Tape cassettes

Abstract: A tape cassette comprises a cassette proper (2) constructed of plastics to contain therein a recording tape. At least one collared positioning opening (5) is provided in the cassette proper and an annular bearing member (4) is fitted in the positioning opening (5) to reinforce the positioning opening. The annular bearing member (4) is constructed of a high wear resistant and low sliding friction material.

Description: The invention relates in general to audio and visual equipment, and more particularly to tape cassettes for such equipment, which have recording tape installed therein. In the field of current audio and visual equipment, tape cassettes have been widely used for the reason of the ease with which they can be handled. They are usually constructed of plastics and have a recording tape installed therein. In order to clarify the present invention, a video tape cassette 1 of previously proposed kind will be discussed with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. In Figure 4 denoted by numeral 2 is a lower shell of the video tape cassette 1. Denoted by numeral 3 is a pivotal front lid of the tape cassette 1. The lower shell 2 is provided at its front side near the front lid 3 with two positioning openings 1A and 1A and at its rear side with two first positioning openings 1B and 1B. When the tape cassette 1 is put into a video tape cassette player, metal positioning pins of the player are inserted into the corresponding positioning and further positioning openings 1A, 1A, 1B and 1B to achieve positioning of the tape cassette 1 relative to the player. However, hitherto, the durability of the positioning and further positioning openings 1A, 1A, 1B and 1B, more specifically, the durability of the lower shell 2 at the portions which define the openings 1A, 1A, 1B and 1B has been given little thought. In fact, after long use of the tape cassette, the opening defining portions of the lower cassette 2 have shown marked wear due to repeated sliding engagement between the positioning and further positioning openings 1A, 1A, 1B and 1B and the corresponding positioning pins of the player with the result that accurate positioning of the tape cassette 1 relative to the player is almost impossible. United States Patent Number 4,097,006 discloses a two-part audio cassette which is provided with a number of casing apertures. These apertures are engageable with locating pins of a cassette player to locate the cassette correctly in the cassette player. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a tape cassette comprising: a cassette body (2) for housing a recording tape; at least one positioning opening (5) in the cassette body (2), the at least one positioning opening being engageable with at least one locating pin of a tape player correctly to locate the cassette in the player; characterised by an annular bearing member (4) provided in the at least one positioning opening (5) to reinforce that positioning opening. The positioning openings of such a tape cassette can withstand repeated sliding engagement with the positioning metal pins of the player since each of the positioning openings of the tape cassette is reinforced by a bearing member. The present invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of a tape cassette according to the invention, in the form of an annular bearing member fitted in an opening of a lower shell; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the annular bearing member separated from the lower shell; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the annular bearing member; and Figure 4 is a bottom view of a conventional tape cassette of previously proposed kind. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, particularly Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown part of a lower shell of a tape cassette. An upper shell (not shown) is fixed to the lower shell 2 to constitute a tape chamber therebetween. The lower and upper shells are constructed of plastic, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polystyrene or the like. As can be seen in Figure 2, the lower shell 2 is formed with collared openings 5 (only one is shown). Each opening 5 is formed with an enlarged bottom portion 5 a , as shown. A respective annular bearing member 4 is fitted in each collared opening 5 to form a reinforced positioning opening 1A. The annular bearing member 4 is constructed of a wear resistant and low sliding friction material, such as polyoxymethylene or the like. If desired, a metallic bearing member may be used. More specifically, the annular bearing member 4 is constructed of a material whose wear resistance is higher than that of the material of the lower shell 2, and whose sliding friction relative to the metal positioning pin is less than that of the material of the lower shell 2. As can be seen from Figure 2 and 3, the annular bearing member 4 is formed with an arrow-shaped head portion 4A and an annular base flange 4B. The leading end portion of the annular bearing member 4 is formed at diametrically opposed positions with rectangular cuts 4C and 4C. As is seen from Figure 1, the base flange 4B is so sized as to match the enlarged bottom portion 5a of the collared opening 5 of the lower shell 2. In coupling, the annular bearing 4 is inserted into the collared opening 5 from a back surface of the lower shell 2. This insertion is made prior to the fixing of the upper shell to the lower shell 2. Due to provision of the cuts 4C and 4C, during the insertion in the collared opening 5, the arrow-shaped head portion 4A is resiliently deformed inward. When the annular bearing member 4 is brought to a terminal position in the opening 5, the resiliently deformed arrow-shaped head portion 4A expands radially outward thereby to engage with the leading end of the collar portion 6 of the opening 5, and at the same time, the base flange 4B of the annular bearing member 4 is intimately fitted in the enlarged bottom portion 5 a of the collared opening 5, as is seen from Figure 1. The annular bearing member 4 is thus latched to the collared opening 5. As will be clear from the foregoing description, the positioning opening of the tape cassette is reinforced by a bearing member 4 which is constructed of a high wear resistant and less sliding friction material, such as polyoxymethylene, metal or the like. Accordingly, undesired marked wear of the positioning opening of the tape cassette will not occur, and thus, accurate positioning of the tape cassette relative to the player is ensured for a long time. If desired, the annular bearing member 4 may be installed in the lower shell 2 by means of an integral moulding technique. In this case, the annular bearing member 4 is handled as an insert. If desired, the annular bearing members 4 may be applied to selected ones of the openings 5 of the lower shell 2.

Claims: A tape cassette comprising: a cassette body (2) for housing a recording tape; at least one positioning opening (5) in the cassette body (2), the at least one positioning opening being engageable with at least one locating pin of a tape player correctly to locate the cassette in the player; characterised by an annular bearing member (4) provided in the at least one positioning opening (5) to reinforce that positioning opening (5). A tape cassette according to Claim 1, wherein: (i) the bearing member is of a material which has a greater wear resistance than the material of the cassette body; and (ii) a coefficient of friction between the at least one locating pin and the at least one bearing member is less than a coefficient of friction between the at least one locating pin and the cassette body. A tape cassette according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bearing member is constructed of polyoxymethylene. A tape cassette according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bearing member is constructed of a metal. A tape cassette according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cassette body is constructed of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. A tape cassette according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cassette body is constructed of polystyrene. A tape cassette according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearing member is snap-fitted in the at least one positioning opening. A tape cassette according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearing member is provided in at least one of the at least one positioning openings by an integral moulding technique. A tape cassette according to Claim 8, wherein the bearing member serves as an insert during the integral moulding. A tape cassette according to any preceding claim, in which the at least one positioning opening (5) is provided near a front lid pivotally connected to a front end of the cassette body (2). A tape cassette according to any preceding claim, wherein the bearing member (4) comprises: an tubular major portion; an arrow-shaped head portion (4A) formed at a leading end of the tubular major portion, the arrow-shaped head portion (4A) being latched with a leading end of a collar portion of the positioning opening (5) when the bearing member (4) is provided in the at least one positioning opening; and a flange portion (4B) formed at the other end of the tubular major portion, the flange portion being snugly received in an enlarged portion (5 a ) of the positioning opening (5) when the bearing member (4) is provided in the positioning opening. A tape cassette according to Claim 11, wherein the head portion of the bearing member (4) is formed with rectangular channels at diametrically opposed portions thereof thereby to provide a desired flexibility to the bearing member major portion.

Inventors: OTA TAKASHI, OTA, TAKASHI, Ota, Takashi, c/o Patents Division, Sony Corp.
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G11B23
IPC codes: G11B23, G11B15