LOCKOUT DEVICE FOR TAPE CASSETTE

Abstract: A tape cassette (10) having a rotary lock-out cam (30) in the form of a cylinder which has half cut away providing a recess (32) for the disabling member of a tape machine to enter. The rotary cam (30) can be rotated so that the remaining half of the cylindrical surface engages the disabling member so that the disabling member is held in disabling position. The disabling member can be thus manipulated by the user to effectively block the access to the record lock-out lever when desired or to allow the lock-out lever to penetrate the cassette shell. The owner of the cassette can thus prevent the accidental erasure or re-recording of the cassette tape when the movable member is in the retracted position but can deliberately allow re-recording by positioning the movable member to the extended position

Description: LOCKOUT DEVICE FOR TAPE CASSETTE GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION A means whereby a captive, movable member is placed in the cassette shell aperture is described herein. This member can be manipulated by the user to effectively block the access of the record lock-out lever, or allow it to penetrate the cassette shell. Thus, the owner of the cassette can prevent the accidental erasure or re-recording of the cassette tape when the movable member is in the retracted position, but can deliberately allow re-recording by positioning the movable member to the extended position. One method of achieving the aforementioned action is to place a rotary cam or gate device in the aperture whose axis of rotation is at right angles to the plane of the cartridge. In position (a), shown in Fig. 3, the periphery of the cam effectively blocks the aperture, thus allowing recording and re-recording. In position (b), shown in Fig. 5y the cut-away portion of the cam allows the penetration of the record lock-out lever for the player, thus preventing erasure or re-recording of the tape. REFERENCE TO PRIOR ART Applicant is aware of the following United States prior art. U.S. Patent No. 3,980,256 shows a shiftable tab for selectively blocking the opening formed by the removal of the conventional knockout tab used to provide a means for determining the presence of predetermined material on the tape carried by the cassette. Applicant's invention provides an improved captive member for performing this functon in a more efficient manner than that of the reference. The other references merely show the state of the art of tape cassettes. SUBST OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved tape cassette. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for preventing re-recording of a tape cassette. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tape cassette that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use. With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions and minor detail of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a tape cassette according to the invention. Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a tape cassette shown in Fig. 1 flipped over. Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of one corner of the cassette showing the rotary disabling member according to the invention moved to the disabling portion. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rotary cam disabling member. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the rotary cam disabling member in non-disabling position. OMPI DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The tape cassette utilizing improvements on the present invention is broadly shown and denoted by the Numeral 10. The improvements can be applied to a Phillips type cassette like that shown in U. S. Patent No. 3,980,256. It can also be used in a variety of different designs of cassettes of which the Phillips cassette is but one example. The cassette 10 shown has a case 11 made up of a top shell 12 and a bottom shell 14. Shells 12 and 14 are held in spaced relation to each other by webs 15 which are integral with the shells 12 and 14 and provide a space for the hubs 22 to freely rotate between the shells. The magnetic tape 16 is supported on the hubs in a conventional manner and is exposed through the opening 19 to a transducer on the tape recorder along the front of the cassette. The rotary cam 30 is supported in the reeesses 26. The rotary lock-out cam 30 are generally in the form of a cylinder having approximately one half of the cylinder cut away providing a half cylindrical surface and a flat surface 32, therein providing a recess for the disabling element on the tape machine to enter as best shown in Fig. 5. It will be seen that when the rotary lock-out member 30 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 3 the record lock¬ out lever of the tape player will be held from entering the recess thus preventing erasure of the tape or re-recording of the tape. The embodiment shown is the preferred embodiment of this invention but other forms of a moveable lock-out cam can be used. The rotary cam lock-out members each have a hub 25 on each end and one of the hubs 25 has a screwdriver slot 27 in it which extends through the shell and can be entered by a suitable screwdriver or coin for rotating it. SUBSTITUTE SHEE When the cylindrical periphery 31 of the cam lock-out member 30 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5 the cut away side of the rotary cam lock-out member will face outwardly and the flat surface 32 will be down in the recess 26 and allow the record lock-out lever of the tape player to penetrate the recess 26 and allow the player to operate. Thus, when the rotary lockout cam 30 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 3, re-recording cannot take place, but when the rotary lockout cam 30 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5, the tape can be re-recorded. The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred, practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims. "g JRE SUBSTITUTE SHEET ι?o

Claims: CLAIMS The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. In a tape cassette: a cassette housing formed of a pair of shells with each shell having a pair of spaced opposite sides, the shells being disposed in operative position adjacent to each other with respective sides thereof in alignment with each other; and means for interconnecting the shells when the latter are in operative position to form said housing, a web on and extending along each side of said housing, holding said shells in spaced relation to each other, a movable captive member disposed in the cassette shell aperture, said member being adapted to be manipulated by the user to effectively block the access of the record lock-out lever, or allow said lever to penetrate the cassette shell, whereby the owner can prevent the accidental erasure or re- recording of the tape when the movable member is in the retracted position, but can deliberately allow re-recording by positioning the movable member to the extended position, and selectively manipulate the captive member to block access of said lock-out lever. 2. In combination, a tape cassette and a lock-out device are preventing actuation of the tape player by an actuating member on the tape player, said cassette having a recess therein, a movable member in said recess supported on said cassette, said movable member having a surface adapted to selectively move into the path of said actuating member and to move out of the SUBSTITUTE SHEET ) path of said actuating member whereby said recorder is prevented from recording the tape in said cassette or selectively permitted to record. 3. The combination of Claim 2, wherein said lock-out device is a rotatable cam and said surface is in the form of a part of a cylinder adapted to be engaged by said actuating member and said rotatable cam has a recess therein adapted to receive the said actuating member to permit the actuating member to penetrate the recess in said cassette whereby said tape player may be permitted or selectively prevented from recording on said magnetic tape in said cassette. 4. The combination recited in Claim 3 wherein said cam is rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of said tape.

Inventors: LORANGER JOHN P, LORANGER ROBERT T, PELT JOHN ROBERT
Applicants: LORANGER MFG CO
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G11B23
IPC codes: G11B23