US3689007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette having means thereon to vary its size
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-05
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1990-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A tape cassette for use with tape recorders and players in which one of the walls forming the cassette is movable to selectively vary the size of the cassette whereby it can be used with nonstandard size cassette holders.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobutoshi Kihara
- 👤 Yotaro Miura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:26
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B23/08707; G11B23/08785
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A magnetic tape cassette comprising: A. Reel means having a length of tape wound thereon; and B. A housing enclosing said reel means and comprising: 1. a front wall having an opening therein through which a length of said tape can be extracted, 2. a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, said froNt and rear walls being relatively movable perpendicular to each other between at least a first position and a second position, and 3. top, side, and bottom wall members joining said front and rear walls, a portion of said top wall member adjacent said front wall having an opening communicating with said opening in said front wall to facilitate access to said tape, and said sidewall members engaging adjacent other wall members to provide at least first and second connection detents corresponding to said first and second relative positions of said front and rear walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A magnetic tape cassette comprising: A. Reel means having a length of tape wound thereon; and B. A housing enclosing said reel means and comprising: 1. a front wall having an opening therein through which a length of said tape can be extracted, 2. a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, said froNt and rear walls being relatively movable perpendicular to each other between at least a first position and a second position, and 3. top, side, and bottom wall members joining said front and rear walls, a portion of said top wall member adjacent said front wall having an opening communicating with said opening in said front wall to facilitate access to said tape, and said sidewall members engaging adjacent other wall members to provide at least first and second connection detents corresponding to said first and second relative positions of said front and rear walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, said froNt and rear walls being relatively movable perpendicular to each other between at least a first position and a second position, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, said froNt and rear walls being relatively movable perpendicular to each other between at least a first position and a second position, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The cassette of claim 1 in which said sidewall members comprise: A. First and second sidewall members attached to opposite ends of said front wall and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; B. Locking means on said first and second sidewall members; and C. Cooperating means on said adjacent other wall members to interlock with said locking means to hold said sidewall members and thus said front and rear walls in either of said first and second relative positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cassette of claim 2 in which said locking means comprise projections extending from said first and second sidewall members and said cooperating means comprise notches in edge portions of said top and bottom wall members to receive said projections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
top, side, and bottom wall members joining said front and rear walls, a portion of said top wall member adjacent said front wall having an opening communicating with said opening in said front wall to facilitate access to said tape, and said sidewall members engaging adjacent other wall members to provide at least first and second connection detents corresponding to said first and second relative positions of said front and rear walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
top, side, and bottom wall members joining said front and rear walls, a portion of said top wall member adjacent said front wall having an opening communicating with said opening in said front wall to facilitate access to said tape, and said sidewall members engaging adjacent other wall members to provide at least first and second connection detents corresponding to said first and second relative positions of said front and rear walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cassette of claim 3 in which the width of said first and second sidewall members is substantially equal to the distance between said edge portions, and said projections project over said edge portions, whereby said projections hold said first and second sidewall members in alignment in moving between said first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cassette of claim 3 in which said locking means are made of resilient material to resiliently press against said edge portions when said locking means are between said notches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cassette of claim 3 in which said sidewall members comprise, in addition, third and fourth sidewall members fixedly attached to said rear and cooperating with said rear wall and top and bottom wall members to form a rear part of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cassette of claim 6 in which said reel means are rotatably mounted in said rear part.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cassette of claim 1 in which said reel means comprise first and second reels spaced apart side-by-side and in the same plane.
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) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |