Storage container for compact cassettes

Claim 2

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a plurality of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, at least the central part of the bottom of said slider member having an inverted U-shaped profile, said slider member bottom further having plural guide bars which are vertically displaced from and extend generally parallel to the base of said U-shaped portion of said slider member bottom, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and being overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means; and retaining projections extending from said central part of said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slider member bottom further comprises second and third parts, said second and third parts being positioned to either side of and displaced from said central part, the space between said central part and each of said second and third parts of said slider member bottom defining a clearance, said guide bars extending into said clearances.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second and third parts each have an inverted generally U-shaped profile and wherein said guide bars are integral with ends of legs of said second and third U-shaped parts of said slider member bottom.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said locking means comprises catch means integral with said housing and hook means carried by said slider member for engagement with said catch means, said locking means further comprising button means operatively coupled to said hook means for causing release of said hook means for said catch means, said button means and hook means being formed integrally with one of said second and third parts of said slider member bottom.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the slider member is designed to accommodate a cassette having a first portion of maximum thickness in the region where the recording media is accessed for recording/playback, the remainder of the cassette being of lesser thickness, and wherein one of said second or third side parts of said slider member bottom is designed to accommodate the said first portion of the cassette.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: means for providing an indication of whether a cassette is positioned on said slider member, said indication providing means being mounted on said slider member and being actuated by the insertion of a cassette thereon.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a helical pressure spring and wherein said housing floor includes a centrally located projection extending inwardly and upwardly therefrom, said projection having a partially concave profile which faces away from the floor of the housing, said spring being at least in part supported in said concave profile, said guide rails being integral with and extending outwardly from said projection.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said slider member bottom further comprises second and third parts having an inverted U-shaped profile, said second and third parts being positioned to either side of and displaced from said central part, the space between said central part and each of said second and third parts of said slider member bottom defining a clearance, said guide bars extending into said clearances.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said guide bars are integral with ends of legs of said second and third U-shaped parts said slider member bottom.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide bars are integral with and extend from the free ends of the legs of said U-shaped central part of said slider member bottom.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: means for providing an indication of whether a cassette is positioned on said slider member, said indication providing means being mounted on said slider member and being actuated by the insertion of a cassette thereon.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said locking means comprises catch means integral with said housing and hook means carried by said slider member for engagemet with said catch means, said locking means further comprising a release button operatively connected to said hook means, the application of force to said button causing release of said hook means from said catch means, said button and hook means being integral with said central part of said slider member bottom.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide bars extend from the front wall of said slider member through the rear wall thereof.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises cooperating hook and catch means, said locking means further comprising a release button operatively connected to said hook means for causing release of said hook means from said catch means.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said release button and hook means are integral with said central part of said slider member bottom.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a cross-piece extends from the central part of said slider member bottom in a direction which is generally transverse to the direction of motion of said slider member, said release button and hook means being integral with said cross-piece.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cassette to be stored has a first portion of maximum thickness in the region thereof through which the recording media is accessed for recording/playback, and wherein said central part of the bottom of the slider member is designed to accommodate the portion of the cassette which is thinner than the said first portion hereof.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for providing an indication of whether a cassette is positioned on said slider member, said indication providing means being mounted on said slider member and being actuated by the insertion of a cassette thereon.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slider member bottom further comprises at least a second part which extends generally parallel to said central part between said front and rear walls.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the base portion of said U-shaped central part of said slider member bottom and said second part of said bottom each define a plane which is generally parallel to the floor of said housing, the plane defined by said second part being closer to said floor than the plane defined by said base of said U-shaped part.

Claim 22

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said slider member bottom comprising a central portion having an inverted U-shaped profile, and lateral portions spaced from said central portion by slots defined by substantially parallel edges of said central portion and of each of said lateral portions, said guide rails extending into said slots, said slider member further comprising a pair of guide bars disposed at said edges of said lateral portions, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means; and retaining projections extending from said central portion of said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means.

Claim 23

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said slider member bottom comprising a central portion having an inverted U-shaped profile, and lateral portions spaced from said central portion by slots defined by substantially parallel edges of said central portion and of each of said lateral portions, said guide rails extending into said slots, said slider member further comprising a pair of guide bars disposed at said edges of said lateral portions, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means; and retaining projections extending from said central portion of said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said locking means comprises a latch and a cooperating indentation, said latch being carried by said slider member and said indentation being provided on said housing, said locking means further comprising a key for manually releasing said latch from said indentation, said key being integrally formed with one of said slider member lateral bottom portions.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of said slider member lateral portions has an inverted U-shaped profile, said guide bars extending from at least one free U-end of each side portion parallel to the U-base thereof.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said central portion and said lateral portions of said slider member bottom each have plane surfaces parallel to said housing floor, said plane surfaces being defined by the bases of said U-shaped profiles, said central portion surface being spaced from said housing floor by a first distance, at lease one of said lateral portion surfaces being spaced from said housing floor by a second distance, said first distance exceeding that of said second distance by an amount commensurate with a thickened lateral portion of a compact cassette to be stored in said apparatus.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein one of said slider member lateral portions is designed to accommodate the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the face of the compact cassette which is located opposite and adjacent to a recording head when the cassette is in use.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed between said central portion of said slider member bottom and said housing floor.

Claim 29

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels: a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said bottom having a generally inverted U-shaped profile with a base portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom, said legs having free ends, said bottom being substantially narrower then said housing floor in a direction transverse to said guide rails, said slider member further comprising guide bars extending from the said free ends of said legs so as to be generally parallel to said base portion and being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, and projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means beng selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring menas, said locking means comprising; a latch element carried by said slider member; an indentation on said housing, said indentation cooperating with said latch element; a key forming an integral part of said slider member and disposed in the front wall thereof, said key and said latch element being disposed in a central symmetry plane of said slider member.

Claim 30

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels: a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said bottom having a generally inverted U-shaped profile with a base portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom, said legs having free ends, said bottom being substantially narrower then said housing floor in a direction transverse to said guide rails, said slider member further comprising guide bars extending from the said free ends of said legs so as to be generally parallel to said base portion and being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, and projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means beng selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring menas, said locking means comprising; a latch element carried by said slider member; an indentation on said housing, said indentation cooperating with said latch element; a key forming an integral part of said slider member and disposed in the front wall thereof, said key and said latch element being disposed in a central symmetry plane of said slider member.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the width of said slider member bottom is selected such that a space which accommodates the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the cassette which is adjacent and opposite to a recording head when the cassette is in use is provided at least at one side of said bottom.

Claim 32

The apparatus of said claim 27 wherein said slider member bottom has a plane surface parallel to said housing floor, said plane surface being spaced from said housing floor.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed between said bottom of said slider member and said housing floor.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the width of said slider member bottom is selected such that a space which accommodates the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the cassette which is adjacent and opposite to a recording head when the cassette is in use is provided at least at one side of said bottom.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed between said bottom of said slider member and said housing floor.

Claim 36

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear wall, said bottom being substantially narrower than said housing floor in a direction transverse to said guide rails and having a generally inverted U-shaped profile with a base portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom, said legs terminating at free ends, said slider member further comprising guide rails extending from said free ends of said legs so as to be generally parallel to said base portion of said U-shaped profile, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means, said locking means including a latch member integrally formed with said slider member and a cooperating housing indentation, said locking means further including a manually operable key integrally formed with said slider member and adapted to release said latch member from said indentation, said key being disposed adjacent one lateral end of said slider member front wall and being connected to said slider member bottom by means of a cross-piece extending across said guide rails.

Claim 37

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear wall, said bottom being substantially narrower than said housing floor in a direction transverse to said guide rails and having a generally inverted U-shaped profile with a base portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom, said legs terminating at free ends, said slider member further comprising guide rails extending from said free ends of said legs so as to be generally parallel to said base portion of said U-shaped profile, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means, said locking means including a latch member integrally formed with said slider member and a cooperating housing indentation, said locking means further including a manually operable key integrally formed with said slider member and adapted to release said latch member from said indentation, said key being disposed adjacent one lateral end of said slider member front wall and being connected to said slider member bottom by means of a cross-piece extending across said guide rails.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said latch member and said key form an integral subassembly, said subassembly being connected by said cross-piece to said slider member bottom.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the width of said slider member bottom is selected such that a space which accommodates the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the cassette which is adjacent and opposite to a recording head when the cassette is in use is provided at least at one side of said bottom.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said slider member bottom has a plane surface parallel to said housing floor, said surface being spaced from said housing floor.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed in the space between said slider member bottom and said housing floor.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the width of side slider member bottom is selected such that a space which accommodates the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the cassette which is adjacent and opposite to a recording head when the cassette is in use is provided at least at one side of said bottom.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed between said slider member bottom and said housing floor.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said cross-piece is of torsion-resistant configuration.

Claim 45

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising; a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said bottom being substantially narrower than said housing floor in a direction transverse to said rails and having a generally U-shaped profile with a base portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom, said legs having free ends, said slider member further comprising guide bars extending from said free ends of said legs so as to be generally parallel to said base portion, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means, said locking means including: a latch member integrally formed with said slider member; an indentation in said housing positioned to be engaged by said latch member; and a key integrally formed with said slider member and adapted to release said latch member from sad indentation upon manual actuation, said key being disposed at one lateral end of said slider member front wall, said key being connected to said slider member bottom by means of a cross-piece, one of said housing guide rails and a slider guide bar adjacent to said cross-piece providing a clearance where said cross-piece extends transversely thereto.

Claim 46

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising; a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said bottom being substantially narrower than said housing floor in a direction transverse to said rails and having a generally U-shaped profile with a base portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom, said legs having free ends, said slider member further comprising guide bars extending from said free ends of said legs so as to be generally parallel to said base portion, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means, said locking means including: a latch member integrally formed with said slider member; an indentation in said housing positioned to be engaged by said latch member; and a key integrally formed with said slider member and adapted to release said latch member from sad indentation upon manual actuation, said key being disposed at one lateral end of said slider member front wall, said key being connected to said slider member bottom by means of a cross-piece, one of said housing guide rails and a slider guide bar adjacent to said cross-piece providing a clearance where said cross-piece extends transversely thereto.

Claim 47

Apparatus as defined in claim 41 wherein said latch member and said key form an integral subassembly, said subassembly being connected by said cross-piece to said slider member bottom.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the width of said slider member bottom is selected such that a space which accommodates the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the cassette which is adjacent and opposite to a recording head when the cassette is in use is provided at least at one side of said bottom.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said slider member bottom has a plane surface parallel to said housing floor, said surface being spaced from said housing floor.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed in the space between said slider member bottom and said housing floor.

Claim 51

The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the width of said slider member bottom is selected such that a space which accommodates the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the cassette which is adjacent and opposite to a recording head when the cassette is in use is provided at least at one side of said bottom.

Claim 52

Apparatus as defined in claim 46 wherein said latch member and said key form an integral subassembly, said subassembly being connected by said cross-piece to said slider member bottom.

Claim 53

The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed between said slider member bottom and said housing floor.

Claim 54

The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said cross-piece is of torsion-resistant configuration.

Claim 55

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said bottom being substantially narrower than said housing floor in a direction transverse to said rails, said slider member further having guide bars extending from said bottom, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means, said locking means including a latch member integrally formed with said slider member and a cooperating indentation in said housing, said locking means further including a key integrally formed with said slider member and adapted to release said latch member from said indentation upon manual actuation, said key being disposed centrally with respect to said slider member front wall and being connected to said slider member bottom by means of a box-like intermediate piece.

Claim 56

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which are integral with said floor, said guide rails extending in a direction which is generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails cooperating with said floor to define open-sided guide channels; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said bottom being substantially narrower than said housing floor in a direction transverse to said rails, said slider member further having guide bars extending from said bottom, said guide bars being received in said guide channels and overlapped by said housing guide rails whereby said slider member is guided for movement relative to said housing; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; retaining projections extending from said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guide bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means; and manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means, said locking means including a latch member integrally formed with said slider member and a cooperating indentation in said housing, said locking means further including a key integrally formed with said slider member and adapted to release said latch member from said indentation upon manual actuation, said key being disposed centrally with respect to said slider member front wall and being connected to said slider member bottom by means of a box-like intermediate piece.

Claim 57

The apparatus of claim 50 wherein said bottom of said slider member has an inverted U-shaped profile, said guide bars extending from the free U-ends parallel to the U-base.

Claim 58

The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the width of said slider member bottom is selected such that a space which accommodates the thickened portion of a compact cassette in the region of the cassette which is adajcent and opposite to a recording head when the cassette is in use is provided at least at one side of said bottom.

Claim 59

The apparatus of said claim 50 wherein the base of the U-shape of said slider member bottom defines a plane surface parallel to said housing floor, said plane surface being spaced from said housing floor by a first distance.

Claim 60

The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring and spring guide means integral with said housing, said spring guide means being positioned so as to be disposed in the space between said bottom of said slider member and said housing floor.

Claim 61

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which extend generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails each cooperating with said floor to define an open-sided guide channel; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said slider member bottom comprising at least a central part including a plate shaped portion having a first planar side which faces said housing floor and a second planar side which faces from said housing floor, both of said slider member central part sides extending substantially parallel to said housing floor, said slider member further having guiding bar means cooperatively interengaged with said housing guide channels whereby said slider member is guided for linear movement relative to said housing, said guiding bar means including guide bars which are spaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel with respect to said central part, a portion of at least one of said guiding bar means being positioned closer to said housing floor than is the said first planar side of said central part; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means; said housing having a rear wall opposite its open side, said rear wall extending generally parallel to said plane; said spring means comprising a helical spring interposed between said housing rear wall and said slider member rear wall; spring guiding means extending from said housing bottom, said spring guiding means being at least in part disposed between said housing bottom and said at least one slider member central part first side when said slider member is inserted to its limit of motion in said housing toward said housing rear wall; and retaining projections extending from said central part of said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guiding bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means.

Claim 62

Apparatus for the storage of cassettes containing recording media comprising: a housing, said housing being open at one narrow side and having a floor, said housing open side defining a plane which is generally transverse to said floor, said housing including a pair of internal guide rails which extend generally transverse to said plane, said guide rails each cooperating with said floor to define an open-sided guide channel; a slider member, said slider member having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom which extends between said front and rear walls, said slider member bottom comprising at least a central part including a plate shaped portion having a first planar side which faces said housing floor and a second planar side which faces from said housing floor, both of said slider member central part sides extending substantially parallel to said housing floor, said slider member further having guiding bar means cooperatively interengaged with said housing guide channels whereby said slider member is guided for linear movement relative to said housing, said guiding bar means including guide bars which are spaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel with respect to said central part, a portion of at least one of said guiding bar means being positioned closer to said housing floor than is the said first planar side of said central part; spring means for biasing said slider member in the direction of said housing open side; stop means for limiting the motion of said slider member in the direction of said spring means bias; manually releasable locking means for retaining said slider member in said housing against the bias of said spring means; said housing having a rear wall opposite its open side, said rear wall extending generally parallel to said plane; said spring means comprising a helical spring interposed between said housing rear wall and said slider member rear wall; spring guiding means extending from said housing bottom, said spring guiding means being at least in part disposed between said housing bottom and said at least one slider member central part first side when said slider member is inserted to its limit of motion in said housing toward said housing rear wall; and retaining projections extending from said central part of said bottom of said slider member in a direction which is away from said housing floor, said retaining projections being sized and shaped to receive and lock against rotation the winding hubs of a recording media cassette inserted in said slider member, said projections being arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slider member, the length of said guide rails and guiding bars and the position of said stop means being selected such that both of said retaining projections are displaced outwardly with respect to said plane when said slider member is positioned at its limit of movement under the influence of said biasing spring means.

Claim 63

An apparatus set forth in claim 55 wherein said slider member bottom further includes at least one lateral part.

Claim 64

An apparatus as set forth in claim 56 wherein said locking means includes latch means respectively engageable and disengageable between said housing and said slider member, said latch means being adapted for automatic engagement upon said slider member being moved into said housing, and wherein said slider member has key means operatively connected to said latch means for disengaging said latch means upon manual actuation of said key means.

Claim 65

An apparatus as set forth in claim 57 wherein said key means is integrally formed with said slider member bottom lateral part.

Claim 66

An apparatus as set forth in claim 55 wherein said slider member bottom includes additional lateral parts.

Claim 67

An apparatus as set forth in claim 59 wherein said locking means includes latch means respectively engageable and disengageable between said housing and said slider member, said latch means being adapted for automatic engagement upon said slider member being moved into said housing, and wherein said slider member has key means operatively connected to said latch means for disengaging said latch means upon manual actuation of said key means.

Claim 68

An apparatus as set forth in claim 60 wherein said key means is integrally formed with one of said lateral slider member bottom parts.

Claim 69

An apparatus as set forth in claim 55 wherein said plate shaped portion second plane is spaced from an inner face of said housing bottom by a distance commensurate with a thickened lateral dimension of a cassette to be received in said apparatus.

Claim 70

An apparatus as set forth in claim 55 wherein said guiding bar members are provided at lateral extensions of said plate shaped portions, said extensions extending substantially orthogonally with respect to said faces in direction to said housing bottom whereby said central slider member bottom part assumes an inverted U-shaped profile.

Claim 71

An apparatus as set forth in claim 55 wherein said locking means include latch means respectively engageable and disengageable between said housing and said slider member.

Claim 72

An apparatus as set forth in claim 64 wherein said latch means is adapted for automatic engagement upon said slider member being moved into said housing.

Claim 73

An apparatus as set forth in claim 65 wherein said slider member has a key means operatively connected to said latch means so to disengage the latter upon manual actuation of said key means.

Claim 74

An apparatus as set forth in claim 66 wherein said key means is integrally formed with said slider member.

Claim 75

An apparatus as set forth in claim 67 wherein said key means is integrally formed with said slider member central part.

Claim 76

The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said spring guiding means comprises: an arcuate member mounted on said housing floor, said arcuate member having a configuration which is in part generally complementary to the outer diameter of said helical spring for preventing the buckling of said spring during compression thereof.

Claim 77

The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said guiding bar means guide bars engage respective of said housing guide rail defined guide channels and wherein said guide channels are disposed to either side of and extend at least partly along the length of said spring guiding means.

Claim 78

The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said spring guiding means comprises: an arcuate member mounted on said housing floor, said arcuate member having a configuration which is in part generally complementary to the outer diameter of said helical spring for preventing the buckling of said spring during compression thereof.