US3661336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature cartridge and means for installing and removing the same
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1970-05-01
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A miniature tape cartridge for stereo eight-track tape players with a housing of conventional width and height to fit preexisting tape players, but which is shortened to terminate within a range from between anywhere inwardly of the front wall of the tape player to approximately 1 inch outwardly of the front wall of the tape player, and which has means extensible from the cartridge to facilitate grasping of the cartridge for removal and/or insertion thereof into the tape player.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin A Lace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:40
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A compact tape cartridge for use with a tape player which has an entryway formed in the front wall to receive the tape cartridge and a spring biased door covering the entryway to prevent undesirable material from entering the tape player and which door is urged open by insertion of the tape cartridge, comprising in combination, a housing defining the cartridge for carrying a quantity of magnetic tape to be transported past an opening formed at the front end of the housing which, in turn, is juxtaposed a transducer head within the tape player, and the opposite end of the housing terminating within the tape player inwardly of the front wall thereof when said housing is fully inserted into playing position in the tape player, and handle means extensible from the rear end of said housing having a first position effectively to lengthen said housing to facilitate insertion and removal of said cartridge and to maintain said door in an open position as long as the tape cartridge is positioned in said entryway, and a second position which renders the cartridge substantially to the size of said housing for storage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A compact tape cartridge for use with a tape player which has an entryway formed in the front wall to receive the tape cartridge and a spring biased door covering the entryway to prevent undesirable material from entering the tape player and which door is urged open by insertion of the tape cartridge, comprising in combination, a housing defining the cartridge for carrying a quantity of magnetic tape to be transported past an opening formed at the front end of the housing which, in turn, is juxtaposed a transducer head within the tape player, and the opposite end of the housing terminating within the tape player inwardly of the front wall thereof when said housing is fully inserted into playing position in the tape player, and handle means extensible from the rear end of said housing having a first position effectively to lengthen said housing to facilitate insertion and removal of said cartridge and to maintain said door in an open position as long as the tape cartridge is positioned in said entryway, and a second position which renders the cartridge substantially to the size of said housing for storage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein said handle means is pivotally secured at said rear end of said housing to be adjacent said rear end in one condition and to be extended from said rear end in another condition to be grasped by the user for removal of the cartridge from the tape player and to maintain said door open.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tape cartridge of claim 2 wherein said pivotal handle is pivoted on said housing near one corner thereof and collapses against said rear end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein said handle means is a U-shaped member formed about three sides of said housing including said rear end, and said U-shaped member is slidable to a collapsed condition when the cartridge is not inserted into the entryway of the tape player and slidable outwardly to an extended position when the tape cartridge is inserted into the tape player.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tape cartridge of claim 4 further including a protuberance formed on said U-shaped member to abut against a portion of the front wall of the tape player when the cartridge is inserted into the entryway automatically to extend said U-shaped member while inserting the cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein said handle means includes notch means formed in said housing, and a removable handle selectively insertable into said notch means to increase the length of said housing to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the tape player.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The tape cartridge of claim 6 wherein said notch means is a pair of elongated notches on opposite sidewalls of said housing diametrically opposed from one another, and wherein said removable handle is U-shaped in configuration having the terminating ends thereof inwardly turned toward one another to engage the elongated notches formed in said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein said handle means is formed of an extensible member being collapsed to said rear end of said housing in one condition and extended therefrom when the housing is inserted into the entryway of the tape player, said extensible member including protuberance means for abutting with the front wall of the tape player upon insertion into the entryway thereof to provide means to grasp the cartridge and remove the same from the tape player.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |