US3946865A — Cassette container

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

A container of plastic material suitable for receiving a compact cassette of recording tape, comprising a shallow box of rectangular form having an opening in one of its longer sides through which the cassette can be introduced into the box, each of the two shorter sides of the box having a leaf spring associated with the internal wall thereof, the springs being resiliently secured to the wall adjacent the open side of the box and each spring having a pair of detent surfaces thereon in spaced apart relation, such that, when a cassette is inserted completely into the box, the detent surfaces of each spring engage opposite ends of a guide bar on the adjacent side edge of the cassette to retain the cassette in the box, and a pressure spring is provided on the internal surface of the longer side of the box which faces said opening to be engaged by the cassette.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 154 words

A container of plastic material suitable for receiving a compact cassette of recording tape, comprising a shallow box of rectangular form having an opening in one of its longer sides through which the cassette can be introduced into the box, each of the two shorter sides of the box having a leaf spring associated with the internal wall thereof, the springs being resiliently secured to the wall adjacent the open side of the box and each spring having a pair of detent surfaces thereon in spaced apart relation, such that, when a cassette is inserted completely into the box, the detent surfaces of each spring engage opposite ends of a guide bar on the adjacent side edge of the cassette to retain the cassette in the box, and a pressure spring is provided on the internal surface of the longer side of the box which faces said opening to be engaged by the cassette.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

A container as recited in claim 1, wherein each leaf spring is provided with a guide groove extending along its length for receiving the guide bars of the compact cassette.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the detent surfaces extend beyond the surfaces of the leaf springs.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure spring engages the ends of the leaf springs when the cassette is fully inserted in the box.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure spring is in the form of a symmetrical leaf spring affixed to the middle of the side wall of the box.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

A container as recited in claim 5, wherein the distance between the ends of the pressure spring, when the cassette is inserted and fixed in the box, slightly exceeds the width of the cassette, and the free ends of the spring are provided with bearing surfaces for receiving the supporting surfaces at the ends of the leaf springs.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

A container as recited in claim 6, wherein the bearing surfaces extend into openings on the supporting surfaces of the leaf springs and are held thereby.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the box are provided with undercut recesses and with projections corresponding thereto, serving for mutual engagement and connection of two or more boxes on the form-locking principle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

A container as recited in claim 1, wherein undercut recesses are provided in outer surfaces of the box.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

A container as recited in claim 9, wherein connecting pieces are provided consisting of elastic plastic material and of a shape which corresponds to that of two recesses placed one upon the other for connecting two boxes together.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

A container as recited in claim 9, wherein feet are provided formed of an elastic plastic material having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being constructed as a fitting body corresponding to the shape of the recesses.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

A container as recited in claim 11, characterized by the fact that the lower portion, at least over a lower zone whose height corresponds to the depth of the recesses 16 is smaller in cross-section than the clear cross-section of the recesses 16.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

A container as recited in claim 12, characterized by the fact that the height lower portion has a lower zone whose height is less than the depth of the recesses 16, while above the said zone the said lower portion suddenly increases in cross section, forming supporting flanks.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 63 words

A container as recited in claim 1, characterized by the fact that its thickness is only slightly less than that of the conventional cassette, so that its large covering surfaces are limited to the flanks of a U-bracket having a U-profile, while the U-bracket is surrounded by a protective covering having a U-profile, which rests on the covering surfaces and the end face.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 59 words

A container as recited in claim 14, characterized by the fact that the U-bracket and the protective covering are detachably interconnected by depressions provided on the internal sides of the covering surfaces of the protective covering, in the zone of its free edges, and also in the opposite zones of the U-bracket, and by projections engaging the said depressions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

A container as recited in claim 15, characterized by the fact that at least one pair of the connecting devices take the form of concavities and of lugs engaging them in the manner of a catch.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

A container as recited in claim 15, characterized by the fact that at least one pair of the connecting devices take the form of a cylindrical hole or blind hole and of a pin engaging it.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 66 words

A container as recited in claim 1, characterized by the provision of a covering plate of limited thickness and made of transparent plastic material, its length corresponding to that of the box while its width is several times that of the box, the said plate being provided on one longitudinal side with hinge elements and, in the vicinity of the opposite longitudinal side, with grip cavities.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

A container as recited in claim 18, characterized by the fact that the hinge elements are provided with levers which extend backwards from the plane of the covering plate 24 and which surround in the box a fork-like manner of and which hingedly engages the said container by means of a pin-and-bore connection.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

A container as recited in claim 19, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal side of the covering plate which is situated opposite to the hinge element is provided with locking pins, while the container is provided with recesses which enlarge inwardly by and which serve to accommodate the said locking pins.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

A container as recited in claim 20, characterized by the fact that the hinge elements engage recesses of a comparatively low parallelepipedal structure of which the base surface corresponds to that of the container and which is provided with recesses.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

A container as recited in claim 21, characterized by the fact that the parallelepiped is provided with a recess for an endless rubber band which is stretched between elements provided on the base of the recess and a hook provided on the rear side of the covering plate.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

A container as recited in claim 18, characterized by the fact that the covering plate is provided with recesses to accommodate an identification plate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-03-30	1979-09-29	1980-03-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-03-30	1983-09-29	1984-03-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-03-30	1987-09-29	1988-03-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cassette container

Abstract

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