Video disc player having record retaining mechanism

Claim 2

In a player for recovering prerecorded information from a turntable-supported record during playback; said record being enclosed in a cover having an edge opening in communication with a record enclosing cavity; said player having an input slot through which an occupied cover is inserted along a path to load an enclosed record therein; said player including a record extracting mechanism for removing said enclosed record from said cover during cover withdrawal subsequent to an occupied cover arrival at a fully inserted position in said player, thereby retaining said record in said player resting on a record supporting platform; an empty cover being inserted into said player along said path for retrieving said retained record into said cover; apparatus comprising: (A) a first member mounted in said player; the location of said first member being such that a peripheral portion of said retained record is urged forward into engagement with said first member by an empty cover, as said empty cover is inserted into said player for record retrieval, to hold said record in place during said cover insertion; and (B) means for retracting said first member out of said cover insertion path just prior to any engagement between said cover and said first member, as said empty cover is inserted into said player, to allow further insertion of said cover into said player.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said retracting means is responsive to the insertion of said cover into said player.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes a second member; said retracting means additionally serving to retract said second member.

Claim 5

In a player for recovering prerecorded information from a turntable-supported record during playback; said record being enclosed in a caddy comprising a jacket having an edge opening in communication with a record enclosing cavity and a record retaining spine subject to insertion into said jacket; said spine defining a first portion forming a closure for said edge opening, and a further portion having a perimetrical wall defining an opening in which said record is received to form a record/spine assembly; said player having an input slot through which an occupied caddy is inserted along a path to load an enclosed record therein; said player including a record extracting mechanism for removing said retaining spine from said jacket during jacket withdrawal subsequent to an occupied caddy arrival at a fully inserted position in said player, thereby retaining said record/spine assembly in said player resting on a record supporting platform; said record receiving opening in said spine being larger than said record for allowing free passage of said record therethrough to permit transfer of said retained record from said platform to said turntable for playback, and from said turntable to said platform to redefine said record/spine assembly for record retrieval; an empty jacket being inserted into said player along said path for retrieving said retained record/spine assembly into said jacket; apparatus comprising: (A) a first member mounted in said player; the location of said first member being such that a peripheral portion of said retained record is urged forward into engagement with said first member by an empty jacket, as said empty jacket is inserted into said player for record retrieval, to confine said record to said record receiving opening in said spine during said jacket insertion; and (B) means for retracting said first member out of said jacket insertion path just prior to any engagement between said jacket and said first member, as said empty jacket is inserted into said player, to allow further insertion of said jacket into said player.

Claim 6

In a player for recovering prerecorded information from a turntable-supported record during playback; said record being enclosed in a caddy comprising a jacket having an edge opening in communication with a record enclosing cavity and a record retaining spine subject to insertion into said jacket; said spine defining a first portion forming a closure for said edge opening, and a further portion having a perimetrical wall defining an opening in which said record is received to form a record/spine assembly; said player having an input slot through which an occupied caddy is inserted along a path to load an enclosed record therein; said player including a record extracting mechanism for removing said retaining spine from said jacket during jacket withdrawal subsequent to an occupied caddy arrival at a fully inserted position in said player, thereby retaining said record/spine assembly in said player resting on a record supporting platform; said record receiving opening in said spine being larger than said record for allowing free passage of said record therethrough to permit transfer of said retained record from said platform to said turntable for playback, and from said turntable to said platform to redefine said record/spine assembly for record retrieval; an empty jacket being inserted into said player along said path for retrieving said retained record/spine assembly into said jacket; apparatus comprising: (A) a first member mounted in said player; the location of said first member being such that a peripheral portion of said retained record is urged forward into engagement with said first member by an empty jacket, as said empty jacket is inserted into said player for record retrieval, to confine said record to said record receiving opening in said spine during said jacket insertion; and (B) means for retracting said first member out of said jacket insertion path just prior to any engagement between said jacket and said first member, as said empty jacket is inserted into said player, to allow further insertion of said jacket into said player.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said retracting means is responsive to the insertion of said jacket into said player.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said further portion of said spine includes at least one opening for receiving a portion of said first member.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said apparatus further includes a second member; said retracting means additionally serving to retract said second member.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said further portion of said spine includes two openings for respectively receiving a portion of said first member and a portion of said second member.