Shield for magnetic tape cassettes

Claim 2

For use with a magnetic tape cassette having a pair of sprocket holes, opposed parallel side surfaces defining an edge thickness of said cassette, and a shaped boss raised from at least one of said surfaces adjacent said cassette edge defining an open tape transport region, a shield comprising, integrally: a substantially flat apron having a width and length dimension less than the corresponding dimensions of said cassette and formed with an opening for receiving said shaped boss; a ledge projecting at substantially a right angle from the inner surface of said apron for covering said open tape transport region; and means for securing said apron to a surface of said cassette comprising a pair of nibs rigidly integral with and adjacent an outer edge of said ledge, projecting normal to said ledge, spaced from each other to be proximal to respective sides of said opening, and spaced from said apron a distance substantially the same as said cassette edge thickness.

Claim 3

The shield of claim 1 including keeper means extending from the inner surface of said apron for engaging at least one of said sprocket holes to restrain a sprocket therein from turning.

Claim 4

The shield of claim 1 in which said opening is in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid for matingly engaging the perimeter of said cassette boss.

Claim 5

The shield of claim 1 in which said apron is 7.5-9.9 centimeters in its longest dimension and 3.3-6.3 centimeters wide, and said ledge is 7.5-9.9 centimeters in its longest dimension and about 1.2 centimeters wide.

Claim 6

The shield of claim 1 in which the thickness of said apron is approximately the distance said boss is raised from said cassette surface.

Claim 7

The shield of claim 1 formed of transparent organic polymer material.

Claim 8

For use with a magnetic tape cassette having a pair of sprocket holes, opposed parallel side surfaces defining an edge thickness of said cassette, and a shaped boss raised from at least one of said surfaces adjacent said cassette edge defining an open tape transport region, a shield comprising, integrally: a substantially flat apron having width and length dimensions less than the corresponding dimensions of said cassette and formed with an opening in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid for matingly engaging the perimeter of said cassette boss; a ledge projecting at substantially a right angle from the inner surface of said apron for covering said open tape transport region; a pair of nibs on said ledge adjacent an outer edge of said ledge, spaced from said apron a distance substantially the same as said cassette edge thickness and aligned with said apron on opposite ends of said opening, each nib, said ledge and said apron together forming in cross-section a U-shaped channel for receiving said cassette edge whereby to secure said apron to a surface of said cassette; and prongs spaced along the length of said apron, said prongs each comprising a spaced pair of prongs, each pair being located to extend from the inner surface of said apron into a cassette sprocket hole to restrain the sprocket therein from turning.

Claim 9

For use with a magnetic tape cassette having a pair of sprocket holes, opposed parallel side surfaces defining an edge thickness of said cassette, and a shaped boss raised from at least one of said surfaces adjacent said cassette edge defining an open tape transport region, a shield comprising, integrally: a substantially flat apron having width and length dimensions less than the corresponding dimensions of said cassette and formed with an opening in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid for matingly engaging the perimeter of said cassette boss; a ledge projecting at substantially a right angle from the inner surface of said apron for covering said open tape transport region; a pair of nibs on said ledge adjacent an outer edge of said ledge, spaced from said apron a distance substantially the same as said cassette edge thickness and aligned with said apron on opposite ends of said opening, each nib, said ledge and said apron together forming in cross-section a U-shaped channel for receiving said cassette edge whereby to secure said apron to a surface of said cassette; and prongs spaced along the length of said apron, said prongs each comprising a spaced pair of prongs, each pair being located to extend from the inner surface of said apron into a cassette sprocket hole to restrain the sprocket therein from turning.