US3618841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endless loop tape cartridge
Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
•
Filing: 1969-10-01
•
Granted: 1971-11-09
•
Expires: 1989-10-01
Abstract
Abstract An endless loop tape cartridge for use with a cartridge tape player includes a cartridge housing having a tape storage chamber with two egress openings. The cartridge housing includes apertures adapted to accommodate the cartridge player transducers, and additionally, a rotatably mounted pressure roller. The endless loop of magnetic tape is positioned within the cartridge such that the tape loop path moves: (a) around the pressure roller, (b) into the cartridge storage chamber, (c) out through the cartridge chamber first egress opening, (d) across the front end of the cartridge for engagement with the player transducers, (e) around the pressure roller, (f) reinserted into the cartridge storage chamber, and (g) out through the cartridge chamber second egress opening back to the pressure roller.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Daniel Browning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H20/00; B65H20/28; G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A tape cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing including a tape storage chamber, said tape storage chamber including a first and a second tape egress area; a pressure roller mounted within said cartridge housing; an endless loop of tape positioned within said cartridge housing such that a first and a Second section of said tape simultaneously pass around a portion of said pressure roller; and said endless loop of tape positioned within the cartridge tape storage chamber such that the tape traverses a path in a first direction and is withdrawn from said first egress area and traverses a path in a second direction and is withdrawn from said second egress area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A tape cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing including a tape storage chamber, said tape storage chamber including a first and a second tape egress area; a pressure roller mounted within said cartridge housing; an endless loop of tape positioned within said cartridge housing such that a first and a Second section of said tape simultaneously pass around a portion of said pressure roller; and said endless loop of tape positioned within the cartridge tape storage chamber such that the tape traverses a path in a first direction and is withdrawn from said first egress area and traverses a path in a second direction and is withdrawn from said second egress area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein the endless loop of tape is a magnetic tape and is positioned within said cartridge such that the magnetic tape withdrawn from said first egress area passes beneath the magnetic tape withdrawn from said second egress area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tape cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein portions of the endless loop of tape are stored in said cartridge tape storage chamber in random serpentine folds and the motion of said tape in said first and said second direction moves the stored tape to prevent a bunching up of the tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
148 words
A tape cartridge of the type including an endless loop of magnetic tape which is passed across the forward portion of the cartridge for cooperative engagement with an external transducing means, comprising: a cartridge housing including a tape storage chamber having a first and a second egress area; a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said cartridge housing; said endless loop of magnetic tape positioned within said cartridge housing such that a first and a second section of said tape simultaneously pass around a portion of said pressure roller, each section inserted into said storage chamber; and said first tape section, after insertion into said storage chamber, traverses a path in a first direction and is withdrawn through said first egress area, and said second tape section, after insertion into said tape storage chamber, traverses a path in a second direction and is withdrawn through said second egress area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
A tape cartridge of the type including an endless loop of magnetic tape which is passed across the forward portion of the cartridge for cooperative engagement with an external transducing means, comprising: a cartridge housing including a tape storage chamber having a first and a second egress area; a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said cartridge housing; said endless loop of magnetic tape positioned within said cartridge housing such that a first and a second section of said tape simultaneously pass around a portion of said pressure roller, each section inserted into said storage chamber; and said first tape section, after insertion into said storage chamber, traverses a path in a first direction and is withdrawn through said first egress area, and said second tape section, after insertion into said tape storage chamber, traverses a path in a second direction and is withdrawn through said second egress area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 4 including means positioned with said cartridge for passing said first tape section beneath said second tape section after each section has been withdrawn from said chamber egress areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
A tape cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing including a tape storage chamber having a first egress area and a second egress area; a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said cartridge housing; apertures within said cartridge housing adapted to accommodate external transducing means; and an endless loop of magnetic tape positioned within said cartridge such that the tape loop path moves: (a) around the pressure roller, (b) into said cartridge storage chamber, (c) out through the cartridge chamber first egress opening, (d) across the front end of the cartridge for engagement with the external transducing means, (e) around the pressure roller, (f) reinserted into the cartridge tape storage chamber, (g) out through the cartridge chamber second egress opening, and (h) across the front end of the cartridge back to the pressure roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A tape cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing including a tape storage chamber having a first egress area and a second egress area; a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said cartridge housing; apertures within said cartridge housing adapted to accommodate external transducing means; and an endless loop of magnetic tape positioned within said cartridge such that the tape loop path moves: (a) around the pressure roller, (b) into said cartridge storage chamber, (c) out through the cartridge chamber first egress opening, (d) across the front end of the cartridge for engagement with the external transducing means, (e) around the pressure roller, (f) reinserted into the cartridge tape storage chamber, (g) out through the cartridge chamber second egress opening, and (h) across the front end of the cartridge back to the pressure roller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tape cartridge as defined in claim 6 wherein portions of the endless loop of magnetic tape are stored in said tape storage chamber in random serpentine folds and the motion of said tape sections in said first and said second direction moves the stored tape to prevent a bunching up of the tape in said tape storage chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tape cartridge as defined in claim 7 wherein said first egress area and said second egress area are located near the rear portion of the cartridge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tape cartridge as defined in claim 7 wherein said first egress area and said second egress area are located near the rear portion of the cartridge and spaced apart, each being near a cartridge sidewall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |