Mechanical cartridge eject mechanism

Claim 1

In a magnetic tape player having a housing with an opening therein to receive a cartridge having magnetic tape therein, the player having a transducer head positioned adjacent the cartridge receiving opening for cooperation with the tape in the cartridge, a manual cartridge eject mechanism comprising: actuator means mounted for sliding movement in the housing between an outward at rest position and an inward play position, the actuator means having a projecting member on one end, the projecting member being engageable with the cartridge as the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiving opening; locking means slideably mounted in the housing for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of the actuator means and formed for camming engagement with the actuator means, the locking means having a roller mounted on one end thereof, the locking means moveable between a first position wherein the roller holds the cartridge in a fully inserted play position against the transducer head and a second position wherein the roller is clear of a cartridge in the cartridge receiving opening; spring means mounted in the housing for biasing the locking means into the first position; a first L-shaped arm pivotally mounted in the housing; and a second L-shaped arm pivotally mounted in the housing for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the first arm, the first arm being positioned to engage and move the second arm, the movement of the second arm causing the same to engage the locking means to move the same from the first position to the second position, movement of the locking means causing a camming action between the locking meanS and the actuator means whereby the actuator means is moved outwardly, the projecting member thereof moving the cartridge away from the play position.