Adapter for an ultra-compact cassette

An ultra-compact tape cassette system includes an ultra-compact cassette and an adapter, simulating a standard compact cassette, which allows the cassette to be played in a recorder designed for a standard compact cassette. When the cassette is inserted into the adapter, internal reel brakes are automatically de-activated, and the front door of the cassette is opened, to expose the tape for playing. The adapter further comprises devices which simulate recordable tabs and reflect the recordable status of the ultra-compact cassette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to magnetic tape devices generally, and more 
particularly to a cassette system for magnetic tape, for example, audio 
tape. 
Audio cassettes have already undergone one level of size reduction; the 
most popular size of cassette today is referred to as "compact". Smaller 
cassettes are easier to store, handle and transport, and require less 
material for manufacture. They also enable manufacturers to reduce the 
size of tape players and recorders. Accordingly, further size reduction is 
desirable. However, in order for smaller cassettes to be accepted, it i s 
necessary to enable them to be played in existing equipment. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to enable one to play or record 
ultra-compact cassettes in a conventional compact cassette recorder. 
Another object of the invention is to prevent slack from developing in the 
tape of an ultra-compact cassette when the cassette is in storage or 
transit. 
A further object is to convey to a conventional player or recorder the 
recordable status of the ultra-compact cassette (that is, whether one or 
more tabs on the cassette have been broken to prevent recording over the 
tape). 
These and other objects are met by an adapter for adapting an ultra-compact 
cassette to a conventional compact cassette recorder, comprising a housing 
having a floor bounded by lateral walls and a rear wall, and a hinged door 
opposite the rear wall, the walls and the door defining a cavity for 
receiving the ultra-compact cassette, and a cover for partially closing 
the cavity from above, the cover being hinged to the side walls by 
respective pivots, a pair of pinions, one fixed to each pivot so that the 
pinions turn as the cover is moved between its open and closed positions, 
a pair of rails, movably mounted within the housing along each of the side 
walls, each of the rails comprising means for engaging the ultra-compact 
cassette, and each rail having a rack in mesh with a respective one of the 
pinions, whereby the racks move in unison lengthwise as the cover is 
moved, so that when the cover is closed, the ultra-compact cassette is 
driven toward the rear of the housing, and further comprising means for 
engaging the magnetic tape of the ultra-compact cassette and for guiding 
it along a path adjacent to the door of the adapter. 
Another aspect of the invention is an ultra-compact magnetic tape cassette 
comprising a housing having top and bottom panels, a pair of tape reels 
within the housing, on either side of a center plane bisecting the 
housing, a pair of circular flanges formed in at least one panel of the 
housing, for supporting and centering the respective tape reels, a pair of 
grooves extending along the inner surface of the panel, each groove having 
a portion formed in the flange, and extending therefrom in a substantially 
straight line from the flange toward the center plane, a pair of elongate 
members, each extending along and within a respective one of the grooves, 
and having an upturned end seatable in the portion of the groove formed in 
the flange, means for biasing each elongated member away from its seated 
position, whereby the upturned end engages a surface of its respective 
reel, to prevent movement of the same, and means within the housing for 
displacing the elongated members toward their seated position, to release 
the reels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIG. 1a, the invention comprises two major components: an 
ultra-compact cassette 10 and an adapter 12 which simulates a conventional 
compact cassette. The adapter includes a housing 14, which may be 
injection molded from a plastic material, the housing having a floor 16 
bounded by lateral sides 18 with upper flanges 22. The distance between 
the flanges is just slightly greater than the width of the ultra-compact 
cassette, which can therefore be inserted easily into the cavity 24 
defined between the sides of the adapter. The rear 26 of the adapter is 
closed and turned over to form a lip 28, defining a pocket or recess into 
which the ultra-compact cassette can slide once it has been inserted into 
the adapter. There is a central projection 30 at the rear of the pocket, 
which initiates release of reel brakes described below. 
To retain the ultra-compact cassette within the adapter once it has been 
inserted, there is a cover 32 comprising a panel 34 with arms 36 extending 
from either side thereof. The arms terminate at pivots 38, and a pinion 40 
is fixed on each pivot, so that the pinions turn as the cover is moved. 
Each pinion is permanently in mesh with a rack 42 formed on a slidable 
rail 44, retained within either side of the adapter, as seen in FIG. 9. 
Each rail has two upwardly and inwardly turned tabs 46, 48, one at either 
end. The rear tab 48 engages behind the rear corner of the ultra-compact 
cassette when it is inserted, initially preventing the ultra-compact 
cassette from sliding back into the pocket. The ultra-compact cassette has 
a slot 50 on either side corresponding to the initial position of the 
forward tab 46, so that these tabs enter the slots when the cassette is 
placed into the adapter. When the cover is closed, the arms rotate the 
pinions 40 through a partial turn, driving the rails 44 toward the rear 
end of the adapter, into the pocket. 
Referring to FIGS. 5a and 5b, the cover includes a pair of sliding latches 
52, one at either corner, which can be pushed rearwardly to lock the cover 
in the closed position. Each latch has a pair of detents 53, defining its 
open and closed positions, to prevent unintended movement. 
Mounted along the forward edge of the floor of the adapter are: a pair of 
guide rollers 54 (FIG. 1a), one near either corner of the adapter; a 
number of tape guide pins 56; and a spring pad 58 between the centermost 
pins, for biasing the tape toward a play and/or record head in a tape 
recorder (not shown). The rollers and pins guide the magnetic tape along a 
path parallel to and behind the closed position of the door described 
below. A beveled opener 60 (FIG. 1b) extends upward from the forward edge 
of the floor. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6a and 6b, the adapter contains, near either rear 
corner, a lever 62, mounted on a vertical pivot axis just inside the rear 
face of the housing. The lever extends laterally outward from the pivot 
axis, terminating at a probe 64 which has an offset flange 66 situated in 
alignment with a rectangular hole 68 in the rear face of the housing. The 
probe 64 senses the presence or absence of a recordable tab (70) on the 
UCC. An integral leaf spring 74 bears against the inner rear wall 75 of 
the housing, biasing the lever towards a position indicating the tape 
cannot be recorded over, shown in FIG. 6b. However, this position can only 
be maintained when the recordable tab 70 has been removed from the 
ultra-compact cassette; otherwise, the lever is forced to the FIG. 6a 
position (recordable). Thus, the offset flange simulates a recordable tab 
on the adapter, and the machine into which the adapter is placed senses 
the "presence" or "absence" of the offset tab, and permits or prevents 
recording, respectively. 
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ultra-compact cassette 10 itself comprises a 
plastic housing 76 having top and bottom panels 78 with a pair of tape 
reels 80, 82 sandwiched therebetween. Each of the reels has an inside 
diameter, or bore, which is loosely centered over opposed circular flanges 
84 extending inwardly from the top and bottom panels, serving as hubs upon 
which the reels rotate. 
To prevent the reels from rotating when the tape is not in use, a pair of 
stiff wires 86 are situated in respective grooves 88, each at least as 
deep as the wire diameter in the upper surface of the bottom panel of the 
ultra-compact cassette. The grooves extend to, and into, the respective 
circular flanges 84. Each groove is partially covered to prevent the wire 
from popping out of position. The tip 90 of each wire, the end near the 
flange, is bent upwardly; the other end is bent laterally at an acute 
angle to form an elbow 92 which bears against a pin on the lower 
ultra-compact cassette panel. The wires may move length wise along their 
grooves, between a retracted position in which the tips engage the inner 
diameter of their respective reels, to prevent rotation, and an extended 
position in which the tip rests in the groove within the flange, out of 
contact with the reel. 
To drive the wires from the retracted position toward the extended 
position, there is an actuator 96 shaped like an arrowhead, mounted 
between stationary guides 98 formed on the bottom panel of the 
ultra-compact cassette. The oblique surfaces 100 on the arrow engage with 
the elbows of the wires. The normal position of the actuator is rearward; 
however, when the ultra-compact cassette is inserted into the adapter, and 
the cover closed, the projection 30 mentioned previously pushes the 
actuator forward, driving the wires along their grooves toward the 
flanges, and releasing the reels. As soon as the ultra-compact cassette is 
removed from the adapter, however, the wire automatically retract to 
prevent movement of the reels. 
The front of the ultra-compact cassette is normally closed by a door 102 
(FIG. 2b), pivoted at its ends along an axis near the top of the 
ultra-compact cassette. A leaf spring 104 biases the door to its fully 
open or closed position. The door has an inwardly beveled lower edge 106, 
so that when the ultra-compact cassette is inserted into the adapter 
(FIGS. 2a and 2b), the opener 60 on the floor of the adapter can enter 
behind the door and open it slightly. At this point, the tape within the 
ultra-compact cassette is forward of the guide rollers and pins on the 
adapter. Then, when the adapter cover is closed (FIGS. 3 and 4), the door 
is fully opened by the opener, and the tape is drawn against the rollers, 
passing in front of the guide pins and spring pad. The adapter, simulating 
a standard compact cassette, is now ready to be used in a conventional 
recorder. 
To remove the ultra-compact cassette from the adapter, the installation 
procedure is reversed. The latches shown in FIG. 5 can be slid forward to 
release the cover. As the cover is opened, the rack and pinion arrangement 
forces the ultra-compact cassette forward, so that it can be removed from 
the adapter. The tape is then wound taut by the rotating action of a 
finger on the reel and the front door is flipped manually to the closed 
position before the ultra-compact cassette is removed. As soon as the 
ultra-compact cassette has been moved forward, its reel brakes are 
automatically activated, preventing the tape from accidentally unreeling 
during storage or transport. 
The preferred reel braking mechanisms described above are wires; however, 
rods or other elongate members could be used as well. Therefore, a generic 
term is used in the claims that follow. 
Inasmuch as the invention is subject to modifications and variations, it is 
intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings 
shall be interpreted as illustrative of only one form of the invention, 
whose scope is to be measured by the following claims.