Patent US3620478A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3620478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape reel cover assembly with three-position integral hinge mechanism
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-08-29
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A protective reel cover assembly has a three-position, toggle action, unitary hinge interconnecting the split end portions of a closure ring for a magnetic tape reel cartridge of the type adapted to be mounted for rotation on a tape deck. The hinge body is comprised of three parts hingedly interconnected and being movable to positively lock the cover in a closed position for storage of the cartridge and either one of two open positions in which the cover is expanded to a sufficient extent either to permit independent rotation of the tape reel cartridge or to permit removal or replacement of the tape reel. The cover comprises inner and outer closure ring portions with the inner ring portion snap-fit within the outer ring portion to define an air chamber for the controlled delivery of air to release the leading end of the tape from the tape reel for removal through the cover.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J Fitzgerald
- 👤 Ronald R Jacobsen
- 👤 William J Rueger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:12
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/107; G11B23/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
In a tape reel cartridge having a tape supplY reel provided with spaced apart flanges and the reel adapted to be mounted for rotation on a tape deck and the like, a protective cover assembly for said tape supply reel comprising an outer, expansible split ring member disposed in surrounding relation to the outer peripheral edges of the flanges on said tape supply reel and enclosing the space between said flanges, said outer expansible ring provided with an exit passage for the tape on said reel and terminating in split end portions, an inner split ring member, secured to the inside of said outer ring, said inner and outer ring members having complementary, circumferentially extending male and female portions snap-fit together to form a common circumferentially extending air chamber between said inner and outer ring members for the controlled delivery of air through spaced air exit openings in said inner ring, and a hinge mechanism including a unitary hinge member pivotally connected to said split end portions and extending therebetween, said hinge member being movable between a closed position retaining said split end portions in abutting relation to one another with said reel cover assembly disposed in closely surrounding relation to said tape supply reel and an open position in which said hinge member exerts a spreading force separating said split end portions and causing said reel cover assembly to undergo limited expansion to a position loosely surrounding said tape reel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
In a tape reel cartridge having a tape supplY reel provided with spaced apart flanges and the reel adapted to be mounted for rotation on a tape deck and the like, a protective cover assembly for said tape supply reel comprising an outer, expansible split ring member disposed in surrounding relation to the outer peripheral edges of the flanges on said tape supply reel and enclosing the space between said flanges, said outer expansible ring provided with an exit passage for the tape on said reel and terminating in split end portions, an inner split ring member, secured to the inside of said outer ring, said inner and outer ring members having complementary, circumferentially extending male and female portions snap-fit together to form a common circumferentially extending air chamber between said inner and outer ring members for the controlled delivery of air through spaced air exit openings in said inner ring, and a hinge mechanism including a unitary hinge member pivotally connected to said split end portions and extending therebetween, said hinge member being movable between a closed position retaining said split end portions in abutting relation to one another with said reel cover assembly disposed in closely surrounding relation to said tape supply reel and an open position in which said hinge member exerts a spreading force separating said split end portions and causing said reel cover assembly to undergo limited expansion to a position loosely surrounding said tape reel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a tape reel cartridge according to claim 1, said inner ring including a circumferential continuation of the air chamber formed between said inner and outer rings, the continuation of said inner ring extending across said split end portions and being slidable along a portion of the inner surface of said outer ring as said outer ring is advanced between the closed and open positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a tape reel cartridge according to claim 1, said outer ring being of a generally channel-shaped configuration having inwardly directed sidewalls overlapping the outsides of said reel flanges, said inner ring secured to the inner surface of said outer ring is spaced relation between said sidewalls so as to enter the space between said spaced apart flanges in the closed position of said reel cover assembly, and resilient pads disposed in recesses provided at spaced circumferential intervals along the inner surface of said outer ring laterally between said sidewalls and said inner ring, said pads being engageable with the outer peripheral edges of said reel flanger when said reel cover assembly is in the closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a tape reel cartridge according to claim 3, said inner ring having laterally extending tabs overlying opposite ends of each of said resilient pads to retain said pads within said recesses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a tape reel cartridge according to claim 1, said female section including at least one rib portion on each side of said air chamber provided with a lateral groove therein, and said male section including at least one rib on each side of the air chamber provided with a laterally projecting snap, each said snap being aligned for movement into one of said lateral grooves in offset relation to the centerline of said groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a tape reel cartridge according to claim 1, said female section being provided with inner and outer pairs of spaced ribs on opposite sides of the air chamber, one rib of each pair being provided with a lateral groove therein, and said male section including inner and outer pairs of ribs on opposite sides of said air chamber including inner rib pairs insertable in the space formed between the inner end outer ribs of each pair in said female section and the outer rib pairs of said female section entering the space formed between the inner and outer of each pair on said male section, one of said inner and outer rib pairs of said male section provided with a lateral snap interengaging with a lateral groove on one of said inner and outer rib pairs on said female section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a tape reel cartridge accorDing to claim 6, the inner rib pairs of said male section being offset with respect to the inner rib pairs of said female section to effect an interference fit therebetween, and the lateral snap and lateral groove being formed along the interface between the outer rib pairs of said male and female sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a tape reel cartridge according to claim 7, the outer rib pairs of said female section having tapered extremities with an enclosed air space formed between said outer rib pairs of said female section and the inner and outer rib pairs of said male section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a protective reel cover assembly for a tape supply reel in which the cover assembly includes an annular, split closure ring enclosing the outer periphery of the tape supply reel and said closure ring being provided with split end portions to permit limited expansion of said ring, a hinge mechanism for said reel cover assembly comprising, a pivot member on each of said split end portions, said pivot members being disposed in aligned, facing relation to one another, and a unitary hinge member including a lever portion pivotal on one of said pivot members, a follower portion on the other of said pivot members, and a link member having hinge sections at opposite ends thereof integrally joining said link member to each of said lever and follower portions, said reel cover assembly undergoing limited expansion and retraction in response to pivotal movement of said lever portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a protective reel cover assembly for a tape supply reel in which the cover assembly includes an annular, split closure ring enclosing the outer periphery of the tape supply reel and said closure ring being provided with split end portions to permit limited expansion of said ring, a hinge mechanism for said reel cover assembly comprising, a pivot member on each of said split end portions, said pivot members being disposed in aligned, facing relation to one another, and a unitary hinge member including a lever portion pivotal on one of said pivot members, a follower portion on the other of said pivot members, and a link member having hinge sections at opposite ends thereof integrally joining said link member to each of said lever and follower portions, said reel cover assembly undergoing limited expansion and retraction in response to pivotal movement of said lever portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a protective reel cover assembly according to claim 9, said pivot members being in the form of pivot posts disposed on the outer surface of said closure ring, said lever portion being pivotal at one end to said one pivot post and movable from a position extending along the external surface of said closure ring with said link member substantially overlying said lever portion to a substantially inverted position overlying said link member in advancing said reel cover assembly from a closed, retracted position to an open, expanded position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a protective reel cover assembly according to claim 10, said follower portion having a hinged section in spaced relation to said other pivot post, said follower portion being normally disposed to lie along the external surface of said closure ring when said lever portion is in its closed position with its hinged section located between said pivot posts, and the hinged section of said follower portion being pivotal about said other pivot post in a direction away from said one pivot post said said lever portion is moved toward to the open position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a protective reel cover assembly according to claim 11, said follower portion being further pivotal independently of said lever portion toward its initial disposition when said lever portion is retained in the open position to cause further expansion of said closure ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a protective reel cover assembly according to claim 9, said lever portion being of generally open rectangular configuration and having sidewalls pivoted at one end on said one pivot post and side wings defining forward lateral extensions of said sidewalls underlying and supporting the sides of said link portion when said lever portion is in its closed position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a protective reel cover assembly according to claim 13, the hinged section formed between said link portion and lever portion being located on one side of said one pivot post opposite the other of said pivot posts when said lever portion is in its closed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a protective reel cover assembly according to claim 14, the hinged section on said follower portion being pivotal about a shorter radius than the hinged section of said lever portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1461029A
Cited
US3371882A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |