US3758119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic eject mechanism for cassette tape player
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1971-07-01
•
Granted: 1973-09-11
•
Expires: 1991-07-01
Abstract
Abstract Automatic eject apparatus for use in a cassette tape player includes a pivotal, spring biased lever arm movable to an ejectready position upon operation of a manual actuator arm from a first to a second position for the purpose of moving a cassette into the play position in the tape player. The armature of a solenoid coupled to a latch arm engageable with the lever arm upon moving the latter to the eject-ready position, is magnetically held by a holding coil to maintain the lever arm in the eject-ready position. Removal of power from the holding coil unlatches the lever arm which in turn engages the actuator arm to move the cassette out of the play position. An overcenter spring connected to the latch arm aids in moving the solenoid armature into engagement with the holding coil and returning the armature and latch arm to their initial positions upon de-energization of the holding coil. A second, spring biased pivotal lever arm movable also from an unlatched to a latched position, ejects the cassette from the player upon removal of power from the latter.
Inventors
- 👤 A Harlan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:11
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/67544; G11B15/67555; G11B15/67557
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
In a cassette tape player including a tunnel for receiving a cassette and manually actuable means movable from a first to a second position for moving the cassette from an inserted position to a playback position within said tunnel, respectively, automatic cassette eject means including pivotal lever means secured to said player and being coupled to said manual actuation means, said lever means being moved from a normal to an ejectready position when said actuation means is moved to position said cassette to a playback position, resilient biasing means coupled to said pivotal lever means for storing energy when the cassette is moved from said inserted to said playback position, a solenoid having an armature and a holding coil, said armature being mounted on said player for movement toward and away from said holding coil, said holding coil arranged to receive energizing power for holding said armature thereto upon movement of the latter into engagement therewith, latch means mounted for movement on said player and being coupled to said armature and positioned for engagement with said pivotal lever means upon moving said lever means to said eject-ready position, said latch means retaining said pivotal lever means in said eject-ready position while said cassette is in said playback position, and overcenter spring means connected to said latch means and movable in snap-action fashion from a first to a second Stable condition upon movement of said cassette from said inserted to said playback position for rapidly moving said armature into positive engagement with said holding coil, said holding coil, upon deenergization thereof, releasing said pivotal lever means from said eject-ready position, whereby said resilient biasing means returns said lever means to said normal position and said cassette is moved out of said playback position, said pivotal lever means pulling against said latch means to move the latter out of engagement therewith and to snap said overcenter spring means to said first stable condition said latch means thereby being returned to said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
331 words
In a cassette tape player including a tunnel for receiving a cassette and manually actuable means movable from a first to a second position for moving the cassette from an inserted position to a playback position within said tunnel, respectively, automatic cassette eject means including pivotal lever means secured to said player and being coupled to said manual actuation means, said lever means being moved from a normal to an ejectready position when said actuation means is moved to position said cassette to a playback position, resilient biasing means coupled to said pivotal lever means for storing energy when the cassette is moved from said inserted to said playback position, a solenoid having an armature and a holding coil, said armature being mounted on said player for movement toward and away from said holding coil, said holding coil arranged to receive energizing power for holding said armature thereto upon movement of the latter into engagement therewith, latch means mounted for movement on said player and being coupled to said armature and positioned for engagement with said pivotal lever means upon moving said lever means to said eject-ready position, said latch means retaining said pivotal lever means in said eject-ready position while said cassette is in said playback position, and overcenter spring means connected to said latch means and movable in snap-action fashion from a first to a second Stable condition upon movement of said cassette from said inserted to said playback position for rapidly moving said armature into positive engagement with said holding coil, said holding coil, upon deenergization thereof, releasing said pivotal lever means from said eject-ready position, whereby said resilient biasing means returns said lever means to said normal position and said cassette is moved out of said playback position, said pivotal lever means pulling against said latch means to move the latter out of engagement therewith and to snap said overcenter spring means to said first stable condition said latch means thereby being returned to said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A cassette tape player as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch means include an arm mounted on said player for pivotal movement, said latch arm coupled pivotally to said armature and including finger means for engaging said pivotal lever means upon the latter being moved to said eject-ready condition to retain said pivotal lever means in said last-mentioned position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cassette tape player as claimed in claim 1 wherein said automatic cassette eject means includes a frame member, and wherein said lever means, solenoid and latch means are mounted on said frame member, said frame member being removably mounted on said cassette player.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
Automatic cassette eject apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a pivotally mounted arm, wherein said solenoid armature comprises a pivotally mounted arm, one end of which is magnetically attractable to said holding coil and the opposite end of which is coupled to said latch arm at a free end of the latter, said latch arm further including first and second finger means, said first finger means being engageable with said lever means upon the latter being moved from said normal to said eject-ready position, said latch arm being pivoted in response thereto, whereby said overcenter spring means is moved from said first to said second stable state to in turn move said one end of said armature into holding engagement with said holding coil, and said second finger means being releasably coupled to said lever arm upon the latter reaching said eject-ready position, thereby to retain said lever arm in said eject-ready position until said holding coil is de-energized.
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) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |