US4397389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape cassette container
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-09-03
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Granted: 1983-08-09
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Expires: 2001-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A plastic tape cassette container having a general rectangular parallelpipedal shape in its closed configuration having a lid which is pivotably mounted between two parallel side walls, detent means operable to favor retention of said container in a closed configuration, and interlocking means disposed in matching relationships on the lid and the lower face by which the lower face of one container can be interlocked with the lid of the second like container.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew M. Findeisen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/023; G11B23/0233; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/821
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A plastic container of such dimensions as to receive a tape cassette having a pair of reel openings, said container having in its closed configuration an upper face, a two segment lower face, and two pairs of parallel side walls which faces and walls thereby define a rectangular parallelpipedal shape, one side wall of a first pair of side walls being integral with both the upper face and a first segment of said lower face so as to define a lid, the remaining single side wall of said first pair of walls being integral with the second segment of said lower face and with the second pair of side walls so as to define a body, said lid being pivotably mounted for opening between said second pair of side walls, detent means operable to favor retention of said container in its closed configuration, a pair of internal pylons disposed on the inner surface of said second segment of said bottom face for engagement of the reel openings of a tape cassette, and complementary interlocking means operable to interlock the lid-defining upper face of one container to the second segment of the bottom face of a second like container, said interlocking means being disposed in matching relationship on (a) said lid-defining upper face and (b) on said second segment of said bottom face in alignment with said pylons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A plastic container of such dimensions as to receive a tape cassette having a pair of reel openings, said container having in its closed configuration an upper face, a two segment lower face, and two pairs of parallel side walls which faces and walls thereby define a rectangular parallelpipedal shape, one side wall of a first pair of side walls being integral with both the upper face and a first segment of said lower face so as to define a lid, the remaining single side wall of said first pair of walls being integral with the second segment of said lower face and with the second pair of side walls so as to define a body, said lid being pivotably mounted for opening between said second pair of side walls, detent means operable to favor retention of said container in its closed configuration, a pair of internal pylons disposed on the inner surface of said second segment of said bottom face for engagement of the reel openings of a tape cassette, and complementary interlocking means operable to interlock the lid-defining upper face of one container to the second segment of the bottom face of a second like container, said interlocking means being disposed in matching relationship on (a) said lid-defining upper face and (b) on said second segment of said bottom face in alignment with said pylons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A plastic container according to claim 1 wherein one edge of the lid side wall is beveled or rounded sufficient to provide clearance for pivoting said lid when two containers are in interlocking relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A plastic container according to claim 2 wherein the corner of each of the side walls of said second pair of side walls distal from said remaining single side wall and opposite said beveled or rounded edge is rounded to provide clearance for the corresponding second pair of side walls of a second container in interlocking relationship with said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A plastic container according to claim 1 including spacer means associated with said interlocking means and operable to maintain at least such clearance between said first and second containers to permit opening of said second containers while in interlocking relationship with said first container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A plastic container according to claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises male components disposed on one face and mating female components disposed in matching relationship on the other face.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A plastic container according to claim 5 wherein said male components are integral with the lid defining upper face and the female components extend into said pylons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A plastic container according to claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises an elongated male connector disposed across one of said faces and a groove operable to receive said connector disposed in matching relationship across the other face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A strap for carrying a plurality of containers according to claim 1 in interlocking relationship including an elongated strap portion and a pair of engagemention portions disposed at either end of said strap portion, said engagement portion carrying complementary interlocking means operable to engage the free interlocking means components exposed on the end containers of said plurality.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A panel for conveying a plurality of containers according to claim 1, said panel having at least one carrying surface on which are disposed means operable to engage the components of said interlocking means disposed on one of said upper and lower faces of said containers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-08 | 1987-02-07 | 1987-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-08 | 1991-02-07 | 1991-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |