Charge grounding hinge mechanism

Claim 1

A grounding mechanism for grounding electrostatic charge on a record medium such as a tape cassette or disc when said medium is inserted into a reproducing device such as cassette player or compact disc player, comprising: a reproducing device chassis (2), an elongate insertion opening (3) formed in a front panel of said chassis, an elongate, electrically conductive closure flap (4) disposed inwardly of and overlying said opening, an electrically conductive hinge pin (5) mounting said closure flap to a longitudinal edge of said opening for pivotal movement between a first position whereat said insertion opening is closed by said flap, and a second, open position pursuant to the insertion of said record medium, and a biasing spring (6) for biasing said flap to said first position, wherein: (a) said grounding mechanism comprises means defining an electrically conductive path extending from said closure flap through said hinge pin to a ground potential established by said chassis, (b) said second, open position of the closure flap is exclusively inwardly directed, (c) said record medium is a tape cassette, and (d) a longitudinal edge of said closure flap opposite the hinge pin remains in engagement with the cassette after the insertion thereof to maintain said conductive path to ground.