Patent US3864050A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3864050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Holding mechanism for tape cartridge
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-02-28
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1994-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A holding mechanism for releasably securing a tape cartridge in a tape playing/recording machine is disclosed herein. The holding mechanism consists of a locking bridge that is pivotally supported on a spring carried by the machine so that the locking bridge is biased into a cartridge receiving channel. A notch is located in one wall of the cartridge and is aligned with the locking bridge so that one end of the locking bridge is received into the notch while the opposite end engages the side wall of the cartridge and defines the fulcrum for the biasing forces produced by the spring.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/6751; F; F16; F16B; F16B2/00; F16B2/02; F16B2/16; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/041; G11B23/045; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/60; Y10T403/608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
Mechanism for securing a first mating member in an elongated channel of a second mating member, comprising: means defining a transversely extending notch in one wall of said first mating member, said notch including a forwardly inclined surface and being spaced from one end of said first mating member that is adapted to be received in said channel; a locking bridge having opposite ends; resilient means carried by said second mating member and defining a movable pivotal connection supporting said locking bridge intermediate said opposite ends, said resilient means being positioned to locate at least a portion of said locking bridge in said channel and longitudinally aligned with said notch when said first mating member is aligned with said channel, said locking bridge being simultaneously pivoted on said second mating member and moved transversely of said channel when said first mating member is moved into said channel, said notch being positioned to receive one end of said locking bridge against said forwardly inclined surface when said first mating member is in a fully inserted position in said channel with the opposite end of said locking bridge engaging said one wall at a location spaced from said notch to retain said one end in said notch, whereby said one end of said locking bridge applies both a forwardly directed biasing force and a laterally directed biasing force against said forwardly inclined surface while said opposite end of said bridge applies a laterally directed biasing force against said one wall at said spaced location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
Mechanism for securing a first mating member in an elongated channel of a second mating member, comprising: means defining a transversely extending notch in one wall of said first mating member, said notch including a forwardly inclined surface and being spaced from one end of said first mating member that is adapted to be received in said channel; a locking bridge having opposite ends; resilient means carried by said second mating member and defining a movable pivotal connection supporting said locking bridge intermediate said opposite ends, said resilient means being positioned to locate at least a portion of said locking bridge in said channel and longitudinally aligned with said notch when said first mating member is aligned with said channel, said locking bridge being simultaneously pivoted on said second mating member and moved transversely of said channel when said first mating member is moved into said channel, said notch being positioned to receive one end of said locking bridge against said forwardly inclined surface when said first mating member is in a fully inserted position in said channel with the opposite end of said locking bridge engaging said one wall at a location spaced from said notch to retain said one end in said notch, whereby said one end of said locking bridge applies both a forwardly directed biasing force and a laterally directed biasing force against said forwardly inclined surface while said opposite end of said bridge applies a laterally directed biasing force against said one wall at said spaced location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said locking bridge has freely rotatable rollers on said opposite ends that are adapted to engage said one wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said resilient means is a leaf spring supported at one end on said second mating member with said locking bridge pivotally supported on the opposite end of said spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said one wall has an inclined camming surface on said one end of said first mating member and in which said opposite end of said locking bridge moves along said inclined camming surface during insertion of said first mating member into said channel and engages said one wall beyond said inclined camming surface when said first mating member is in the fully inserted position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said one wall has an inclined camming surface extending from said one end and merging with said wall along an edge and in which the spacing between opposite ends of said locking bridge is less than the spacing between said edge of said camming surface and an adjacent edge of said notch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 5, further including rollers on opposite ends of said locking brIdge for engaging said first mating member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 5, in which said opposite end of said locking bridge defines a fulcrum point for a biasing force produced by said resilient means to maintain said one end of said locking bridge in said notch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 7, in which the spacing between said pivotal connection and said roller on said opposite end of said locking bridge is greater than the spacing between pivotal connection and said roller on said one end of said locking bridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said locking bridge has a generally flat surface portion between said opposite ends and said resilient means biases said surface portion into engagement with an adjacent portion of said second mating member when said first mating member is removed from said channel so that said locking bridge is held in a first position for subsequent reception of said first mating member into said channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said resilient means is a cantilever flat spring having one end connected to said second mating member and said pivotal connection on the opposite end and in which said opposite end of said locking bridge defines a fulcrum for spring forces produced by said flat spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
Mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said first mating member has a further wall opposite said one wall and said second mating member has roller means in contacting engagement with said further wall when said first mating member is received in said channel.
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) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |