Abstract A tape cassette including a cassette case; a pair of rotatable tape reels accommodated in the cassette case for winding a magnetic tape therearound; a mouth section formed between and front of the tape reels in the cassette case for receiving a head drum and the like of a recording/reproducing device; a mechanism for allowing pivotal movement of the tape reels to rear corner portions of the cassette, whereby when the tape cassette is loaded into the recording/reproducing device, the tape reels are pivotally moved from an initial position to a retracted position defined at the rear corner portions of the cassette case, thereby expanding the mouth section; and a pair of reel retainers pivotably supported in the cassette case for rotatably supporting the tape reels, respectively, each of the reel retainers having a bottom wall formed with a positioning hole adapted to engage a positioning member provided in the recording/reproducing device. Accordingly, the positions of the tape reels can be stabilized during operation.
A tape cassette comprising: a cassette case; a pair of rotatable tape reels accommodated in said cassette case for winding a magnetic tape therearound; a mouth section formed between and along the front of said tape reels in said cassette case for receiving a head drum and associated components of a recording/reproducing device; means for allowing pivotal movement of said tape reels to rear corner portions of said cassette, whereby when said tape cassette is loaded into a recording/reproducing device, said tape reels are pivotally moved from an initial position to a retracted position defined at the rear corner portions of said cassette case, thereby expanding said mouth section; and a pair of reel retainers pivotably supported in said cassette case for rotatably supporting said tape reels, respectively, each of said reel retainers having a bottom wall formed with a positioning hole adapted to engage a positioning member provided in said recording/reproducing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A tape cassette comprising: a cassette case; a pair of rotatable tape reels accommodated in said cassette case for winding a magnetic tape therearound; a mouth section formed between and along the front of said tape reels in said cassette case for receiving a head drum and associated components of a recording/reproducing device; means for allowing pivotal movement of said tape reels to rear corner portions of said cassette, whereby when said tape cassette is loaded into a recording/reproducing device, said tape reels are pivotally moved from an initial position to a retracted position defined at the rear corner portions of said cassette case, thereby expanding said mouth section; and a pair of reel retainers pivotably supported in said cassette case for rotatably supporting said tape reels, respectively, each of said reel retainers having a bottom wall formed with a positioning hole adapted to engage a positioning member provided in said recording/reproducing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tape cassette as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for normally biasing said reel retainers so as to restore said initial position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tape cassette as defined in claim 2, wherein said biasing force is connected between said reel retainers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tape cassette as defined in claim 1, wherein said positioning hole is elongated in a radial direction formed about a fulcrum of pivotal movement of each of said reel retainers.