Coin operated manually selective tape cartridge player

Claim 2

In combination with a self-contained tape cartridge player component, a casing connectable to a source of electrical energy, said component being mounted in said casing, a tape cartridge magazine in the lower portion of said casing, a cartridge insertion chute leading from said magazine to said component, coin receiving means in said casing, a start switch actuated by the insertion and withdrawal of a tape cartridge to and from said component, said start switch being wired in series with said coin means and said source of electrical energy whereby the insertion of a coin completes the current to said switch, a cartridge locking solenoid in said casing and means operated by said solenoid and movable from a cartridge locking position to a cartridge release position, manually operable cartridge track shifting means in said casing operatively connected between said source of electrical energy and said component, and adjacent said coin receiving means, ejection means responsive to the conductive strip on the endless tape of the associated cartridge to eject the associated coin from said coin receiving means thereby breaking the circuit.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 in which said means operated electrically by said switch to lock and unlock said spring loaded means includes a second solenoid, a plunger in said second solenoid, a lever pivoted between the ends thereof and by one end thereof to the distal end of said plunger, the extension and retraction of said plunger moving the other end of said lever into and out of engagement with said spring loaded means.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 2 which includes a tape cartridge magazine in said casing, a cartridge insertion chute communicating between said magazine and said component, said magazine including means to store a plurality of tape cartridges, said cartridges being manipulable to position any one thereof within said chute, and means to retain said cartridges within said magazine against external removal therefrom.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 3 in which said magazine includes a base, an upper wall, side walls, and a rear wall, said last mentioned means including upper and lower spaced and parallel flanges extending from said upper wall and said base respectively, said flange defining an open cartridge access space, the vertical dimensions between said flanges being less than the height of the associated cartridges, said upper wall and said base being spaced apart sufficiently to permit horizontal sliding movement of said cartridges but preventing sideways tilting thereof.

Claim 6

In a tape cartridge player assembly which includes a self-contained tape cartridge component adapted to receive a cartridge containing an endless, multi-tracked tape, said tape having a conductive strip along the length thereof, a playing head, drive means to move said tape across said head, a track shifting solenoid, a switch operated by the insertion and withdrawal of said cartridge, and spring loaded means for detachably holding said cartridge within said component in playing relationship therewith; the improvement which is characterized by the provision of a casing, said component being mounted in said casing, a source of electrical energy available in said casing, coin receiving means in said casing electrically connected between said source of electrical energy and said swiTch, whereby the insertion of a conducting token in said coin receiving means completes the electrical circuit between said source of electrical energy and said switch, means electrically operated by said switch to lock and unlock said spring loaded means, manually operable means to selectively operate said track shifting solenoid when said switch is closed, and means responsive to said conductive strip, to eject said conductive token from said coin receiving means thereby breaking the circuit to said switch and to said means to lock and unlock said spring loaded means.

Claim 7

In a tape cartridge player assembly which includes a self-contained tape cartridge component adapted to receive a cartridge containing an endless, multi-tracked tape, said tape having a conductive strip along the length thereof, a playing head, drive means to move said tape across said head, a track shifting solenoid, a switch operated by the insertion and withdrawal of said cartridge, and spring loaded means for detachably holding said cartridge within said component in playing relationship therewith; the improvement which is characterized by the provision of a casing, said component being mounted in said casing, a source of electrical energy available in said casing, coin receiving means in said casing electrically connected between said source of electrical energy and said swiTch, whereby the insertion of a conducting token in said coin receiving means completes the electrical circuit between said source of electrical energy and said switch, means electrically operated by said switch to lock and unlock said spring loaded means, manually operable means to selectively operate said track shifting solenoid when said switch is closed, and means responsive to said conductive strip, to eject said conductive token from said coin receiving means thereby breaking the circuit to said switch and to said means to lock and unlock said spring loaded means.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 5 which includes a tape cartridge magazine in said casing, a cartridge insertion chute communicating between said magazine and said component, said magazine including means to store a plurality of tape cartridges, said cartridges being manipulable to position any one thereof within said chute, and means to retain said cartridges within said magazine against external removal therefrom.

Claim 9

The device according to claim 6 in which said magazine includes a base, an upper wall, side walls, and a rear wall, said last mentioned means including upper and lower spaced and parallel flanges extending from said upper wall and said base respectively, said flanges defining an open cartridge access space, the vertical dimensions between said flanges being less than the height of the associated cartridges, said upper wall and said base being spaced apart sufficiently to permit horizontal sliding movement of said cartridges but preventing sideways tilting thereof.

Claim 10

The device according to claim 5 in which said means operated electrically by said switch to lock and unlock said spring loaded means includes a second solenoid, a plunger in said second solenoid, a lever pivoted between the ends thereof and by one end thereof to the distal end of said plunger, the extension and retraction of said plunger moving the other end of said lever into and out of engagement with said spring loaded means.

Claim 11

The device according to claim 8 which includes a tape cartridge magazine in said casing, a cartridge insertion chute communicating between said magazine and said component, said magazine including means to store a plurality of tape cartridges, said cartridges being manipulable to position any one thereof within said chute, and means to retain said cartridges within said magazine against external removal therefrom.

Claim 12

The device according to claim 9, in which said magazine includes a base, an upper wall, side walls, and a rear wall, said last mentioned means including upper and lower spaced and parallel flanges extending from said upper wall and said base respectively, said flanges defining an open cartridge access space, the vertical dimensions between said flanges being less than the height of the associated cartridges, said upper wall and said base being spaced apart sufficiently to permit horizontal sliding movement of said cartridges but preventing sideways tilting thereof.

Claim 13

The device according to claim 5 in which said coin receiving means includes a non-conductive coin transporting chute, the lower end of said chute being in a plane parallel to but slightly below the other end thereof, and a pair of contacts in said lower end spaced apart to receive and retain said conductive token.

Claim 14

The device according to claim 11 in which said means operated electrically by said switch to lock and unlock said spring loaded means includes a second solenoid, a plunger in said second solenoid, a lever pivoted between the ends thereof and by one end thereof to the distal end of said plunger, the extension and retraction of said plunger moving the other end of said lever into and out of engagement with said spring loaded means.

Claim 15

The device according to claim 11 which includes a tape cartridge magazine in said casing, a cartridge insertion chute communicating between said magazine and said component, said magazine including means to store a plurality of tape cartridges, said cartridgEs being manipulable to position any one thereof within said chute, and means to retain said cartridges within said magazine against external removal therefrom.

Claim 16

The device according to claim 13, in which said magazine includes a base, an upper wall, side walls, and a rear wall, said last mentioned means including upper and lower spaced and parallel flanges extending from said upper wall and said base respectively, said flanges defining an open cartridge access space, the vertical dimensions between said flanges being less than the height of the associated cartridges, said upper wall and said base being spaced apart sufficiently to permit horizontal sliding movement of said cartridges but preventing sideways tilting thereof.

Claim 17

The device according to claim 11 in which said means to eject said conductive token includes a first solenoid, a plunger in said solenoid, said plunger normally lying in the retracted position, said plunger being positioned under said lower end of said chute in a position to flip said token out of said chute and away from said contacts when said plunger is extended.

Claim 18

The device according to claim 15 in which said means operated electrically by said switch to lock and unlock said spring loaded means includes a second solenoid, a plunger in said second solenoid, a lever pivoted between the ends thereof and by one end thereof to the distal end of said plunger, the extension and retraction of said plunger moving the other end of said lever into and out of engagement with said spring loaded means.

Claim 19

The device according to claim 16 which includes a tape cartridge magazine in said casing, a cartridge insertion chute communicating between said magazine and said component, said magazine including means to store a plurality of tape cartridges, said cartridges being manipulable to position any one thereof within said chute, and means to retain said cartridges within said magazine against external removal therefrom.

Claim 20

The device according to claim 17 in which said magazine includes a base, an upper wall, side walls, and a rear wall, said last mentioned means including upper and lower spaced and parallel flanges extending from said upper wall and said base respectively, said flanges defining an open cartridge access space, the vertical dimensions between said flanges being less than the height of the associated cartridges, said upper wall and said base being spaced apart sufficiently to permit horizontal sliding movement of said cartridges but preventing sideways tilting thereof.