Abstract:
A tape cassette storing case comprises: a storing case main body, the storing case main body having first and second side surfaces that are opposite to each other; a recess region on the first side surface, the recess region being defined by a step from the first side surface; and a plurality of ribs on the second side surface, wherein when two of the storing case main bodies including first and second main bodies are stacked so that the first side surface in the first main body are superposed on the second side surface in the second main body, the a plurality of ribs in the second main body is regulated by the step of the recess region on the first main body, and the plurality of ribs in the second main body each has an inclined surface with respect to the second side surface in the second main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a tape cassette storing case for storing a tape cassette used in a VTR (Video Tape Recorder).  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In the related art, the tape cassettes are widely used. In order to protect these tape cassettes from dust, a shock given in falling, etc., the tape cassettes are put into the tape cassette storing case (also referred to as a “storing case” hereinafter) and then carried/stored (for example, see JP-A-10-21198).  
           [0005]    Meanwhile, sometimes mutual stacked positions of the storing cases are displaced due to vibration of a push car during when the storing cases in which the tape cassette is kept respectively are stacked in the vertical direction and then loaded on the push car to transport, etc., so that the storing cases lose their balance and fall down. Thus, such storing cases were hard to handle.  
           [0006]    Also, in order to prevent the mutual displacement between the stacked storing cases, such a structure is thought of that uneven portions are provided to their stacked positions of the storing cases to engage with each other. However, when the storing cases are aligned in the rack to store, such storing cases are hard to take out since the uneven portions are engaged mutually in their stacked positions of the storing cases. Conversely, such structure was difficult to handle.  
           [0007]    For this reason, the tape cassette storing case convenient for handling was requested strongly such that the stacked storing cases can be prevented from falling down in transport, etc., it is easy to take out the selected storing case appropriately from the stacked storing cases in storing, etc., and so forth.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette storing case that is convenient for any handling of the tape cassette storing case such as transportation, storage, or the like.  
           [0009]    The above object of the present invention can be attained by providing a tape cassette storing case comprising a storing case main body for storing a tape cassette, the storing case main body having a first side surface and a second side surface that is opposite to the first side surface; a recess region on the first side surface, the recess region being defined by a step from the first side surface; and a plurality of ribs on the second side surface, wherein when two of the storing case main bodies including a first main body and a second main body are stacked so that the first side surface in the first main body are superposed on the second side surface in the second main body, the plurality of ribs in the second main body are regulated by the step of the recess region on the first main body, and said a plurality of ribs in the second main body each has an inclined surface with respect to the second side surface in the second main body.  
           [0010]    According to the tape cassette storing case, when the storing cases are stacked mutually in transportation, a plurality of ribs provided to the second side surface (one of a front side surface and a back side surface) of the storing case are positioned within the recess region of the stacked storing cases. Even though the storing cases are moved relatively by the vibration, the ribs are regulated by the step that define the recess region and thus displacement between positions of the stacked storing cases can be prevented. Therefore, it can be prevented that the stacked storing cases lose their balance and fall down in transportation. Also, in the situation that any storing case is to be taken out from a plurality of storing cases that are stacked and stored in a rack, if the user applies a force (force that is larger than a displacing force generated by the vibration in transportation) to the storing case in a predetermined direction while clamping the storing case with the user&#39;s fingers, the ribs of the clamped storing case are caused by the inclined surfaces to run on the step and are moved to the outer side of the recess region. In this manner, regulation of the movement of the storing cases can be released and thus the storing case can be taken out. As a result, such an event can be prevented that the storing case adjacent to the taken-out storing case is pulled out from the proper storing position because the adjacent storing case follows the taken-out storing case. In this way, the troublesome operation to take out a desired storing case while holding down the storing cases that should not be pulled out is not required of the user, so that the user can easily take out the desired storing case.  
           [0011]    Also, when the storing cases are aligned to store, or the like, the stacked position is made constant between all storing cases since the ribs are regulated between the stacked storing cases by the step that define the recess region. Therefore, when plural storing cases are stored, or the like, such storing cases can be aligned in a regular manner along the stacking direction and are ready to stock.  
           [0012]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that a tape cassette storing case further comprises a sheet member on the recess region.  
           [0013]    The sheet member preferably has a coefficient of friction larger than any other portion than the sheet member. Normally the sheet member provided in the recess region is made of a resin whose coefficient of friction is larger than a resin constituting any other portion than the sheet member of the storing case. Therefore, if the projected surfaces of the ribs are slid on the sheet member of the recess region in a state that a plurality of ribs are positioned with in the recess region, a larger coefficient of friction than the case that the projected surfaces are slid on remaining portions of the storing case in the related art can be obtained. As a result, relative displacement between the stacked storing cases can be suppressed more conspicuously. At this time, a coefficient of friction of the sliding portion between the ribs and the recess region can be adjusted appropriately by changing the type of the resin constituting the sheet member.  
           [0014]    Therefore, the tape cassette storing case according to the present invention is convenient for any handling of the tape cassette storing case such as transportation, storage, or the like.  
           [0015]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that the inclined surface and second side surface define an angle of 20° to 50°.  
           [0016]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that when two of the storing case main bodies including a first main body and a second main body are stacked so that the first side surface in the first main body are superposed on the first side surface in the second main body, the plurality of ribs in the first main body are capable of engaging with the plurality of ribs on the second main body.  
           [0017]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that a height of the step is set excess of a thickness dimension of the sheet member.  
           [0018]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that at least portion of the sheet member formed of a resin is deposited in the recess region to form a sheet deposition portion, and the step comprises the sheet deposition portion.  
           [0019]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that the plurality of ribs are provided at predetermined interval.  
           [0020]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that the inclined surface is inclined in a longitudinal direction of the second side surface.  
           [0021]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that the inclined surface is inclined in a lateral direction of the second side surface.  
           [0022]    In the above tape cassette storing case, it is preferable that each of the ribs comprises a first inclined surface in a longitudinal direction of the second side surface and a second inclined surface in a lateral direction of the second side surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS p FIG.  1  is an overall perspective view showing a front side surface of a tape cassette storing case according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a back side surface of the tape cassette storing case according to the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along an A-A line in FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a B-B line in FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along a C-C line in FIG. 2;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a view showing such a state that a plurality of storing cases are stacked;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is an enlarged view explaining a state viewed from the Z direction indicated with an arrow in FIG. 6;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a view showing such a state that the storing cases are stacked via their front side surfaces;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a view explaining such a state that a plurality of ribs are opposed mutually in FIG. 8;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a view explaining such a state that a plurality of opposing ribs are engaged mutually in FIG. 9; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view showing a variation of a magnetic cassette tape storing case according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]    An embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings hereinafter.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a front side surface of a tape cassette storing case according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a back side surface of the storing case shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along an A-A line in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a B-B line in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along a C-C line in FIG. 2.  
         [0035]    A tape cassette storing case  10  shown in FIG. 1 is normally called a hard case. The storing case  10  is made of polypropylene, or the like.  
         [0036]    The storing case  10  includes a storing case main body  10   a . The storing case main body  10   a  has a storage portion  11  and a lid portion  11   c  coupled to the storage portion  11 . The storage portion  11  has a rectangular bottom plate  11   a , side walls  11   b  provided upright along both short sides of the bottom plate  11   a , and an end wall  11 d provided upright along one long side of the bottom plate  11   a . A space into which the tape cassette is kept is defined on the inner side of the storing case main body  10   a  by the bottom plate  11   a , the side walls  11   b , and the end wall  11   d.    
         [0037]    A coupling piece  15  is provided foldably along the other long side of the bottom plate  11   a  via a hinge portion, or the like.  
         [0038]    The lid portion  11   c  has a rectangular shape with the same area as the bottom plate  11   a  of the storage portion  11 . The coupling piece  15  is coupled foldably to one long side of the lid portion  11   c  via a hinge portion, or the like.  
         [0039]    The storing case  10  has a structure that can store the tape cassette by turning the coupling piece  15  and the lid portion  11   c  from a base portion of the storage portion  11  in the R direction indicated with an arrow in FIG. 1 to open.  
         [0040]    Here, in the storing case  10  of the present embodiment, an upper surface of the lid portion  11   c  shown in FIG. 1 is assumed as a front side surface  12  (second side surface), and an upper surface of the bottom plate la of the storage portion  11  shown in FIG. 2 is assumed as a back side surface  13  (first side surface).  
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular window portion  12   a  when viewed from the upper side of the front side surface  12  is provided in the lid portion  11   c . The window portion  12   a  is made of transparent resin. The user can check with eye via the window portion  12   a  whether or not the tape cassette is kept in an inside of the storage portion  11 .  
         [0042]    As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of ribs  14  are projected from the front side surface  12  of the storing case  10  between the long side of the lid portion  11   c  and the long side of the window portion  12   a  respectively.  
         [0043]    A plurality of ribs  14  are provided at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction (the X direction indicated with an arrow in FIG. 1) of the storing case  10  respectively. In FIG. 1, such a structure is illustrated that respective ten ribs  14  are provided on both long sides, but the number of the ribs  14  is not particularly limited.  
         [0044]    As shown in FIG. 2, flat surfaces  13   a  positioned on both short side sides of the bottom plate  11   a , and a strip-like recess region  13   b  partitioned between these flat surfaces  13   a  by a step  16  are provided to the back side surface  13  of the storing case  10 . The recess region  13   b  is provided to expand from a center portion of one long side of the back side surface  13  of the storing case  10  to a center portion of one side of the lid portion  11   c  via the coupling piece  15 . A sheet member  18  made of transparent polypropylene, or the like is provided in the recess region  13   b . The sheet member  18  has a strip shape along a peripheral edge of the recess region  13   b , and one end of this sheet member  18  is thermally deposited to a sheet deposition portion  17  at an end portion of the bottom plate  11   a  on the long side in the recess region  13   b . The other end of the sheet member  18  is thermally deposited to a sheet deposition portion  19  at a center portion of one long side of the lid portion  11   c  in the recess region  13   b . In this manner, a pocket is defined by depositing/fixing the sheet member  18  to the recess region  13   b , and a case card L for recording product information, etc. of the magnetic cassette tape held in the storing case  10  is stored in this pocket, as indicated with an arrow in FIG. 2.  
         [0045]    Here, the sheet deposition portion  17  has a projected shape by a raise formed by the deposition. At this time, such projected shape is formed to have a projected height of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.  
         [0046]    Next, a shape of the rib will be explained with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 hereunder.  
         [0047]    As shown in FIG. 1, the rib  14  has a rectangular shape that has a long side along the lateral direction (Y direction indicated with an arrow in FIG. 1) of the storing case  10  when viewed from the upper side of the front side surface  12 .  
         [0048]    The rib  14  has a rectangular projected surface  14   a , inclined surfaces  14   b  (first inclined surfaces) formed to extend to both long sides of the projected surface  14   a  from the front side surface  12 , and inclined surfaces  14   c  (second inclined surfaces) formed to extend to both short sides of the projected surface  14   a  from the front side surface  12 .  
         [0049]    As shown in FIG. 3, the rib  14  is constructed such that the inclined surface  14   c  is inclined at a predetermined angle D 1  to the front side surface  12  and the projected surface  14   a  has a height R from the front side surface  12 . Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the rib  14  is constructed such that the inclined surface  14   b  is inclined at a predetermined angle D 2  to the front side surface  12  and the projected surface  14   a  has the height R from the front side surface  12 . In the present embodiment, the angle D 1  is set to 30°, the angle D 2  is set to 30°, and the height R of the rib  14  is set to 0.3 mm. Also, the angles D 1 , D 2  are not limited to those in the present embodiment. It is preferable that the angle D 1  should be set to 20° to 50°, and it is preferable that the angle D 2  should be set to 20° to 50°.  
         [0050]    As shown in FIG. 5, a height S of the step  16  from the flat surface  13   a  to the recess region  13   b  is set in excess of a thickness dimension of the sheet member  18 . In the present embodiment, a thickness of the sheet member  18  is 0.15 mm and the height S of the step  16  is 0.4 mm.  
         [0051]    Next, a state that plural pieces of storing cases  10  are stacked will be explained with reference to FIG. 6 hereunder. FIG. 6 is a view showing such a state that a plurality of storing cases are stacked. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view explaining the stacked portions of the storing cases in FIG. 6 viewed from the Z direction indicated with an arrow in FIG. 6.  
         [0052]    As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a plurality of ribs  14  are provided such that they are positioned in the recess region  13   b  when different storing case main bodies are stacked mutually to bring the front side surface  12  of one storing case into contact with the back side surface  13  of the other storing case.  
         [0053]    The projected surfaces  14   a  come into contact with the recess region  13   b  via the sheet member  18  in a state that a plurality of ribs  14  are positioned within the recess region  13   b . Then, when the stacked storing cases  10  are moved relatively in the longitudinal direction (direction indicated with an arrow W in FIGS. 6 and 7), the step  16  of an upper storing case  10 A in FIG. 7 contacts the inclined surface  14   b  of the rib  14  of a lower storing case  10 B in FIG. 7. Therefore, the rib  14  is regulated by the step  16  so that a movement of the rib  14  to the outer side of the recess region  13   b  can be prevented. Although not shown, similarly a movement of the rib is regulated by the step positioned on the opposite side in the direction indicated with the arrow W.  
         [0054]    Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when a plurality of ribs  14  are moved in the lateral direction (opposite direction to the Y direction indicated with an arrow in FIG. 2) of the storing case  10  in a state that different storing case main bodies are stacked mutually via their front side surface  12  and back side surface  13 , the inclined surfaces  14   c  of the ribs  14  (see FIG. 1) contacts the sheet deposition portion  17 . In this way, it can be regulated that the stacked storing cases  10  are moved relatively in their mutual lateral direction.  
         [0055]    According to the storing case  10 , when the storing cases  10  are piled up mutually in transportation, a plurality of ribs  14  provided to the front side surface  12  of the storing case  10  are positioned within the recess region  13   b  of the stacked storing cases  10 . Then, when the storing cases  10  are moved relatively, the ribs  14  come into contact with the step  16  or the sheet deposition portion  17  and thus displacement between relative positions of the stacked storing cases  10  can be regulated. Therefore, it can be prevented that the stacked storing cases  10  lose their balance and fall down in transportation.  
         [0056]    Also, in the situation that any storing case  10  is to be taken out from a plurality of storing cases  10  that are stacked and stored in a rack or the like, if the user applies a force to the storing case  10  while clamping the storing case  10  with the user&#39;s fingers, the ribs  14  of the clamped storing case  10  are caused by the inclined surfaces  14   b ,  14   c  to run on the outside of the recess region  13   b  while contacting the step  16  or the sheet deposition portion  17 . That is, if a force that is larger than a displacing force generated by the vibration in transportation is applied, regulation of the ribs  14  by the step can be easily released. In this manner, regulation of the movement of the storing cases  10  can be released and thus the storing case  10  can be moved relatively and taken out. As a result, such an event can be prevented that the storing case adjacent to the taken-out storing case  10  is pulled out from the proper storing position because the adjacent storing case follows the taken-out storing case  10 .  
         [0057]    In this fashion, the troublesome operation to take out a desired storing case while holding down the storing cases  10  that should not be pulled out is not required of the user, so that the user can easily take out the desired storing case.  
         [0058]    Also, when the storing cases  10  are aligned to store, the stacked position is made constant between all storing cases  10  by positioning the ribs  14  in the recess region  13   b  between the stacked storing cases  10 . Therefore, when plural storing cases  10  are stored, or the like, such storing cases  10  can be aligned in a regular manner along the stacking direction and are ready to stock.  
         [0059]    In addition, normally the sheet member  18  provided in the recess region  13   b  is made of a resin whose coefficient of friction is larger than a resin constituting remaining portions of the storing case  10 . Therefore, if the projected surfaces  14   a  of the ribs  14  are slid on the sheet member  18  of the recess region  13   b  in a state that a plurality of ribs  14  are positioned within the recess region  13   b , a larger coefficient of friction than the case that the projected surfaces  14   a  are slid on remaining portions of the storing case  10  in the related art can be obtained. As a result, relative displacement between the stacked storing cases  10  can be suppressed more conspicuously. At this time, a coefficient of friction of the sliding portion between the ribs  14  and the recess region  13   b  can be adjusted appropriately by changing the type of the resin constituting the sheet member  18 .  
         [0060]    A plurality of ribs  14  function as a grip upon handling the storing case  10  by the user. Therefore, the user can handle easily the storing case  10  by clamping the ribs  14  with his or her fingers.  
         [0061]    Therefore, the tape cassette storing case according to the present invention is convenient for any handling of the tape cassette storing case such as transportation, storage, or the like.  
         [0062]    It is preferable that a plurality of ribs  14  of the storing case  10  should be formed to engage with a plurality of ribs  14  of the different storing case  10 .  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 8 is a view showing such a state that the storing cases of the present embodiment are stacked via their front side surfaces, FIG. 9 is a view explaining such a state that a plurality of ribs are opposed mutually in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a view explaining such a state that a plurality of opposing ribs are engaged mutually in FIG. 9.  
         [0064]    As shown in FIG. 9, in case the storing cases  10 A,  10 B are to be stacked, a plurality of ribs  14  provided to the front side surfaces  12  of the stacked storing cases  10 A,  10 B respectively are opposed mutually and then the storing cases  10 A,  10 B are stacked in the directions indicated with an arrow in FIG. 9 respectively, whereby the projected surfaces  14   a  of the ribs  14  are brought face to face with each other.  
         [0065]    Therefore, a plurality of ribs  14  in the present embodiment are formed such that a width (a dimension in the lateral direction in FIG. 9) T of the projected surface  14   a  is made equal to an interval V of a hollow portion  14   d  between a plurality of ribs  14 . By doing this, the projected surfaces  14   a  of the ribs  14  provided to one storing case  10 A are held between the ribs  14  provided to the other storing case  10 B by shifting slightly a plurality of ribs  14  provided to one of storing cases along the planar direction when a plurality of ribs  14  opposed mutually are stacked as shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0066]    Hence, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the storing cases  10 A,  10 B are stacked in transportation in such a way that the ribs  14  of the stacked storing cases  10 A,  10 B are opposed mutually, the ribs  14  can be engaged with each other. As a result, it can be prevented that the stacked storing cases  10 A,  10 B lose their balance and fall down.  
         [0067]    Also, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of opposing ribs  14  are engaged alternately with each other in storing the storing cases  10 A,  10 B. Therefore, such an event can be avoided that a resultant volume is increased in the thickness direction (vertical direction in FIG. 8) of the storing cases  10 A,  10 B due to the state that the projected surface  14   a  of the ribs  14  are brought face to face with each other, and thus a storage space is increased.  
         [0068]    In addition, respective ribs  14  are guided to the hollow portions  14   d  by sliding edge portions of the projected surfaces  14   a  or the inclined surfaces  14   b  on the inclined surfaces  14   b  of the opposing ribs  14 . Hence, a plurality of opposing ribs  14  can be engaged smoothly with each other.  
         [0069]    In this case, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment, and appropriate variation, improvement, etc. can be applied.  
         [0070]    For example, the storing case  10  is constructed such that a plurality of ribs  14  are provided to the front side surface  12  and the recess region  13   b  is provided to the back side surface  13 . But such a structure may be employed that the recess region  13   b  is provided to the front side surface  12  and a plurality of ribs are provided to the back side surface  13 .  
         [0071]    Also, the shape of respective ribs  14  is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1. The shape of respective ribs may be changed appropriately within a scope that such shape of respective ribs can be positioned appropriately in the recess region  13   b  when the front side surface  12  and the back side surface  13  are stacked. In addition, arrangement of the ribs  14  is not limited to a series arrangement as shown in FIG. 1, and respective ribs  14  may be arranged to shift from the adjacent ribs in the lateral direction of the storing case.  
         [0072]    For example, in the above storing case  10 , the window portion  12   a  is provided to the front side surface  12 . But the present invention is not limited to this structure, and the structure in which no window portion is provided may be employed.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view showing a variation of the storing case  10  according to the above embodiment. A storing case  20  has a storing case main body  21 , and no window portion is provided to a front side surface  22  of the storing case main body  21 . A plurality of ribs  24  are provided to the front side surface  22  of the storing case  20  to extend from a center portion of one long side of the front side surface  22  to a center portion of the other long side in such a manner that these ribs are positioned in a recess region (see FIG. 2) when the front side surface  22  is stacked on a back side surface  23 .  
         [0074]    According to the storing case  20 , the advantages similar to the above embodiment can be achieved.  
         [0075]    As described above, according to the present invention, the tape cassette storing case convenient for any handling of the tape cassette storing case such as transportation, storage, or the like can be provided.  
         [0076]    The entire disclosure of each and every foreign patent application from which the benefit of foreign priority has been claimed in the present application is incorporated herein by reference, as if fully set forth.