Container for tape cassettes

Claim 2

A container for a tape cassette, the container comprising a case with an open front, a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement between an outer, open position in which a cassette can be placed upon or withdrawn from the slide and an inner closed position, the slide being open sided and including a base plate having an upper, cassette-supporting surface and having front portions adjacent the open front of the case, means retaining a tape cassette on the base plate, a spring continuously biasing the slide towards the open position, stop means defining the open position and restraining further movement of the slide out of the case, and releasable catch means movable between a locking position for holding the slide in the closed position and a release position permitting the slide to move outwardly through the open end of the case into the open position under the influence of the spring; the slide having open and unobstructed space at the open sides thereof and adjacent the front portion of the base plate to entirely expose edges of a cassette supported on the base plate so that a cassette supported on the base plate can be securely grasped by its exposed side edges and removed therefrom.

Claim 3

A container according to claim 1 wherein the slide has a front wall cooperating with the open end of the case to completely close the open end when the slide is in its inner, closed position.

Claim 4

A container according to claim 1 wherein the base plate is provided with a slot which extends in the direction in which the slide is movable and in which engages a guide projection on the case for guiding the slide.

Claim 5

A container according to claim 2 wherein the slide has a rear wall with at least one cassette-engaging inner surface which slopes upwardly and rearwardly away from the base plate and wherein the case is provided with an upper wall having a lower face with guide ribs which extend in the direction of movement of the slide and which are arranged to urge a cassette into seating location on the base plate as the slide is closed.

Claim 6

A container according to claim 1, wherein the slide and the case are provided with an inter-engaging pin and slot, one on the slide and the other on the case, the slot extending in the direction of movement of the slide, and the ends of the slot forming stops for the pin for the purpose of limiting movement of the slide.

Claim 7

A container according to claim 5, wherein the pin has at its forward end an inclined surface which facilitates introduction of the slide into the case.

Claim 8

The container according to claim 1 wherein the base plate is provided with a pair of tabs aligned normal to the direction of slide movement for engagement in openings in the winding cores of a cassette.

Claim 9

A container according to claim 1 wherein the catch means includes a cantilevered leaf spring extending forwardly in the direction of movement of the slide with its forward end having a tooth arranged to engage a recess, and a push button movable to disengage the tooth from the recess.

Claim 10

A container according to claim 8, wherein the leaf spring, the push button, and the tooth are integral with the slide or the case.

Claim 11

A container according to claim 8, wherein the leaf spring, the push button and the tooth are integral with the slide and the detent is formed by an aperture in the case.

Claim 12

A container according to claim 1, wherein the case has external guide tracks designed to slide into other tracks for the purpose of detachably connecting the case to an adjacent like case to form a block.

Claim 13

A container according to claim 11, wherein the guide tracks are of dovetail form.

Claim 14

A container according to claim 1, wherein the spring is a coil spring formed about a notional core of elongate cross section.

Claim 15

A container according to claim 1, wherein the spring is a cylindrical coil spring and the case has spring guides to prevent the spring from buckling.

Claim 16

A container for a tape cassette comprising a case with top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall, and an open front; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed position, the slide having a base plate with a cassette-supporting surface and means retaining a cassette on the base plate; the container including an interior guide comprising a pair of elongated, closely spaced, parallel guide projections and means defining a pair of guide projection-receiving slots provided on confronting surfaces of the base plate and case, one pair on the base plate and the other pair on the case with the projections in sliding engagement with the slots, the guide projections and slots extending in the direction of sliding movement of the slide and positioned approximately midway between the side walls of the case, the projections and slots being mutually configured to restrain movement of the slide transversely of the direction of sliding movement and co-acting to guide the slide smoothly into and out of the case.

Claim 17

A container for a tape cassette comprising a case with top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall, and an open front; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed position, the slide having a base plate with a cassette-supporting surface and means retaining a cassette on the base plate; the container including an interior guide comprising a pair of elongated, closely spaced, parallel guide projections and means defining a pair of guide projection-receiving slots provided on confronting surfaces of the base plate and case, one pair on the base plate and the other pair on the case with the projections in sliding engagement with the slots, the guide projections and slots extending in the direction of sliding movement of the slide and positioned approximately midway between the side walls of the case, the projections and slots being mutually configured to restrain movement of the slide transversely of the direction of sliding movement and co-acting to guide the slide smoothly into and out of the case.

Claim 18

The container of claim 15 wherein the interior guide track provided on the bottom wall of the container includes a longitudinal reinforcing guide plate provided on the latter wall in Alginment with the dove-tail track on the other surface of the wall, and wherein the latter dove-tail track is formed into that portion of the bottom wall reinforced by the guide plate.

Claim 19

The container according to claim 15 wherein a spring extends along the interior guide and biases the slide to open position, and the case having a spring guide groove of segmental cross section in one of said walls and extending along said interior guide, the groove confining the spring against transverse movement as the slide moves between inner and outer positions.

Claim 20

A container for a tape cassette comprising, a case with top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front with exterior surfaces of both the top and bottom walls each having a pair of parallel, stacking dove-tails along their edges adjacent the side walls and a central stacking dove-tail approximately midway between the side walls and parallel to the pair of dove-tails; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed position, the slide including a base plate with an upper, cassette-supporting surface and means retaining a cassette on the base plate; mating slide tracks provided on confronting surfaces of the base plate and bottom case wall and extending in the direction of sliding movement of the slide, the slide track on the bottom case wall being aligned with and on the opposite side of the bottom case wall from the central dove-tail; the central dove-tail being engageable with the central dove-tail of identical abutting containers for mutual support between containers against warping of adjacent cases to thereby assure smooth, sliding movement of the slides into and out of the cases.

Claim 21

A container for a tape cassette comprising, a case with top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front with exterior surfaces of both the top and bottom walls each having a pair of parallel, stacking dove-tails along their edges adjacent the side walls and a central stacking dove-tail approximately midway between the side walls and parallel to the pair of dove-tails; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed position, the slide including a base plate with an upper, cassette-supporting surface and means retaining a cassette on the base plate; mating slide tracks provided on confronting surfaces of the base plate and bottom case wall and extending in the direction of sliding movement of the slide, the slide track on the bottom case wall being aligned with and on the opposite side of the bottom case wall from the central dove-tail; the central dove-tail being engageable with the central dove-tail of identical abutting containers for mutual support between containers against warping of adjacent cases to thereby assure smooth, sliding movement of the slides into and out of the cases.

Claim 22

The container of claim 18 wherein the base plate includes an elongated, slot-shaped recess having confronting inner edges slidably engaging outer longitudinal edges of the guide plate.

Claim 23

A container according to claim 11 wherein a spring guide groove of segmental cross section is accommodated within the said guide tracks.

Claim 24

A container accoridng to claim 7 including a label having spaced slots and which can be placed upon the base plate with the tabs extending through the slots to restrain unintentional removal of the label.

Claim 25

A container according to claim 21 wherein the label is made of stiff flat material and has two resilient tongues that can be snapped in under holding lugs provided on the slide.

Claim 26

A container according to claim 21, wherein matter printed on one surface of the label is repeated upside down on the other side of the label.

Claim 27

A container according to claim 11, wherein auxiliary guide tracks are provided close to the edges of the case and parallel to the main guide tracks.

Claim 28

A container according to claim 24, wherein the main guide tracks are of dovetail cross section and the auxiliary guide tracks are of half dovetail cross section.

Claim 29

A container according to claim 11, wherein the tracks do not extend over the whole length of the case.

Claim 30

A container according to claim 24, wherein the auxiliary tracks are shorter than the main tracks.

Claim 31

A container according to claim 11, wherein the guide tracks extend from the rear edge of the case and stop short of the front edge.

Claim 32

A container according to claim 5, wherein to facilitate rigid stacking of containers locking pins are provided on the case for engaging an end of the said slots.

Claim 33

A container according to claim 11 wherein guide tracks are provided in adjoining exterior sides of the case which extend parallel to the direction of movement of the slide.

Claim 34

A container according to claim 30, wherein none of the guide tracks extend the full length of the case and all of the tracks stop short of the front face of the case.

Claim 35

A container according to claim 11, and a mounting bracket having guide tracks adapted to engage and fit with at least some of the guide tracks on The case.

Claim 36

A container according to claim 11, and a carrying handle adapted to engage and fit onto at least some of the guide tracks on the case.

Claim 37

A container according to claim 1, wherein the case is formed in one piece to accommodate several slides arranged above, next to or behind one another.

Claim 38

A container for a tape cassette, comprising: a case having top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front; a cassette-supporting slide slidable into and out of the open front of the case, between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, cassette-storing closed position, the slide having a bottom base plate with an upper, cassette-supporting surface, and a front wall on the slide adjacent the open front of the case and confronting a long edge of the cassette, the slide being free of obstructions preventing substantially free one-hand access to short edges of an exposed tape cassette lying on the base plate; a spring positioned between confronting surfaces of the slide and case and biasing the slide toward its open position; stop means defining the outer position of the slide and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; a slide-orienting guide comprising guide projections and projection-receiving slots between the bottom wall of the case and a confronting surface of the slide and extending in the direction of sliding movement to guide the slide with respect to the case and to restrain the slide from movement in any transverse direction relative to such sliding movement; and a releasable catch mounted between the slide and the case, the catch including a tooth and a tooth-receiving recess provided one on the slide and the other on the case, and exteriorly accessible means operable with one hand for biasing the tooth out of the recess to permit the slide to move into its open position.

Claim 39

A container for a tape cassette, comprising: a case having top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front; a cassette-supporting slide slidable into and out of the open front of the case, between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, cassette-storing closed position, the slide having a bottom base plate with an upper, cassette-supporting surface, and a front wall on the slide adjacent the open front of the case and confronting a long edge of the cassette, the slide being free of obstructions preventing substantially free one-hand access to short edges of an exposed tape cassette lying on the base plate; a spring positioned between confronting surfaces of the slide and case and biasing the slide toward its open position; stop means defining the outer position of the slide and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; a slide-orienting guide comprising guide projections and projection-receiving slots between the bottom wall of the case and a confronting surface of the slide and extending in the direction of sliding movement to guide the slide with respect to the case and to restrain the slide from movement in any transverse direction relative to such sliding movement; and a releasable catch mounted between the slide and the case, the catch including a tooth and a tooth-receiving recess provided one on the slide and the other on the case, and exteriorly accessible means operable with one hand for biasing the tooth out of the recess to permit the slide to move into its open position.

Claim 40

A container for a tape cassette, the latter having long and short side edges with a tape exposed at a long edge, the container comprising: a. an integral case having substantially closed top, bottom and side walls, a substantially closed rear wall and an open front, the side walls being spaced to accommodate therebetween the long edge of a tape cassette; b. an integral, cassette-supporting U-shaped slide slidable into and out of the open front of the case between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, cassette-storing position, the slide having a bottom base plate with an upper, cassette-supporting surface and having front and rear walls at ends of the base plate and spaced to receive a tape cassette therebetween with the long, tape-exposing edge of the cassette lying along the front wall, the width of the base plate being less than the width of the front wall and the slide being free of obstructions preventing free access to opposed short edges of a cassette, which are exposed when the slide is in its outer position; c. a stop comprising abutting surfaces integrally formed into the slide and case, the stop defining the outer position of the slide and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; d. a coil spring mounted within the case between confronting surfaces of the rear walls of the slide and case with its axis parallel to the axis of sliding movement of the slide to bias the latter into its outer position; e. elongated, mating guides formed into confronting surfaces of the base plate and bottom wall of the case and oriented parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the slide to restrain the slide from movement transverse to the direction of sliding movement into and out of the case; and f. a releasable, spring-loaded catch mounted between the slide and the case, the catch comprising a tooth and a tooth-receiving recess formed integrally one into the slide and one into the case, and exteriorly accessable escape means for biasing apart the tooth and tooth receiving recess to permit the slide to move into its outer position; whereby a cAssette supported on the slide may be gripped with one hand along its opposed, short edges and, without changing the grip, may be removed from the container and inserted into a play-back apparatus.

Claim 41

A container for a tape cassette, the latter having long and short side edges with a tape exposed at a long edge, the container comprising: a. an integral case having substantially closed top, bottom and side walls, a substantially closed rear wall and an open front, the side walls being spaced to accommodate therebetween the long edge of a tape cassette; b. an integral, cassette-supporting U-shaped slide slidable into and out of the open front of the case between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, cassette-storing position, the slide having a bottom base plate with an upper, cassette-supporting surface and having front and rear walls at ends of the base plate and spaced to receive a tape cassette therebetween with the long, tape-exposing edge of the cassette lying along the front wall, the width of the base plate being less than the width of the front wall and the slide being free of obstructions preventing free access to opposed short edges of a cassette, which are exposed when the slide is in its outer position; c. a stop comprising abutting surfaces integrally formed into the slide and case, the stop defining the outer position of the slide and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; d. a coil spring mounted within the case between confronting surfaces of the rear walls of the slide and case with its axis parallel to the axis of sliding movement of the slide to bias the latter into its outer position; e. elongated, mating guides formed into confronting surfaces of the base plate and bottom wall of the case and oriented parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the slide to restrain the slide from movement transverse to the direction of sliding movement into and out of the case; and f. a releasable, spring-loaded catch mounted between the slide and the case, the catch comprising a tooth and a tooth-receiving recess formed integrally one into the slide and one into the case, and exteriorly accessable escape means for biasing apart the tooth and tooth receiving recess to permit the slide to move into its outer position; whereby a cAssette supported on the slide may be gripped with one hand along its opposed, short edges and, without changing the grip, may be removed from the container and inserted into a play-back apparatus.

Claim 42

The container of claim 36 wherein the front walls are continuously joined solely by the base plate and wherein the front wall is dimensioned to substantially close the open front of the case when the slide is in its inner, cassette-storing position.

Claim 43

The container of claim 37 wherein the slide includes an integral, forwardly cantilevered leaf spring bearing the tooth and wherein the escape means comprises a push button formed on the forward end of the leaf spring and forming part of the front wall of the slide.

Claim 44

A container for a tape cassette, comprising a case with an open front; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, open, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed, cassette-storing position, the slide including a base plate with a cassette-supporting surface and means retaining a tape cassette on the base plate; stop means defining the open position and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; a spring biasing the slide toward its open position; and the slide and case having a latch mechanism including latch and keeper elements of which one is movable by one hand relative to the slide and case to release the latch mechanism and allow the slide to move into its open position under the influence of the spring; the slide and case being so constructed and arranged as to present side edges of a cassette adjacent the front wall for grasping with one hand when the slide is moved to its open position.

Claim 45

A container for a tape cassette, comprising a case with an open front; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, open, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed, cassette-storing position, the slide including a base plate with a cassette-supporting surface and means retaining a tape cassette on the base plate; stop means defining the open position and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; a spring biasing the slide toward its open position; and the slide and case having a latch mechanism including latch and keeper elements of which one is movable by one hand relative to the slide and case to release the latch mechanism and allow the slide to move into its open position under the influence of the spring; the slide and case being so constructed and arranged as to present side edges of a cassette adjacent the front wall for grasping with one hand when the slide is moved to its open position.

Claim 46

The container of claim 39 wherein sides of the slide are open and unobstructed adjacent the front wall for the full height of the front wall, facilitating grasping a cassette with one hand.

Claim 47

The container of claim 39 wherein the rear wall of the cassette includes a cassette-confronting surface which slopes obliquely away from the base plate to allow a cassette to tilt away from the base plate when the container is oriented for vertical sliding movement of the slide.

Claim 48

A container for a tape cassette comprising a case with an open front; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed, cassette-storing position, the slide including a base plate with a surface supporting the bottom surface of a cassette and a spring biasing the slide into its open position, means retaining a cassette on the slide; stop means defining the outer slide position and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; and releasable catch means for holding the slide in its closed position; the base plate having a recess extending inwardly toward its center from at least one edge to expose a portion of the bottom surface of a tape cassette and enable the top and bottom of a cassette on the slide in the outer position to be grasped with one hand and removed from the container.

Claim 49

A container for a tape cassette comprising a case with an open front; a cassette-carrying slide mounted in the case for sliding movement through the open front between an outer, cassette-exposing position and an inner, closed, cassette-storing position, the slide including a base plate with a surface supporting the bottom surface of a cassette and a spring biasing the slide into its open position, means retaining a cassette on the slide; stop means defining the outer slide position and retaining the slide at least partially within the case; and releasable catch means for holding the slide in its closed position; the base plate having a recess extending inwardly toward its center from at least one edge to expose a portion of the bottom surface of a tape cassette and enable the top and bottom of a cassette on the slide in the outer position to be grasped with one hand and removed from the container.