Tape cassette storage and carrying case

A tape cassette storage and the carrying case comprising hollow shell members pivotally connected together and being relatively movable between a closed position and an open position. The shells have a support arrangement mounted at the inner bottom ends thereof which defines a plurality of stepped support levels for cassettes which are inserted into the shells from the open ends of the shells. The support levels for each cassette are different and are stepwise graduated in an ascending manner from the front toward the back of the shell members, the step support level of the two shell members ascending in opposite directions. A lock is provided to lock the shells in the closed position, and a friction lock is provided to lock the shells in their open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a tape cassette storage and carrying case, and 
more particularly to such a tape cassette case wherein the cassettes are 
securely held for storage, and wherein the cassettes are easily removed 
for use. 
The object of the invention is to provide such a tape cassette storage and 
carrying case which is easy to manufacture, easy to handle, easy to open 
and in which the cassettes are easily removed therefrom. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, a tape cassette storage and carrying 
case comprises first and second substantially hollow shell members each 
having an open end and a bottom opposite the open end, the shell members 
being pivotally connected together and being relatively movable between a 
closed position wherein the open ends face each other, and an open 
position wherein sides of the shells are adjacent each other; support 
means mounted at the inner, bottom ends of the shell members and defining 
a plurality of stepped support levels for cassettes inserted in the shells 
from the open ends of the shells, the support levels for each adjacent 
cassette being different and being stepwise graduated relative to the 
adjacent support levels, the stepped support levels of the shell members 
being graduated in opposite directions; and means for maintaining the 
shells in the closed position to enclose cassettes stored therein. 
Preferably the support levels of each shell are stepwise graduated in 
ascending or descending manner from the front toward the back of the shell 
members. Further, the shell members preferably each have a cut-out wall 
portion and a protruding wall portion at the open ends thereof, the 
protruding wall portion of one shell being in mating registration with the 
cut-out wall portion of the other shell. 
In a further preferred arrangement, a friction lock is provided for 
maintaining the shell members in an open position adjacent each other, and 
the shell members have highly rounded bottom corners at the corners 
adjacent the pivoting means to facilitate opening of the carrying case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the cassette storage and carrying case, hereinafter 
referred to as "case", comprises two shell portions 1, 2, each shell 1, 2 
having a portion of a handle 3 formed on the upper surface thereof. The 
handle 3 incorporates a locking catch to maintain the case in the closed 
position, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. 
The shell portions 1, 2 are pivotally connected by means of pivot pins 4, 5 
which may, for example, take the form of rivets or other rigid members. 
The case has legs or feet 6, 7 which serve to raise the case and which 
also serve as locking members to maintain the two shells 1, 2 in their 
open position. More particularly, the leg 6 comprises pivotally connected 
portions 6a, 6b and the leg 7 comprises pivotally connected portions 7a, 
7b. When the shells 1, 2 are pivotally moved to their opened condition as 
shown in FIGS. 4-6, the leg members 6a and 6b have an interference fit 
relative to each other to provide a frictional sliding lock to maintain 
the shells in their open state. A similar frictional sliding locking 
arrangement can be provided with respect to leg portions 7a, 7b. The 
interference fit is better seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, FIG. 11 illustrating 
the shells 1, 2 in a partially open state, and FIG. 12 illustrating the 
shells 1 and 2 in the fully opened state. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the 
leg portions 7a, 7b are angled relative to each other such that when 
pivoted to the fully opened condition, they frictionally engage each other 
along at least a portion of the length thereof to effectively lock the 
shells 1, 2 in the open position in a simple and expedient manner. This 
frictional, sliding locking arrangement is achieved without complex 
mechanisms which could complicate molding and increase costs. 
FIG. 6 is a top view of the interior of the shells 1, 2. Only one of the 
shells 1, 2 will be described in detail hereinbelow since both shells are 
substantially identical in general construction. The left side of shell 1 
is provided with horizontally extending partitions 10, 12 and 14, and the 
right side is provided with respective partitions 11, 13 and 15 which are 
in alignment with respective partitions 10, 12, 14. Thus, four tape 
cassette compartments are provided for receiving four cassette tape boxes 
16-19 shown in dashed lines in the right shell 2 in FIG. 6. Spacer ribs 20 
are provided to space the cassette cases from the side edges of the shells 
1, 2. 
As best seen in FIGS. 7-9, the shells 1, 2 are also provided with cassette 
support members 21, 22 which are stepped to provide different levels of 
support at the respective storage compartments of the tape cassette 
carrying case. The cassettes inserted into the carrying case respectively 
rest on the steps 23-26 (FIG. 7) so that the upper edges of the stored 
cassettes are in a corresponding stepped arrangement to provide for easier 
removal of the individual stored cassettes from the carrying case. 
As seen from FIG. 8, the stepped arrangement in the right hand shell 2 is 
opposite from that of left hand shell 1. By virtue of this arrangement, 
the cassette carrying case can be closed and the highest level cassette 
(on step 23) in one shell will be in registration with the lowest level 
cassette (on step 26) in the mating shell. This maintains the oppositely 
mounted cassettes securely in position and reduces rattling when the case 
is closed. 
It is pointed out that the abutting surfaces 28, 29 of shells 1, 2 are 
generally "S" shaped in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12. When the shells 1, 2 
are closed, the S-shaped adjacent portions are in registration to provide 
a substantially fully closed structure to prevent intrusion of dust and 
other contaminating particles. When opened, the recesses 30, 31 (see FIG. 
4) provide a finger gripping open area for sliding the lowermost mounted 
tape cassette (resting on lowermost step of ribs 21, 22) out of the case. 
The lowermost tape cassette extends above the lowermost portion of the 
recesses 30, 31 so that it may be gripped by the fingers of a user and 
slid upwardly out of the storage case. This is an important feature of the 
invention. 
FIG. 10 illustrates a modified arrangement having a resilient wedge of 
foamed plastic, foam rubber, or the like, 35 mounted in the lower portion 
of the shells 1, 2 between stepped support members 21, 22. The wedge 35 
extends just above the stepped support members 21, 22. When the cassettes 
are mounted in the shells 1, 2 of the storage case and the case is closed, 
the cassettes in one shell with have their upper surfaces bearing against 
respective upper surfaces of the cassettes in the other shell to slightly 
push them downwardly against the resilient wedge 35 toward the respective 
steps. The slight biasing pressure exerted by the wedge 35 further 
prevents rattling of the cassettes in the case when the case is closed. A 
further advantage is that when the shells are opened, the resiliency of 
the wedge 35 will push or spring the cassettes slightly upwardly to 
facilitate removing them from the storage case. 
FIG. 13 illustrates a modified arrangement wherein the generally S-shaped 
abutting surfaces 28,29 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12 are replaced by 
generally trapezoidal surfaces 38,39. The trapezoidal surfaces 38,39, 
which generally form a "S-shape" perform substantially the same functions 
as the surfaces 28,29 shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12. The sloped 
portions 40,41 and 42 provide relief areas to permit the shells 1, 2 to be 
pivoted relative to each other from the closed to the open position. The 
internal construction of the embodiment of FIG. 13 is identical to that of 
FIGS. 1-12, as well as the construction of the legs and pivoting 
mechanism. 
In the FIG. 13 embodiment, the handle 43 extends the full width of the 
case, the dimension of the handle in the side view being substantially 
identical to that shown in FIG. 3. 
The locking catches on the handle 3 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12 is 
substantially identical to that in the embodiment of FIG. 13. The 
description below will be given with respect to the locking catch in the 
embodiment of FIGS. 1-12. The locking catch in FIG. 13 will not be 
described separately, but identical numerals, but primed, will be used to 
designate corresponding parts in FIG. 13, the detailed description thereof 
being omitted. The handle 3 comprises a left side portion 45 with a 
resilient projection 44 and a right side portion 46 which has a projection 
47 which is releasably and lockingly engageable with the projection or 
resilient extension 44. The resilient extension or projection 44 is wider 
in the direction of dimension "x" than the remaining portions of the 
handle, and particularly the portion of the handle 46. This is to provide 
a gripping area for the users fingers in order to lift the resilient 
projection or extension 44 relative to the remaining portions of the 
handle to disengage the projection 47 from the slot 48 formed in the 
extension 44. The arrangement of the locking device shown in FIGS. 1-13 is 
of particular advantage since it permits the shells, with the integral 
handle and locking device, to be manufactured without using a cam-action 
mold. The material of the handle is preferably a resilient plastic 
material with "memory", such as ABS or impact styrene. The projection 47 
preferably has a tapered leading edge 49 to facilitate engagement of the 
extension 44 over the projection 47 when closing the cassette carrying 
case. 
An important feature of the present invention is the provision of the 
rounded bottom edges 50 of the shells 1, 2. By virtue of the rounded 
bottom edges, the carrying case of the present invention can be easily 
opened with only one hand. This is of particular advantage when the 
carrying case is used in an automobile and the driver opens the carrying 
case. This enables the driver to easily open the carrying case with one 
hand, while still maintaining control of the vehicle with the other hand. 
This is accomplished by lifting the projection or extension 44 to release 
the lock and then rolling either one of the shells over the rounded edges 
50 to automatically cause the shells to pivot with respect to each other 
about pivot point 4, thereby easily opening the case. For example, 
assuming the user opens the case by gripping and rolling shell 2 in the 
clockwise direction after releasing the closing latch, the pivot point 4 
will also rotate in a clockwise direction and be raised upwardly. This 
automatically causes the left-hand shell 1 to rotate in the 
counterclockwise direction. The rotation of one of the shells is continued 
until the legs 6a, 6b reach the positions shown in FIG. 4, at which 
position they frictionally engage and lock with each other to maintain the 
carrying case in the open position, thereby permitting the user to easily 
remove the desired cassette, without excessive fumbling. Since the 
carrying case remains frictionally locked in its open position, removing 
cassettes therefrom is facilitated, especially when the user is operating 
an automobile. 
While the invention has been described above with respect to specific 
embodiments, it should be clear that various modifications and alterations 
can be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended 
claims. For example, the form and shape of the closure lock may be varied, 
as desired, as may the shape of the abutting surfaces 28, 29. The overall 
outer shape of the carrying case may also be varied, as desired. The 
complete case is preferably molded in two pieces, to wit: two shells each 
having integral handle portions, of ABS or impact styrene.