US3864745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manual sound reproduction apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-21
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1992-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A manually operated tape playback apparatus includes a base assembly receiving a slidable drive carriage having manually operated drive means thereon. A tape carrier positioned on the base is selectively engageable by the drive means to move the tape in forward or reverse directions. Means cooperating between the base assembly and the carriage are employed to selectively shift the carriage between a playback position whereupon a playback head on the carriage contacts the recorded tape and the drive means engages the transport in a first manner and a rewind position where the head is moved away from the tape and the drive means engages the transport in a second manner. In some embodiments, the base assembly includes a tape speed regulator coupled to a tape engaging capstan to regulate the tape playback speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A Platt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:59
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/67563; G11B15/67573; G11B15/18; G11B15/40; G11B15/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
In a manually operated mechanism for reproducing information recorded on a tape comprising: tape carrier means including a pair of drive spindles; a base assembly including a carriage movably positioned on said base assembly; a tape playback head positioned on said carriage for movement between tape engaging and non-engaging positions; and manually operated drive means positioned on said carriage and selectively engageable with one of said drive spindles for alternatively rotating one of said spindles to transport said tape across said playback head in first or second directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a manually operated mechanism for reproducing information recorded on a tape comprising: tape carrier means including a pair of drive spindles; a base assembly including a carriage movably positioned on said base assembly; a tape playback head positioned on said carriage for movement between tape engaging and non-engaging positions; and manually operated drive means positioned on said carriage and selectively engageable with one of said drive spindles for alternatively rotating one of said spindles to transport said tape across said playback head in first or second directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including cooperating means coupled to said carriage means and to said drive means to position said playback head in a tape engaging position when said drive means is actuated to move said tape in a first direction, and to position said playback head in a non-engaging position when said drive means is actuated to move said tape in a second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further including a speed regulator coupled to said drive means and to said tape for regulating the speed of said tape moving across said playback head in said first direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises: a manually rotated drive shaft, a drive arm pivotally coupled at one end to said carriage, and including an idler pulley at an opposite end thereof, a drive belt coupled between said drive shaft and said idler pulley and movable therearound as said drive shaft is rotated, and cooperating means for shifting said drive arm between said spindle drive pulleys to rotate one of said drive pulleys to move said tape in a first direction and the other of said drive pulleys to move said tape in the second direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said cooperating means is coupled between said base assembly and said carriage and shifts said carriage between a forward position where said playback head engages said tape and a rearward position as said drive arm is shifted between said spindle drive pulleys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A manually operated tape playback apparatus comprising: a base assembly, a tape carrier assembly positioned on said base assembly and including means thereon for supporting and transporting tape, a drive carriage movably positioned on said base assembly and including manually operated drive means selectively engaging said carrier assembly to transport said tape in first or second directions, said carriage further including a tape playback head positioned to detect information recorded on said tape when said tape is transported in one of said directions, and cooperating means engaging said drive carriage and said base assembly for moving said carriage and actuating said drive means to selectively engage said tape carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
A manually operated tape playback apparatus comprising: a base assembly, a tape carrier assembly positioned on said base assembly and including means thereon for supporting and transporting tape, a drive carriage movably positioned on said base assembly and including manually operated drive means selectively engaging said carrier assembly to transport said tape in first or second directions, said carriage further including a tape playback head positioned to detect information recorded on said tape when said tape is transported in one of said directions, and cooperating means engaging said drive carriage and said base assembly for moving said carriage and actuating said drive means to selectively engage said tape carrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises: a drive shaft rotatably positioned on said carriage and including means for manually rotating said shaft, a drive arm pivotally coupled to said carriage and extending to said carrier to selectively engage said carrier, said arm including means supporting a drive member thereon, and means coupling said drive member to said drive shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said cooperating means includes means engaging said drive arm to pivot said drive arm and therefore said drive member between first and second carrier engaging positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for supporting said drive member on said drive arm comprises an idler pulley, said means coupling said drive member to said drive shaft comprises a drive pulley and said drive member comprises an endless loop belt positioned between said idler and drive pulleys and movable therearound when said drive shaft is rotated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said tape carrier comprises first and second tape spindles, each including drive pulleys coupled thereto, said drive pulleys positioned to be alternately engaged by said drive member as said cooperating means is actuated to pivot said drive arm between first and second positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said cooperating means comprises a sliding cam plate guidably supported on said base assembly and including a camming surface engaging a cam member positioned on said carriage to shift said carriage and said playback head thereon toward and away from the tape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A manually operated tape playback apparatus comprising: a base assembly, a drive carriage assembly slidably mounted to said base assembly including a tape playback head and manually operated drive means, means cooperating between said base and carriage to shift said carriage and drive means between playback and rewind positions, and a tape carrier including means selectively engaged by said drive means for transporting a tape across said playback head when said drive means is operated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A manually operated tape playback apparatus comprising: a base assembly, a drive carriage assembly slidably mounted to said base assembly including a tape playback head and manually operated drive means, means cooperating between said base and carriage to shift said carriage and drive means between playback and rewind positions, and a tape carrier including means selectively engaged by said drive means for transporting a tape across said playback head when said drive means is operated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said carrier includes a pair of spindles for receiving tape reels, each of said spindles including a drive pulley mounted thereon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said drive means comprises: a drive arm movably coupled to said carriage and extending toward said carrier, said arm including a pulley mounted at the end remote from said carriage, a manually rotated drive shaft positioned on said carriage, a drive belt coupled to said drive shaft and said drive arm pulley to be moved therearound as the drive shaft is rotated, and means coupling said drive arm to said cooperating means to engage said drive belt with one of said drive pulleys on said carrier when said cooperating means is in the playback position and the other of said drive pulleys on said carrier when said cooperating means is in the rewind positioN.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said cooperating means comprises: a sliding cam plate having a camming surface thereon, means formed in said base assembly for guidably engaging said cam plate, and a cam follower positioned on said carriage and engaging said camming surface on said plate such that as said cam plate is shifted between playback and rewind positions, said carriage is moved into a forward position where said head engages said tape, and rearward in the rewind position whereupon said head disengages said tape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said drive arm is pivotally mounted to said carriage and said cam plate guidably engages said drive arm such that as said cam plate is shifted between playback and rewind positions, said drive arm is pivoted causing said drive belt to alternately engage one of said drive pulleys on said carrier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said base assembly includes a centrifugal speed regulator rotatably mounted thereto and means coupling said speed regulator to said drive shaft and to said tape for regulating the speed of said tape as said apparatus is operated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said means coupling said regulator to said tape includes: a capstan engaging one surface of said tape, and a pressure roller engaging the opposite side of said tape and engaging said capstan in a resilient manner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 18 and further including means positioned on said carrier for receiving a tape cartridge and for locking said tape cartridge into a fixed position on said playback apparatus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a manually operated tape playback apparatus, the combination comprising: a base assembly including means for supporting a reel of tape thereon; a carriage movably mounted to said base assembly; a pick-up head and a manually operated tape drive means for transporting tape across said pick-up head, said head and drive means positioned on said carriage; means cooperating between said carriage and said base assembly for shifting said carriage and said drive means thereon into first and second operative positions to engage said supporting means to move tape by said pick-up head in first and second directions respectively.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a manually operated tape playback apparatus, the combination comprising: a base assembly including means for supporting a reel of tape thereon; a carriage movably mounted to said base assembly; a pick-up head and a manually operated tape drive means for transporting tape across said pick-up head, said head and drive means positioned on said carriage; means cooperating between said carriage and said base assembly for shifting said carriage and said drive means thereon into first and second operative positions to engage said supporting means to move tape by said pick-up head in first and second directions respectively.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 20 and further including a speed regulator coupled between said base assembly and said drive means for regulating the playback speed of said tape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said speed regulator is further coupled directly to said tape.
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 |