Patent US3876071A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3876071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage container for tape cassette with self-locking spring to prevent tape spillage
Assignee: AMARAY INTERNATIONAL Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1974-04-22
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1994-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A storage container for storing a tape cassette is disclosed. The storage container comprises an enclosure and a pair of cylindrical bosses for engaging the hubs of respective reels which carry the magnetic tape of the associated cassette. The bosses include a button for engaging a drive-hole in the hub, and a spring for urging the button into a locking position when the cassette is placed within the container and the drive-hole is aligned with the button. This arrangement limits lateral and rotational movement of the reels so as to prevent the tape from unwinding while the cassette is enclosed within the container. In a preferred embodiment, the two bosses protrude inwardly and are integrally formed with one of the sides of the enclosure, and the button and the spring are integrally formed in a cap that mates with the bosses. The entire storage container is preferably injection molded from polypropylene.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd D Neal
- 👤 Allan R Northrup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:49
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/023; G11B23/0233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
351 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette, said tape cassette including opposed first and second walls for housing a reel of magnetic tape such that said reel is laterally and rotatably movable therebetween, whereby lateral and rotational movement of said reel causes said tape to unwind, said reel comprising a hub which includes a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall that define a cylindrical recess therewithin, said bottom wall including a central locating hole, for receiving a locating pin which protrudes inwardly from said second wall for roughly positioning said reel, and a plurality of drive holes disposed between said locating hole and said side wall, said first wall including a circular opening therethrough that exposes said recess, said container comprising: enclosure means for enclosing said cassette, said enclosure means including a first wall having a flat, planar inner surface; a cylindrical hub engaging means affixed to said inner surface and protruding inwardly therefrom for engaging portions of said bottom wall and said side wall of said hub, said hub engaging means including a spring-retaining recess beneath its top surface and having an outer diameter that is slightly less than that of said side wall and a height such that its top surface abuts said bottom wall when said first wall of said cassette is placed against said inner surface; and spring means that is carried by said hub engaging means and which includes a button, that is adapted to be received by said drive holes, and a spring member, said button being movable between a recessed position, wherein said button lies within said spring-retaining recess and a locking position, wherein said button extends above said top surface, said spring member urging said button into said locking position, whereby when said cassette is placed within said container and one of said drive holes is aligned with said button, said spring member urges said button into said locking position within said aligned drive hole, thereby to limit lateral and rotational movement of said reel so as to prevent said tape from unwinding while said cassette is enclosed within said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
351 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette, said tape cassette including opposed first and second walls for housing a reel of magnetic tape such that said reel is laterally and rotatably movable therebetween, whereby lateral and rotational movement of said reel causes said tape to unwind, said reel comprising a hub which includes a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall that define a cylindrical recess therewithin, said bottom wall including a central locating hole, for receiving a locating pin which protrudes inwardly from said second wall for roughly positioning said reel, and a plurality of drive holes disposed between said locating hole and said side wall, said first wall including a circular opening therethrough that exposes said recess, said container comprising: enclosure means for enclosing said cassette, said enclosure means including a first wall having a flat, planar inner surface; a cylindrical hub engaging means affixed to said inner surface and protruding inwardly therefrom for engaging portions of said bottom wall and said side wall of said hub, said hub engaging means including a spring-retaining recess beneath its top surface and having an outer diameter that is slightly less than that of said side wall and a height such that its top surface abuts said bottom wall when said first wall of said cassette is placed against said inner surface; and spring means that is carried by said hub engaging means and which includes a button, that is adapted to be received by said drive holes, and a spring member, said button being movable between a recessed position, wherein said button lies within said spring-retaining recess and a locking position, wherein said button extends above said top surface, said spring member urging said button into said locking position, whereby when said cassette is placed within said container and one of said drive holes is aligned with said button, said spring member urges said button into said locking position within said aligned drive hole, thereby to limit lateral and rotational movement of said reel so as to prevent said tape from unwinding while said cassette is enclosed within said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 1 wherein said cassette includes a second hub that is identical to said first hub and wherein said first wall includes a second circular opening for exposing a second cylindrical recess of said second hub, said container comprising a second cylindrical hub engaging means affixed to said inner surface and protruding inwardly therefrom at a location that is in alignment with said second cylindrical recess, and a second spring means for engaging one of said drive holes of said second hub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 2 wherein said spring means is formed as an integral assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 3 wherein said spring means is formed in said top surface of said hub engaging means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said hub engaging means and said spring means are formed from polypropylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said buttons are tapered so that when said respective spring members are slightly recessed, the outer surface of said button remains in engagement with said drive hole, thereby to prevent side thrust of said reel from forcing said button under said top surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said spring member extends along a diameter of said top surface from a location near the periphery thereof so as to form a long moment arm through which the spring force is applied to said engaged drive hole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 7 wherein said hub engaging means includes an annular base that is integrally formed with said inner surface, and a cap, said base including therewithin four apertured supports disposed near its inner periphery so as to define said spring-retaining recess therebetween, said cap comprising said spring means and including four elongated members which depend outwardly therefrom and which are located so as to be receivable by respective ones of said apertured supports, thereby to firmly secure said cap to said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 2 and further comprising first and second short thin, annularly-shaped cassette engaging members that extend inwardly from said inner surface at locations radially outwardly of said respective first and second hub engaging means for engaging said respective first and second circular openings, thereby to more completely restrict movement of said reel within said cassette.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A storage container for storing a tape cassette as recited in claim 9 wherein the outer periphery of said first and second cassette engaging members is serrated to accomodate variations in the size of said first and second circular openings.
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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |