US3809219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape cassette
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-14
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-04-14
Abstract
Abstract In a tape cassette housing having an opening through which magnetic tape contained in the housing can be engaged and withdrawn from the housing, for example, for the recording and/or reproducing of signals on the tape by means of a head assembly outside the cassette, and a pivoted lid for closing such opening; a latch mechanism is provided for locking the lid in its closed position to normally protect the tape, and such latch mechanism is released by an actuating element which is inserted into the cassette housing in the normal course of the positioning of the cassette in the holder therefor of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The latch mechanism includes a keeper on the lid disposed within the cassette housing adjacent an edge of the opening when the lid closes such opening, and a latching element slidable rectilinearly in a guide provided at the inside of a wall of the housing and having a latch nose at one end of the latching element engageable with the keeper under the urging of a spring. The housing wall and latch element have adjacent apertures which are normally offset relative to each other and which are brought into registry by the penetration of the actuating element through the wall aperture, whereby to displace the latching element against the force of the spring for relasing the latch nose from the keeper.
Inventors
- 👤 H Esashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:39
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B23/08707; G11B23/08735
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
A tape cassette comprising top, bottom and peripheral walls defining a housing for containing a tape and having an elongated opening through which the tape can be engaged and withdrawn from the housing; a lid pivoted on said housing and being movable between opened and closed positions with respect to said opening; and a latch mechanism for said lid including a keeper fixed on said lid so as to be disposed within said housing adjacent an end of said opening in said closed position of the lid, guide means disposed at the inside of one of said walls of the housing and extending longitudinally along said one wall toward said end of the opening adjacent the location of said keeper in said closed lid position, a latching element rectilinearly slidable in said guide means and having a latch nose extending from an end of said latching element directed toward said end of the opening, spring means acting on said latching element to urge the latter longitudinally along said guide means toward said end of the opening to an operative position at which said nose projects from said guide means for locking engagement with said keeper in said closed lid position, said one wall having a first aperture therein for penetration by an actuating element and across which said latching element extends, and said latching element having a second aperture therein which, in said operative position of said latching element, is offset relative to said first aperture in the direction toward said end of the opening so that an adjacent portion of said latching element partly obstructs said first aperture, said second aperture being adapted to receive the actuating element penetrating said first aperture and acting against said portion of the latching element for registering said first and second apertures and thereby displacing said latching element longitudinally against the force of said spring means so as to disengage said latch nose from said keeper and permit movement of the lid to said opened position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
A tape cassette comprising top, bottom and peripheral walls defining a housing for containing a tape and having an elongated opening through which the tape can be engaged and withdrawn from the housing; a lid pivoted on said housing and being movable between opened and closed positions with respect to said opening; and a latch mechanism for said lid including a keeper fixed on said lid so as to be disposed within said housing adjacent an end of said opening in said closed position of the lid, guide means disposed at the inside of one of said walls of the housing and extending longitudinally along said one wall toward said end of the opening adjacent the location of said keeper in said closed lid position, a latching element rectilinearly slidable in said guide means and having a latch nose extending from an end of said latching element directed toward said end of the opening, spring means acting on said latching element to urge the latter longitudinally along said guide means toward said end of the opening to an operative position at which said nose projects from said guide means for locking engagement with said keeper in said closed lid position, said one wall having a first aperture therein for penetration by an actuating element and across which said latching element extends, and said latching element having a second aperture therein which, in said operative position of said latching element, is offset relative to said first aperture in the direction toward said end of the opening so that an adjacent portion of said latching element partly obstructs said first aperture, said second aperture being adapted to receive the actuating element penetrating said first aperture and acting against said portion of the latching element for registering said first and second apertures and thereby displacing said latching element longitudinally against the force of said spring means so as to disengage said latch nose from said keeper and permit movement of the lid to said opened position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, further comprising additional spring means urging said lid to one of said positions thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tape cassette according to claim 2, in which said additional spring means urges said lid to said closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tape cassette according to claim 2, in which said additional spring means urges said lid to said opened position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, in which said guide means includes a partition extending parallel to, and spaced inwardly from said one wall to define a channel therebetween in which said latching element is longitudinally slidable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tape cassette according to claim 5, in which said partition has an aperture aligned with said first aperture in said one wall for receiving the actuating element when the latter penetrates said first aperture and extends through said second aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tape cassette according to claim 5, in which said latching element is of an elongated flat configuration fitting loosely in said channel and having projections extending therefrom for guiding engagement with surfaces of said channel at relatively small areas of contact, whereby to minimize the frictional resistance to movement of said latching element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tape cassette according to claim 7, in which said guide means has abutment means directed into said channel and engageable by the latching element for limiting the movement of said latching element by said spring means at said operative position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tape cassette according to claim 5, in which said spring means is disposed in said channel between the end of said latching element remote from said nose and the adjacent end of said channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A tape cassette according to claim 5, in which said one wall is said peripheral wall of the housing, said peripheral wall is defined by joined together flanges extending from said top and bottom walls, respectively, said partition extends from one of said top and bottom walls, and the other of said top and bottom walls has an inner flange extending therefrom into said channel for holding said latching element in the channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, in which said one wall of the housing is one of said top and bottom walls thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, in which said portion of the latching element adjacent said second aperture has a bevelled edge facing toward said one wall for engagement by the actuating element penetrating said first aperture.
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) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |