Note 11 - Revolving Credit Facility	12 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2012
Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]	11. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY We have a revolving credit facility from a bank. The maximum principal amount we can borrow at any one time under the loan agreement is $10,000,000. The maturity date is April 30, 2015. The credit agreement is unsecured and accrues interest at a variable rate equal to 30-day LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 85 to 165 basis points, depending on our leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement). The interest rate, including the margin, was 1.062% on November 1, 2012. Interest-only payments are required monthly. There is a 25-basis-point annual fee, payable quarterly, on any unused availability above $5,000,000. The credit agreement is unsecured; however, we have pledged to grant the bank a security interest in our accounts, instruments, and chattel paper upon its request in the event of a default as defined in the credit agreement. Our obligations under the credit agreement are guaranteed by Span-Canada. The credit facility includes financial covenants relating to tangible net worth and leverage ratios, and restricts dividends and stock repurchases during any fiscal year to an aggregate amount of no more than 50% of the sum of (i) our income from continuing operations for that fiscal year plus (ii) the absolute value of our aggregate after-tax, non-cash and extraordinary losses for that fiscal year, if any. As an exception to the restriction noted above, we may pay a regular quarterly dividend in an amount no greater than the previous quarter’s regular dividend so long as we remain in compliance with the financial covenants after giving effect to the payment of the dividend. Also, there is no restriction on Span-Canada’s ability to pay dividends or make distributions to the parent company. Violation of loan covenants could result in the acceleration of the term of the credit agreement. We incurred approximately $21,000 of interest expense in 2012 and no interest expense in 2011 and 2010. No amounts were outstanding under the credit facility at September 29, 2012.

Note 11 - Revolving Credit Facility

12 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2012

Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]

11. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

We have a revolving credit facility from a bank. The maximum principal amount we can borrow at any one time under the loan agreement is $10,000,000. The maturity date is April 30, 2015. The credit agreement is unsecured and accrues interest at a variable rate equal to 30-day LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 85 to 165 basis points, depending on our leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement). The interest rate, including the margin, was 1.062% on November 1, 2012. Interest-only payments are required monthly. There is a 25-basis-point annual fee, payable quarterly, on any unused availability above $5,000,000. The credit agreement is unsecured; however, we have pledged to grant the bank a security interest in our accounts, instruments, and chattel paper upon its request in the event of a default as defined in the credit agreement. Our obligations under the credit agreement are guaranteed by Span-Canada.

The credit facility includes financial covenants relating to tangible net worth and leverage ratios, and restricts dividends and stock repurchases during any fiscal year to an aggregate amount of no more than 50% of the sum of (i) our income from continuing operations for that fiscal year plus (ii) the absolute value of our aggregate after-tax, non-cash and extraordinary losses for that fiscal year, if any. As an exception to the restriction noted above, we may pay a regular quarterly dividend in an amount no greater than the previous quarter’s regular dividend so long as we remain in compliance with the financial covenants after giving effect to the payment of the dividend. Also, there is no restriction on Span-Canada’s ability to pay dividends or make distributions to the parent company. Violation of loan covenants could result in the acceleration of the term of the credit agreement.

We incurred approximately $21,000 of interest expense in 2012 and no interest expense in 2011 and 2010. No amounts were outstanding under the credit facility at September 29, 2012.