VIDEO CASSETTES

Abstract: A one piece casing (10) is provided for the tape spools (45) of a video cassette. The casing includes an open housing (11) having a closure part (18) connected thereto by an integral live hinge (19) enclosing the open housing (11). The casing (10) is also provided with a front closure flap (30) which has braking members (37) thereon which engage with the spools (45) to prevent them from unwinding when the closure flap (30) is in the closed position.

Description: "VIDEO CASSETTES" This invention relates to tape cassettes such as video, audio and computer tape cassettes, as well as cassettes for typewriter and printer ribbons. However for illustrative purposes only, particular reference will be made hereinafter to video cassettes. Home video recording and replay systems were originally introduced so that users could record programmes they were unable to watch, and replay those programmes at a later date. This "time shifting" of televised programmes led to acceptance of home video systems which far exceeded original expectations. The resultant market competition resulted in video cassettes which mostly conform to an industry stereotype cassette which is of a very high standard of construction. Cassettes for tape storage for video tape recorders typically contain two spools. The ends of a length of tape are connected to the hubs of the spools, and during use the tape unreels from one spool and reels onto the other. In order that playing of the "tapes and rewinding after use may proceed unhindered, the spools must rotate freely within the cassette housing while a cassette is in use. However, it . is necessary that a cassette be fitted with a brake system t.o lock the spools when a cassette is not in use, so that loose tape cannot unreel from the spools during handling and transport of the cassette. Λ section of the tape passing between the spools is routed along one edge of the cassette from where it can be drawn into contact with the recording and playback heads. A hinged closure flap covers this section of tape when the cassette is not in use, and this flap is automatically swung away from the tape when the cassette is inserted in the tape player. The casings of the presently available video cassettes are formed as complex shell mouldings in mating halves which must be screwed together. The casing halves must be formed precisely to maintain operative alignment of the -parts as well as correct alignment of tape guides for minimising frictional tape drag in use. Most cassettes also have a separate reel tension spring, a separate cover flap locking mechanism and complex ulti component reel braking devices to provide optimum performance over a long period of recording, playback and re-recording. In particular the casing halves include mating column parts which interlock to ensure correct alignment of the column parts whereby each may- support a sleeve bearing for use as a tape guide. Λ disadvantage of such cassettes is that they must be manufactured, to high standards and are thus expensive to manufacture and assemble. The demand for movies pre-recorded on video cassettes grew with the increase in. numbers of home video systems and to date film makers have released a large range of movies on the accepted high standard video cassette which, as mentioned above, is specifically designed for long life and "time shifting" . Because of this the cost of production of each movie cassette is relatively high. Movie cassette rental libraries have been established to overcome this problem and to meet the demand for the home movie cassette market. This has led to a number of major problems within the film making industry including video piracy and lack of adequate return in relation to the large audience each movie released on cassette may reach. Renting pre-recorded video cassettes also exposes customers to the risk of damaging expensive video players as rental video cassettes are often subject to a variety of abuses including use in video cassette players of varying quality and cleanliness. The oresent invention aims to alleviate the ementioned disadvantages and to provide tape cassettes and or casings therefore which will be reliable and efficient in operation. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent. With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a one piece casing for a tape cassette including:- an open housing which provides first and second chamber portions between which tape may be transferred and a leading wall assembly which is provided with pathways through which tape may pass between said chamber portions; a closure part for enclosing said open housing, and said closure part being connected to said open housing by an integrally formed hinge. Preferably, said pathways are provided with tape guides across which said tape passes from one said chamber portion to the other. It is also preferred that said closure part be in the form of a substantially planar wall and that said leading wall extends continuously between said closure wall and the opposite wall of said housing. The leading wall may be in the form of a wall which extends in one piece between said pathways or it may be constituted by a plurality of spaced ' columns or walls. -The said opposite wall may constitute the base wall which may be substantially rectangular and may support a back wall along one edge thereof opposite said leading wall and side walls along the remaining edges thereof. Suitably the side walls,' the base wall, the back wall and said leading wall are formed integrally with one another and suitably of a plastics material such as polyethylene. In a further aspect, this invention resides in a cassette casing having:- a leading side wall through which tape may pass between respective housing portions within said casing; opposed enclosure walls between which said leading side wall extends, one said opposed enclosure wail being fo-rmed integrally, with the other said opposed wall and being hingably connected thereto whereby one said opposed wall ay be moved from an open position at which said housing portions are open to permit stored tape to be inserted therein and a closed position enclosing said housing portions. If desired, said casing may include a base wall assembly, a side wall assembly including said leading side wall assembly and opposed side walls. The base wall assembly which may constitute one said opposed wall may be formed integrally with said opposed side wall assembly or separate therefrom as desired. The side wall assembly may include integral tape guides and may be formed from a rigid plastics material such as polystyrene. The base wall assembly may be formed from a plastics material such as polyethylene, although of course other materials such as fibreboard may be used if desired. The base wall, opposed walls and top wall assemblies may be formed integrally or of a different material to the remainder of said casing. Thus a composite housing may be formed which may include for example moulded leading and side walls and a cardboard base wail, rear wall and top wail. A closure flap may be formed integrall" ' with the top wall and connected to the top wall by an integrally-formed or live hinge or the like whereby it may pivot between closed and open positions as in conventional video cassettes. The top wall may be adhered to the top face of said side walls so that the cassette cannot be taken apart without destroying the side trails. Preferably however, the top wall is formed with closure means which may engage with complementary closure means formed on the side walls whereby the too wall may be attached to the side walls. The top wall may be formed from a transparent plastics material such that the interior of the housing may be inspected visually-.- Alternatively, the top wall may be provided with windows which may be covered with transparent material. In one form of the invention the tape cassette is adapted as a video tape cassette and said leading wall assembly is recessed intermediate said tape guides for receiving a video player's tape carrier members when the latter are disposed rearwardly of video tape extending across said leading wall assembly and the base wall is apertured to permit the drive spindles of a conventional video player to extend upwardly into said chamber portions and to provide recesses for locating pins for the optical sensor motor control and the brake release mechanism associated with a conventional video player. Optical fibres may be embedded into or secured to the housing to enable circuitous light paths to be formed to direct light to the optical sensors. For example optical fibres may be moulded into the housing or be adhered thereto or optical fibres may be formed integrally with a plastics leaf spring secured to the top wall of the cassette and utilized to force the tape reels downwardly to their stowed positions . In another aspect, this invention resides in braking apparatus for the tape storage reels of a tape cassette of the type having a leading wall closure flap which is automatically opened upon insertion into a video cassette recorder (VCR) , said braking apparatus having a braking member adapted to engage a reel and being movable between an operative position at which said braking member applies a braking action to said reel and a non-operative position at uhich said braking member is released from said reel and said braking member being oceratively associated with said closure flap whereby movement of said closure flap between its closed ■ind open positions moves said braking member between said operative and said non-operative positions. Preferably said braking apparatus includes braking members adapted to brake the respective reels. The braking members may be supported on any desired wall and may engage frictionally with the reels, but preferably they engage with ratchet teeth formed in the outer faces of the tape spools. Preferably, said braking members are formed integral with the top wail of said closure flap and are disposed between the closure flap pivots and the front wall of said flap such that pivoting of the closure flap about said closure fla pivots moves said braking members between said operative and non- operative positions, although the braking members cculd be arranged remote from the closure flap and be interconnected thereto by linkages. In yet a further aspect, this invention resides broadly in a method of forming a tape cassette including providing a mould having a cavity for an open cassette body and a cavity for a closure wall for enclosing said cassette body, said cavities being interconnected by a reduced thickness line; injecting plastics material Into said mould; removing the one piece moulded article from said mould, and pivoting said closure wall about said reduced thickness line to a closed position over said open cassette body. In order that this invention may be more readily- understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which Illustrate typical embodiments of the present invention, and wherei :- FIG. 1 is an exploded pictorial view of a video cassette; FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the video cassette, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternate form of video cassette . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the video cassette 10 has a housing assembly 11 consisting of a base wall 12, side walls 13, a rear wall 14 and a leading wall 15. The leading wall 15 contains recesses 16 to accommodate tape transport posts and guides of a video cassette recorder (VCR), and tape pathways 17 through which tape may pass. The pathways 17 are formed as extensions of the leading wall 15 and these extensions are curved, as shown, to facilitate the passage of tape thereacross. The top wall IS is attached to the rear wall 14 via an integrally-formed live hinge 19. Transparent panels 20 are provided in the top wall 18 for inspection of the interior of the ousing assembly 10, and spring bars 21 moulded integral with the top wall 18 provide spring pressure on the top surfaces of the tape spools 45 to press the tape spools 45 against the base wall 12. Spigots 42 on the bottom of the tape reels 45 locate within apertures 22 in the base wall 12. Each spigot 42 is a relatively loose fit within the respective aperture 22 and disengage therefrom when the reels are lifted by the VCR drive spindles. The cape reels 45 are also located by engagement between the edges of the side walls 13, the back wall 14 and the locating projections 43 which extend inwardly from- the base wall 12. Tape guides 23 are formed integrally with the housing assembly 10 and a recess 24 is formed in the rear wail 14 and provided with a clip-in covering which may be removed to convert the video cassette 10 into play-only mode. Tapered pins 25 engage with tapered recesses formed in the leading wall 15 to lock the top wall 18 into a closed position. A sensor cutout housing 27 accommodates the optical sensor pillar of the video cassette recorder, while apertures 28 and 23 allow a light beam between the optical sensor and an external point to pass therebetween. The closure flap assembly 30 has a front face 31 and a top plate 32 braced by end plates 33, on which pivot pins 34 are mounted. The pivot pins 34 engage with pivot slots 35 in the side walls 13 of the housing 11 and a spring 36 around a pivot pin 34 biases the closure flap assembly 30 into the closed position. Ratchet pins 37 formed on the lower face of the top plate 32 pass through pin holes 3S in the top wall 18 of the housing and may engage with the ratchet teeth 46 of the tape spools 45 when the closure flap assembly 30 is in the closed position so that the reels may only rotate- in the direction A which will prevent the tape from unwinding, A recess 39 in the leading wall 15 provides clearance for the operation of a closure flap lifting plate. The housing 11 is provided with an integral catch 49 which engages with a retention lip 40 on an end plate 33 of the closure flap 30 which normally locks the closure flap 30 in the closed position. When the cassette is inserted into a VCR the button 46 Is pushed in to disengage the catch 49 from the retention lip 40 so that the closure flap 30 may be pivoted to Its open position. The video cassette 50 shown in FIG. 3 has a side wall assembly 51 with a skeletal base 52, side wails 53 and a leading wall 54. The leading wall 54 contains recesses 55 to accommodate tape handling apparatus and slots 5o through which tape 92 may pass. Tape guides 57 are formed as extensions of the slots 56 and the guides 57 are curved, as shown, to facilitate the passage of tape thereacross. Spring plates 58 formed integrally with the side walls 53 may press upon the top surfaces of the tape reels 90 to force them onto the base wall 61. A recess 83 In the leading wail L5 provides clearance for the operation of a closure flap lifting plate, while a sensor cutout housing 79 iccommc-dates the op t ical sensor pillar of the viαeo cassette recorder, and apertures 30 and 81 allow a light beam between the optical sensor and an external point to pass therebetween. The tape reels 90 are located by engagement between the edges of the side walls 53, the back wall 62, and the locating projections 36 which extend inwardly from the base 52 of the side wall assembly 51. The housing 51 is provided with an integral catch 82 which engages with a retention lip 84 on an end plate 73 of the closure flap 70 which normally locks the closure flap 70 in the closed position. When the cassette is inserted into a VCR the button 85 on the outside of the catch 82 is pushed in to disengage the catch 82 from the retention lip 84 so that the closure flap 70 may be pivoted to its open position. The base wall assembly 60 is formed from a fiat sheet of fibreboard and has a base wall 61, a rear wall 62 and a top wall 63. The assembly is folded about fold lines 64 to place the walls 61, 62 and 63 in their correct orientation. Spigots on the bottom of the tape reels 90 engage with cutouts 65 in the base wall 61 to locate the tape reels 90. Cutouts 66 in the top wall 63 allow visual inspection of the inside of the video cassette 50 and are covered with transparent material 67. The closure flap assembly 70 has a front face 71 and a top plate 72 braced by end plates 73, on which pivot pins 74 are mounted. The pivot pins 74 engage with pivot slots 75 in the side walls 53 of the housing 51 and a spring 76 around a pivot pin 74 biases the closure flap assembly 70 into the closed position. Ratchet pins 77 formed on the lower face of the top plate 72 pass through pin holes 78 in the top wail 63 of the housing and may engage with the ratchet teeth 91 of the tape reels 90 when the closure flap assembly 70 is in the closed position. From the above it will be seen that according to the present Invention the main body of a cassette as well as the braking. necessary locking and tensionmg mechanisms may be manufactured in one piece and assembled simply by folding the casing parts to their operative positions after the reels have been inserted. The only additional assembly operations required are the fitting of the cover flap to the main body. This is a simple operation since It is pressed into position. Furthermore, tape spoiling means such as an embedded permanent or induced magnet may be incorporated in the cassette. Preferably the magnet is a low strength magnet which will provide a progressive deterioration of the tape whereby a tape may be played several times before it becomes unserviceable. Of course sleeve bearings and otner conventional cassette construction features may be incorporated in cassettes of the present invention if desired, and of course features of the present invention such as the brake mechanism or the flap lock mechanism may be incorporated in conventional cassettes. The latter, incorporating these and other arrangements as set cut above are embraced by the present invention. Of course it will be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is defined in the appended claims.

Claims: I 1 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS : - i . A one piece casing for a tape cassette includin :- an open housing which provides first and second chamber portions between which tape may be transferred and a leading wall assembly which is provided with pathways through which tape may pass between said chamber portions; a closure part for enclosing said open housing, and said closure part being connected to said open housing by an integrally formed hinge. 2. A one piece casing for a tape cassette as defined in Claim 1, wherein said closure part is in the form of a substantially planar wall. 3. A one piece casing for a tape cassette as defined in Claim 2, wherein said leading wall extends continuously between said closure wall and the opposite wail of said casin . 4. A one piece casing for a tape cassette according to Claim 3 , wherein said casing is formed as a one piece plastics moulding and said closure wall is moulded in an open position extending away from said opposite wall and in a plane substantially parallel to said opposite wall. 5. A cassette casing having :- a leading side wall assembly through which tape may pass between respective housing portions in said casing; opposed enclosure walls between which said leading side wall extends, one said opposed wall being formed integrally with rhe other said opposed wall and being hingably connected thereto whereby one said opposed wall may be moved from an open position at which said housing portions are open to permit stored tape to be inserted therein and a closed position enclosing said housing portions. 6. A cassette casing according to Claim 5, wherein said housing portions support tape storage reels and there is provided a pivotable closure flap pivotable between a closed position in front of said leading side wall and an open position remote from said front wall. ι n 7. A cassette casing according to Claim 5, wherein said closure flap supports braking members adapted to brake the respective tape storage reels. 8. A cassette casing according to Claim 7, wherein said reels are formed with serrations which engage with said 15 braking members and prevent unwinding of said reels when said closure flap is disposed in Its cTosed position. 9. A cassette casing according to Claim 7, wherein said base wall is formed to accommodate the motor control optical sensor and for the brake release mechanism of a conventional 20 video player. 10. A cassette casing according to Claim 9, wherein there Is provided tape spoiling means for spoiling recorded tape that passes to the tape receiving reel. 11. A cassette casing according to Claim 1C, wherein said 25 tape spoiling means is a permanent magnet. 12. A cassette casing according to Claim 11, wherein said permanent magnet is so arranged whereby it progressively destroys the tape recording. 13. A video cassette casing havin :- a leading side wall assembly through which tape may pass between respective housing portions in said casing; a base wall formed to permit tape reel drive spindies, the motor control optical sensor and the brake release mechanism of a conventional video player to extend into said housing; a top wall opposing said base wall; integral spring means inwardly of said top wall for forcing tape reels in said casing downwardly towards engagement with said base wall; a pivotable closure flap pivotable between a closed position in front of said leading side wail and an open position remote from said front wall; braking members on said closure flap which engage with and prevent unwinding of said reels when said closure flap is disposed in said closed position, and integral locking means on said casing for locking said closure flap in its closed position and having contact means thereon which engages with an unlocking member of a video cassette recorder when inserted therein to unlock. said locking means. 14. A video cassette casing according to claim 13. wherein said opposed wall is formed integrally with said base wall and is hingably connected thereto whereby said opposed wall may be moved from an open position at which said housing portions are open to permit stored tape to be inserted therein and a closed position enclosing said housing portions . 15. A video cassette casing according to claim 11, wherein said body is formed from plastics material and wherein said leading wall is shaped to form integral tape guide surfaces. 16. A method of forming a tape cassette includin :- providing a mould having a cavity for an open cassette body and a cavity for a closure wall for enclosing said cassette body, said cavities being interconnected by a reduced thickness portion; injecting plastics material into said mould; removing the one piece moulded article from said mαuld, and pivoting said closure wall about said reduced thickness portion to a closed position over said open cassette body. 17. Braking apparatus for the tape storage reels of a tape cassette of the type having a leading wall closure flap which may be opened automatically upon insertion of the tape cassette into a VCR, said braking apparatus having a braking member adapted to engage a reel and being movable between an operative position at which said braking member applies a braking action to said reel and a non-operative position at which said braking member is released from said reel and said braking member being operatively associated with said closure flap whereby movement of said closure flap between its closed and open positions moves said braking member between said operative and said non-operative positions. 18. A video cassette substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings .

Inventors: WOODBURY JOHN MICHAEL, WOODBURY, JOHN, MICHAEL
Applicants: WOODBURY JOHN MICHAEL, WOODBURY, JOHN, MICHAEL
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G11B23
IPC codes: G11B23