US4048659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic cassette reproducing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-05
•
Granted: 1977-09-13
•
Expires: 1996-03-05
Abstract
Abstract An automatic cassette reproducing apparatus and the method for its use with a cassette tape with an audio program and a control signal thereon. The apparatus includes a housing adapted to receive a cassette and cassette tape transport structure within the housing for engagement with and transportation of the tape. The transport structure in a first mode is adapted to advance the tape at a normal speed at which the audio program thereon can be transmitted to a listener. The transport structure is adapted to be shifted to a second mode to advance the tape at a faster speed to a later portion of the audio program. A lock is in the housing to automatically retain the transport structure in one of the modes for a predetermined length of time. Finally, controls are provided in the housing to automatically activate and deactivate the lock in response to the control signal on the tape.
Inventors
- 👤 August A. Fink, Jr.
- 👤 Noel J. Mackisoc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:53
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/1883; G11B15/02; G11B15/10; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
An automatic cassette reproducing apparatus for use with a cassette tape with an audio program and a control signal thereon comprising: a housing adapted to receive said cassette; cassette tape transport means within said housing for engagement with and transportation of said tape; said transport means in a first mode adapted to advance the tape at a normal speed at which the audio program thereon can be transmitted to a listener and adapted to be shifted to a second mode to advance the tape at a faster speed to a later portion of the audio program; lock means on the housing to automatically retain the transport means in one of said modes for a predetermined length of time; control means in the housing to automatically activate and deactivate the lock means in response to the control signal on the tape; the lock means including a locking arm pivotally mounted in the housing; a pair of adjacent notches in the locking arm; a portion of the locking arm in engagement with a rotatable switch electrically connected so that shifting of the switch between alternate positions will alter the speed at which the tape is transported; a solenoid mounted in the housing adjacent to the locking arm and having a latch pawl extending therefrom so as to be shiftable by action of the solenoid arm between a forward and a retracted position and in the forward position being extendable into an aligned notch of the locking arm; a shoulder located between the two adjacent notches in the locking arm so that when the solenoid is activated to advance the latch dog into one of the notches in the locking arm and arm will be restricted in rotational movement thereby restricting movement of the rotatably control knob and retaining the apparatus in one of the two modes and when the latch pawl is retracted by action of the solenoid the latch pawl will be withdrawn from the notches in the locking arm and the locking arm will be free to be shifted between the two speed modes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
An automatic cassette reproducing apparatus for use with a cassette tape with an audio program and a control signal thereon comprising: a housing adapted to receive said cassette; cassette tape transport means within said housing for engagement with and transportation of said tape; said transport means in a first mode adapted to advance the tape at a normal speed at which the audio program thereon can be transmitted to a listener and adapted to be shifted to a second mode to advance the tape at a faster speed to a later portion of the audio program; lock means on the housing to automatically retain the transport means in one of said modes for a predetermined length of time; control means in the housing to automatically activate and deactivate the lock means in response to the control signal on the tape; the lock means including a locking arm pivotally mounted in the housing; a pair of adjacent notches in the locking arm; a portion of the locking arm in engagement with a rotatable switch electrically connected so that shifting of the switch between alternate positions will alter the speed at which the tape is transported; a solenoid mounted in the housing adjacent to the locking arm and having a latch pawl extending therefrom so as to be shiftable by action of the solenoid arm between a forward and a retracted position and in the forward position being extendable into an aligned notch of the locking arm; a shoulder located between the two adjacent notches in the locking arm so that when the solenoid is activated to advance the latch dog into one of the notches in the locking arm and arm will be restricted in rotational movement thereby restricting movement of the rotatably control knob and retaining the apparatus in one of the two modes and when the latch pawl is retracted by action of the solenoid the latch pawl will be withdrawn from the notches in the locking arm and the locking arm will be free to be shifted between the two speed modes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
220 words
An automatic cassette reproducing apparatus for use with a cassette tape with an audio program and a control signal thereon comprising: a housing adapted to receive said cassette; cassette tape transport means within said housing for engagement with and transportation of said tape; said transport means in a first mode adapted to advance the tape at a normal speed at which the audio program thereon can be transmitted to a listener and adapted to be shifted to a second mode to advance the tape at a faster speed to a later portion of the audio program while permitting continuous advancement of the tape by the transport means; lock means on the housing to automatically retain the transport means in one of said modes for a predetermined length of time; control means in the housing to automatically activate and deactivate the lock means in response to the control signal on the tape without affecting continuous advancement of the tape; the lock means retaining the transport means in the first mode for a designated portion of the audio program; and the control signal being inaudible and appearing intermittently on the tape to activate the lock means and retain the transport means in the first mode for predetermined periods of time during which the transport means cannot be shifted from the first mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
An automatic cassette reproducing apparatus for use with a cassette tape with an audio program and a control signal thereon comprising: a housing adapted to receive said cassette; cassette tape transport means within said housing for engagement with and transportation of said tape; said transport means in a first mode adapted to advance the tape at a normal speed at which the audio program thereon can be transmitted to a listener and adapted to be shifted to a second mode to advance the tape at a faster speed to a later portion of the audio program while permitting continuous advancement of the tape by the transport means; lock means on the housing to automatically retain the transport means in one of said modes for a predetermined length of time; control means in the housing to automatically activate and deactivate the lock means in response to the control signal on the tape without affecting continuous advancement of the tape; the lock means retaining the transport means in the first mode for a designated portion of the audio program; and the control signal being inaudible and appearing intermittently on the tape to activate the lock means and retain the transport means in the first mode for predetermined periods of time during which the transport means cannot be shifted from the first mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein there is a manual switch adapted to shift the transport means between the first and second modes when the lock means is deactivated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein there is an audible signal on the tape to denote the end of each control signal interval thereby indicating deactivation of the lock means and permitting the transport means to be shifted to the second mode.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of inhibiting the presentation of an audio program on a tape cassette utilized on automatic cassette reproducing apparatus comprising: providing the tape with an audio program and a control signal thereon at designated intervals corresponding to particular portions of the audio program; automatically locking the reproducing apparatus at a normal play speed in response to location of the control signal and preventing advancement at a faster speed during a period of time the reproducing apparatus is locked while permitting the continuous advancement of the tape; permitting the rapid advancement of the program as desired by the reproducing apparatus when the apparatus is not locked until the location of the control signal again causes the apparatus to be locked at the normal play speed; providing an inaudible control signal corresponding to designated intervals of particular portions of the audio program; automatically locking the apparatus at the normal play speed during the designated intervals of the program and not permitting the apparatus to advance at a faster speed while the inaudible control system is present without affecting continuous advancement of the tape; and permitting the remaining portions of the program to be advanced at normal play speed or at a faster speed as desired in the absence of a control signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of inhibiting the presentation of an audio program on a tape cassette utilized on automatic cassette reproducing apparatus comprising: providing the tape with an audio program and a control signal thereon at designated intervals corresponding to particular portions of the audio program; automatically locking the reproducing apparatus at a normal play speed in response to location of the control signal and preventing advancement at a faster speed during a period of time the reproducing apparatus is locked while permitting the continuous advancement of the tape; permitting the rapid advancement of the program as desired by the reproducing apparatus when the apparatus is not locked until the location of the control signal again causes the apparatus to be locked at the normal play speed; providing an inaudible control signal corresponding to designated intervals of particular portions of the audio program; automatically locking the apparatus at the normal play speed during the designated intervals of the program and not permitting the apparatus to advance at a faster speed while the inaudible control system is present without affecting continuous advancement of the tape; and permitting the remaining portions of the program to be advanced at normal play speed or at a faster speed as desired in the absence of a control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein a manual switch is provided to permit shifting between a normal play speed and a rapid advance speed as desired in the absence of a control signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein there is an indicator audible signal which designates the end of the control signal interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2396409A
Cited
US3171902A
Cited
US3668648A
Cited
US3587180A
Cited
US3601556A
Cited
US3804993A
Cited
US3987484A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-12 | 1981-03-14 | 1981-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-12 | 1985-03-14 | 1985-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-12 | 1989-03-14 | 1989-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |