US3988779A — Edge-loading tape deck or holder

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

An edge-loading cassette holder comprising: A. a housing B. a magnetic head within the housing, C. a pair of drive spindles projecting into the housing, D. means within the housing for resiliently retaining and positioning the active edge of the cassette relative to the head so that the cassette is swingable between 1. an operating position wherein it is entirely within the housing with the spindles projecting into the cassette, and 2.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 72 words

An edge-loading cassette holder comprising: A. a housing B. a magnetic head within the housing, C. a pair of drive spindles projecting into the housing, D. means within the housing for resiliently retaining and positioning the active edge of the cassette relative to the head so that the cassette is swingable between 1. an operating position wherein it is entirely within the housing with the spindles projecting into the cassette, and 2.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 156 words

first and second loading positions wherein it is free of the spindles and projecting partially out of the housing, and E. a bistable latch hinged to the housing and movable between stable open and closed positions, said latch 1. being shaped and arranged to overlie and retain the cassette in its operating position when closed and to engage from the rear and support the cassette in said first loading position when open, and 2. having an oblique surface which engages an edge of the cassette opposite its said active edge when the latch is closed so as to support the cassette in said second loading position, said surface being oriented so that when the cassette is pushed toward its operating position, the resultant lateral force component moves the latch only partway toward its open position to permit the cassette to seat in its said operating position whereupon the latch returns to its said closed position and

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 156 words

first and second loading positions wherein it is free of the spindles and projecting partially out of the housing, and E. a bistable latch hinged to the housing and movable between stable open and closed positions, said latch 1. being shaped and arranged to overlie and retain the cassette in its operating position when closed and to engage from the rear and support the cassette in said first loading position when open, and 2. having an oblique surface which engages an edge of the cassette opposite its said active edge when the latch is closed so as to support the cassette in said second loading position, said surface being oriented so that when the cassette is pushed toward its operating position, the resultant lateral force component moves the latch only partway toward its open position to permit the cassette to seat in its said operating position whereupon the latch returns to its said closed position and

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

engages over said opposite edge of the cassette. 2. The holder defined in claim 1 wherein the retaining and positioning means comprise: A. a door-like member hinged to the housing so that the member edge opposite the hinge overlies the active edge of the cassette in the holder, and B. means for urging the member against the cassette.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 78 words

The holder defined in claim 2 wherein the retaining and positioning means further comprise: A. a pair of abutments secured inside the housing on opposite sides of the head and positioned to engage the cassette in both its loading and operating positions, and, B. a pair of spool-shaped members adjacent to the abutments which project into the cassette to help position the cassette in its operating position and also to provide guides for tape moving in the cassette.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 127 words

The holder defined in claim 1 and further including: A. a first wheel connected to one of the spindles, B. a second wheel coplanar with the first wheel, C. means for mounting the second wheel to the housing so as to be swingable toward and away from the first wheel, D. an electric motor, E. means for mounting the motor in the housing independently of the two wheels so that a shaft extends between the rims of the wheels and normal thereto, and F. means for moving the second wheel between 1. a first position wherein the shaft is captured between the first and second wheels whereby any rotation of the shaft is imparted to the spindle without any off-axis forces being applied to the shaft, and

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

a second position wherein the shaft is not captured and urged into engagement with the first wheel so that the spindle is free to idle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

a second position wherein the shaft is not captured and urged into engagement with the first wheel so that the spindle is free to idle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

The holder defined in claim 1 wherein each spindle has an upper section whose cross-section is generally triangular in shape with rounded corners so that said section has three facets separated by rounded edges and means defining a shoulder on each of said edges, the shoulder on at least one of said edges being closer to the top of the spindle than the shoulders on the other edges.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The holder defined in claim 5 and further including means defining a sloping peak on the shoulder on said one edge.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 148 words

A cassette holder comprising: A. a housing, B. a drive spindle rotatively mounted in the housing, C. a first wheel secured co-axially to the spindle, D. a second wheel rotatively mounted to the housing coplanar with the first wheel so as to be swingable toward and away from the first wheel, E. an electric motor, F. means for mounting the motor in the housing independently of the two wheels so that its shaft extends between the rims of the wheels, and G. means for moving the second wheel between a first position wherein the shaft is captured between the first and second wheels and is engaged on diametrically opposite sides thereby so as to equalize lateral forces on the shaft as it rotates and a second position wherein the shaft is not captured and urged into engagement with the first wheel whereby the spindle is free to idle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 148 words

A cassette holder comprising: A. a housing, B. a drive spindle rotatively mounted in the housing, C. a first wheel secured co-axially to the spindle, D. a second wheel rotatively mounted to the housing coplanar with the first wheel so as to be swingable toward and away from the first wheel, E. an electric motor, F. means for mounting the motor in the housing independently of the two wheels so that its shaft extends between the rims of the wheels, and G. means for moving the second wheel between a first position wherein the shaft is captured between the first and second wheels and is engaged on diametrically opposite sides thereby so as to equalize lateral forces on the shaft as it rotates and a second position wherein the shaft is not captured and urged into engagement with the first wheel whereby the spindle is free to idle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

The cassette holder defined in claim 7, wherein each drive spindle has an upper section whose cross-section is generally triangular in shape with rounded corners so that said section has three facets separated by rounded edges, and means defining a shoulder on each of said edges, the shoulder on at least one of said edges being closer to the top of the spindle than the shoulders on the other two edges.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 78 words

A cassette holder comprising a housing, and a pair of drive spindles projecting into the housing, each spindle having an upper section whose cross-section is generally triangular in shape with rounded corners so that said section has three facets separated by rounded edges, and means defining a shoulder on each of said edges, the shoulder on at least one of said edges being closer to the top of the spindle than the shoulders on the other two edges.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 78 words

A cassette holder comprising a housing, and a pair of drive spindles projecting into the housing, each spindle having an upper section whose cross-section is generally triangular in shape with rounded corners so that said section has three facets separated by rounded edges, and means defining a shoulder on each of said edges, the shoulder on at least one of said edges being closer to the top of the spindle than the shoulders on the other two edges.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-10-26	1980-04-26	1980-10-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-10-26	1984-04-26	1984-10-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-10-26	1988-04-26	1988-10-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Edge-loading tape deck or holder

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