US4864448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape cassette
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1987-11-25
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Granted: 1989-09-05
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Expires: 2007-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A tape cassette has indicating means for indicating various information about the tape cassette itself, and the indicating means is so disposed as to be interposed between a pair of reels which are arranged within the cassette casing.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruyuki Karibe
- 👤 Takashi Oogi
- 👤 Tadao Igarashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:53
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B23/08707; G11B23/0875; G11B23/08714
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A tape cassette comprising: a casing of generally rectangular configuration having a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending along the sides thereof; a pair of tape reels rotatably mounted in said casing in co-planar, side-by-side, and spaced-apart relationship with each other; a tape wound on said pair of tape reels and extending with a predetermined length between said reels; an opening provided in said casing and extending to points adjacent each of said reels, and through which said tape passes for extending with said predetermined length outside said casing; and indicating means located in said casing between said pair of tape reels for indicating a status of said tape cassette and comprising three detected pieces which are partially surrounded by cutouts formed through said bottom wall of the casing and which include frangible elements so that said detected pieces can be selectively removed from said casing, said three detected pieces being aligned side-by-side, and in which a center one of said three detected pieces is longer than the two detected pieces on either side thereof, so that one end of said center one extends beyond said two detected pieces on either side, and said one end is held in said casing by one of said frangible elements, so that in breaking said frangible element at said one end said two detected pieces on either side are undisturbed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A tape cassette comprising: a casing of generally rectangular configuration having a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending along the sides thereof; a pair of tape reels rotatably mounted in said casing in co-planar, side-by-side, and spaced-apart relationship with each other; a tape wound on said pair of tape reels and extending with a predetermined length between said reels; an opening provided in said casing and extending to points adjacent each of said reels, and through which said tape passes for extending with said predetermined length outside said casing; and indicating means located in said casing between said pair of tape reels for indicating a status of said tape cassette and comprising three detected pieces which are partially surrounded by cutouts formed through said bottom wall of the casing and which include frangible elements so that said detected pieces can be selectively removed from said casing, said three detected pieces being aligned side-by-side, and in which a center one of said three detected pieces is longer than the two detected pieces on either side thereof, so that one end of said center one extends beyond said two detected pieces on either side, and said one end is held in said casing by one of said frangible elements, so that in breaking said frangible element at said one end said two detected pieces on either side are undisturbed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, in which each of said three detected pieces include at least two of said frangible elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, in which said indicating means is formed in a substantially triangular portion of said bottom wall which is positioned between said pair of tape reels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tape cassette according to claim 3, in which said substantially triangular portion is surrounded by guide walls for guiding said pair of reels and a separating wall for separating said opening of the casing from an inside of the casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, in which said three detected pieces are of substantially rectangular shape and are arranged in a substantially triangular portion positioned between said pair of tape reels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tape cassette according to claim 1, in which said center one of said three detected pieces is two times longer than said adjacent detected side pieces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4743984A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-04 | 1993-03-06 | 1993-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-04 | 1997-03-06 | 1997-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-04 | 2001-03-06 | 2001-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |