area comprising a hinge plate fixed to said housing, arcuate generally hollow cylindrical axially aligned side portions of said door and said hinge plate, and a hinge pin extending through said side portions; and a spring for biasing said door to its closed position, the improvement wherein: said spring is a torsion spring including a straight central portion extending through the side portions of said door and hinge plate to provide said hinge pin, a first end portion fixed to said door, and a second end portion fixed to said housing.