Detent device for locking the lid of a cassette receiving compartment of a tape recorder

Claim 1

A resilient detent device for the lid of a casing including means defining an opening with said lid being mounted on said casing to open and close said opening, said detent device comprising a generally U-shaped lock spring having a pair of resilient legs and provided near the end of one of said legs with a first projection, compartment means formed in said casing for operatively housing therein said lock spring in operative position, a lock member formed to project from a part of said lid and arranged to engage said first projection of said lock spring thereby to cause to be applied to said lid during opening and closing thereof a spring force developed by said U-shaped lock spring, a second projection formed on said one leg, and means defining a ledge in said compartment means, said second projection being engaged on said ledge against the spring force of said lock spring, with the engagement between said second projection and said ledge operating to modify the spring force applied to said lid by the engagement between said lock member and said first projection.