Cassette tape recorder with detachable coupling to radio

Claim 1

A coupling device for cassette tape recorder comprising a pair of coupling channels formed in both lateral sidewalls of a cassette tape recorder, a pair of rails formed on a coupling surface of radio set and adapted to engage the coupling channels for detachably mounting the tape recorder on the coupling surface of the radio set, a plurality of apertures formed in a bottom surface of the tape recorder, a plurality of socket contacts disposed within the respective apertures and connected with an electrical circuit of the tape recorder, a plurality of pin contacts mounted on an insulating member secured to the coupling surface of the radio set so as to extend between the pair of rails and adapted to be brought into electrical contact with the socket contacts to provide an electrical connection between an electrical circuit of the radio set and that of the tape recorder when the latter is coupled with the radio set, a coverplate having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and disposed for a sliding movement along the bottom surface of the tape recorder, the openings in the coverplate being disposed in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the apertures in the bottom surface of the tape recorder, and a rockable pawl member pivotally mounted within the tape recorder and having a free end which engages the coverplate and a cam edge which projects into one of the coupling channels, means biasing the pawl member to urge its cam edge to project into the coupling channel and to move the coverplate to a position in which the openings therein are misaligned with the apertures to thereby substantially conceal the socket contacts, the cam edge being engaged and driven by one of the rails to rock the pawl member against the force of the bias means so that the coverplate is moved to a position in which the openings therein are aligned with the apertures when the tape recorder is physically coupled with the radio set.