Fix a Weak Battery Door Catch

This is the battery door for an MP3 audio player I have.  The "V"-shaped catch on the battery door has lost its spring-like quality and the battery door sometimes falls off of the player.  I tried heating the bottom of the "V" and bending the catch, but the plastic is weak and it does not hold its position. 

Step 1 Open the catch a bit

I pulled the catch open to spread the "V" so it will hold itself into the player if this position could be maintained.  Be careful not to break the plastic by pulling too much.

Comments

[projectsugru]

nice hack Phil :)

James

[Phil B]

Thanks. I hope it will be helpful to you.

[RedneckEngineer]

Well now my TV remotes wont be covered with "sticky" from the multible layers of tape being put on and taken off over time. Great simple solution, I love it!

[Phil B]

Thanks. I forgot about the battery doors on TV remotes.

[seamster]

This problem is an irritant that I've been looking for a solution to for years. I've always just used a piece of masking tape, but I'll have to give this a try. Very clever. Thanks, Phil!

[pfred2]

Masking tape sounds viable to me. Old rubber bands get really funky! I've seen some petrified masking tape that was pretty old though!

[Phil B]

In regard to old rubber bands, consider this. Say my MP3 player has a useful life of 5 years. At year 2 or 3 the battery door quits working. I sometimes listen to mine in bed. I can change a battery in the dark if the battery door functions properly. It is a bit too much to handle masking tape in the dark. My fix using new rubber bands will outlast the functional life of the player before they become funky.

[pfred2]

I didn't mean tape the cover on I meant jamb it in like you did the rubber band. Plus masking tape comes pre-glued!

[Phil B]

Rolled masking tape does not have the same elasticity rubber band strips have. And, when I handle masking tape, skin oils and dirt take away the adhesive qualities of the tape.

[Phil B]

I hope it works satisfactorily for you. I have tried tape and wrapping a rubber band around the player. As you know, neither of those are very desirable solutions, although they "work" in a crude sort of way. Thank you for looking. Let us know how it works for you.

[Cavechild]

I have a toolbox with compartments in the lid, they have the same kind of tab fastenings and they're always falling open when I open the main box lid - this could be the fix I've been waiting for.
Nice Work!

[Phil B]

Are the "V" openings in the catches larger than on a battery door? My preference would have been to use a steel spring, but there is no space on my battery door for installing one. If the material in your toolbox is metal you can work and if there is more space, I would be tempted to try a steel spring. It could be a small coil spring or a flat spring. The metal spring would last longer than the rubber band pieces, which will lose elasticity over time. Let us know how it works out for you.

[NachoMahma]

. Another elegantly simple Ible from Dr Phil. And so useful, too. Great work.

[Phil B]

Thanks.