US3756329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reel-demountable cassette and reels for magnetic tape
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-07
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1992-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A video tape cassette is arranged to break open in the middle, to release the reels, the two cassette halves pivoting on hinges the leaves of which are cast in durable plastic integrally with the cassette halves and are pinned together at the knuckles by means of a springy clip, making a tight-fitting hinge fastening. The cassette halves are held together remote from the hinges by key-type fasteners; and key-type inserts are also used for function lockout buttons. The reels have a simplified springloaded construction whereby both ends are urged into braking engagement with the cassette sides when the cassette is closed, to prevent unreeling of the tape.
Inventors
- 👤 D Dolby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:20
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B23/08707; G11B23/08721; G11B23/08728; G11B23/08785
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A reel-demountable cassette and reels for magnetic tape, comprising: a generally rectangular housing arranged for holding said reels with the reel axes in spaced parallel relation to one another and within a plane that extends parallel to and between a pair of spaced parallel first walls of said housing, the other walls of the housing being arranged in planes orthogonal thereto; said housing being formed in two parts for mutual opening movements away from one another in a general direction parallel to said reel axes; hinge means for coupling said two housing parts together in the plane of one of said first walls thereof; said hinge means comprising a hinge pin; and a pair of knuckle portions formed on said respective housing parts and interfitting to define journal means for said hinge pin; a first one of said knuckle portions being relieved to permit lateral insertion and removal of said hinge pins; means for removably securing said hinge pin in said first knuckle portion; and fastening means for coupling said two housing parts together at places remote from said one first wall of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A reel-demountable cassette and reels for magnetic tape, comprising: a generally rectangular housing arranged for holding said reels with the reel axes in spaced parallel relation to one another and within a plane that extends parallel to and between a pair of spaced parallel first walls of said housing, the other walls of the housing being arranged in planes orthogonal thereto; said housing being formed in two parts for mutual opening movements away from one another in a general direction parallel to said reel axes; hinge means for coupling said two housing parts together in the plane of one of said first walls thereof; said hinge means comprising a hinge pin; and a pair of knuckle portions formed on said respective housing parts and interfitting to define journal means for said hinge pin; a first one of said knuckle portions being relieved to permit lateral insertion and removal of said hinge pins; means for removably securing said hinge pin in said first knuckle portion; and fastening means for coupling said two housing parts together at places remote from said one first wall of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 1, wherein: said one first wall at said first knuckle portion is reentrant to define a recess opening toward the second knuckle portion and the exterior of said housing; said second knuckle portion being formed to extend from the other housing portion and to fit pivotably within said recess, in both open and closed conditions of said cassette.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 2, wherein: said reentrant wall is slotted to define a pair of bearing slots aligned on the hinge axis and opening toward said other housing portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 3, wherein: said hinge pin is formed with a midportion fitting in said slots, and two parallel arms extending orthogonally from said midportion and along the opposed reentrant wall faces that face inwardly of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 4, wherein said arms are curved and have hook portions at the tips thereof to define a springy clip; said corresponding housing portion having a pair of shoulders formed therein for receiving and securing said hook tips of said clip in springy detachable fashion; said combination being dimensioned so that said spring clip urges said housing parts tightly together in the closed position of said cassette.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 1, wherein each of said fasteners comprises; a key having a single bit and an enlarged head; one of said housing parts being formed with a keyhole for said key, said keyhole being warded to permit insertion and removal axial passage of said key only in a first predetermined orientation, but retention of said key by said bit thereof in a second predetermined orientation; spring means in said keyhole for urging said key in a removal direction; and the other of said housing parts being provided with a matching keyhole for said key, said matching keyhole being warded to permit passage of said key only in said second orientation, and retention of said key by said bit thereof in another orientation; whereupon said housing parts are fastened together as by opposed engagement said said key bit and said enlarged head of said key, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
166 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 1, wherein function lockout buttons are also provided, each comprising: a function lockout key having a single bit and an enlarged head; one of said housing parts being formed with a lockout keyhole for said lockout key, said lockout keyhole being warded to permit insertion and removal axial passage of said lockout key only in a first predetermined orientation thereof, but retention of said lockout key by said bit thereof in a second predetermined orientation thereof with said head coplanar with the outer surfAce of said one housing part; said lockout keyhole being further warded to permit deeper penetration of said lockout key only in said second orientation thereof and retention of said lockout key by said bit thereof in a third orientation with said head substantially recessed below the plane of said outer surface of said one housing part; and spring means in said lockout keyhole for urging said lockout key in a removal direction thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 1, wherein each of said reels comprises: a hub having an axial bore enlarged at one end to define an outwardly facing shoulder; a spindle in said bore and a spring collar fitting in a circumferential groove on said spindle and engaging said hub shoulder to limit the insertion of said spindle in said bore; a brake member fitting for axial sliding motion on said spindle and for frictional bearing against the adjacent wall of said housing in an extended position of said brake member; and compression spring means between said brake member and said collar and shoulder to urge said brake member into said extended position and concurrently to urge the other end of said reel hub frictionally against the confronting wall of said housing for frictionally locking said hub against rotation in the extended position of said brake member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 8, wherein said brake member is provided with a number of reentrant springy retaining fingers hooked at the ends thereof to fit within a circumferential recess of said spindle for limiting axial movement of said brake member between a position beyond said extended braking position and a retracted non-braking position closer to said shoulder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 9, wherein the axial end portions of said brake member and the reel flange remote therefrom are chamfered to mate with correspondingly shaped openings in said housing walls, so as to provide lateral positioning for said reel as well as braking action in the extended position of said brake member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 1, wherein there is also provided a card retaining means comprising: a flat card bed on one side of said housing, said bed being shaped to the shape of said card; a pair of opposed retaining flanges extending from said bed and overlapping the long edges of said card for retaining said card slidably in the direction of the longer axis thereof; a pair of raised end frames extending from said bed at the ends of said card for restricting said sliding motion of said card in flattened position on said bed; said edge retaining flanges being spaced from said raised end frames to enable sliding insertion and extraction of said card as by bending the end thereof away from said bed to clear the adjacent raised end frame of said bed; and said bed and raised end frames being cut away to form a pair of fingertip insertion recesses, enabling the insertion of a fingertip between said card and bed to aid in grasping said card for removing same.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 1, wherein: said two housing parts each have substantially the same dimension in the direction parallel to said reel axes, so as to form substantially equal halves of said housing; the side of said housing corresponding to the reel-to-reel run of said magnetic tape being substantially open to expose said tape run, and being provided with at least one guide post inwardly of said tape at the middle of said run; each of said guide posts extending integrally from one of said housing parts for the full width of said tape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A cassette and reel combination as described in claim 12, wherein: two of said guide posts are provided in laterally spaced apart relation to define an atmospheric air access passage therebetween; at least one side of said housing having an opening formed therethrough at a pOsition between said guide posts, so as to provide for direct communication of atmospheric air pressure to the back side of said reel-to-reel tape run.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |