Patent GB-1478821-A (GB)
Title: Containers for magnetic tape cassettes
IPC: G11B23/02
Filed: 1975-11-24
Abstract: 1478821 Container for magnetic tape cassettes IDN INVENTIONS & DEVELOPMENT OF NOVELTIES AG 24 Nov 1975 [14 May 1975] 48188/75 Heading B8P A container, Fig. 1 for a standard magnetic tape cassette comprises a housing with at least three walls, i.e. side walls 104, 105 and either top wall 102 or base wall 103, a carrier slide 107 having a front wall 108 and a cassette supporting surface 109 (which may comprise merely two small projections 631, Fig. 11, not shown), guide means (e.g. slide sides 111, 112) for guiding the movement of the slide between its open position shown and a closed position (Figs. 2-4, not shown), means 119-125 for locking the slide in the closed position, the guide means and preferably also the locking means being located outside the region of the container which is shaped to receive the thicker section of the cassette, a resilient means 114 which is stressed during closing and which moves the slide to its open position when the lock is released, the top wall and/or the bottom wall and/or the supporting surface of the carrier slide having a free space 122 to receive the thicker portion of the cassette. A container of limited thickness is thus produced. It is preferably injection moulded. A plurality of containers may form a magazine. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 slide 107 has has uprights 113 over which the cassette tape reel cores are fitted. Ribs 115 prevent spiral spring 114 from flexing sideways. Projections 116 on the base of the slide engage slots 117 in the base of the housing to limit the outward movement of the slide. On closing the slide angled end of 120 of spring arm 119 contacts the inclined surface 123 or rocker arm 121 and is deflected upwards after which it slides over step 124 of the rocker arm and snaps downwards against the rear edge of U-shaped slot 125. To remove the cassette the front of the slide is pressed so that end 120 of spring arm 119 disengages from the slot 125 and slides down, allowing spring 114 to push the slide outwards. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 the base 209 of the slide is guided by grooves formed between the base 209 of the housing and ridges 228, 229 or the sides 202, 203 of the housing. Ridge 228 is at a greater distance from the base 209 than is ridge 229 to allow the lock to be released. Projection 230 on the base of the slide engages the locking edge 232 of opening in housing base 209 to lock the slide. The slide is released by pressing projections 230 upwards to clear edge 229. In the embodiment of Fig. 8 the base 309 of slide 307 is stepped at 320 to provide a recess 321 to accommodate the thicker portion of the cassette. The base 303 of the housing is shorter than the top 302 by the width of recess 321. Locking is accomplished by projection (223 Fig. 7, not shown) on the top of slide front 308 engaging locking edge (224) of an opening in top 302 of the housing. In the embodiment of Fig. 9 the base wall of the housing is omitted and free spaces 426, 424 are cut in the top 402 of the housing and the base 409 of slide 407 respectively to accommodate the thicker portion of the cassette. The reduced height of the housing compared to the previous embodiments requires the replacement of spiral spring 114 and guide ribs 115 by flat spring 414. Guidance is provided by ribs 419 on the housing side walls 403, 404 and grooves 420 on the slide side walls 411, 412. Projections 416 on the housing side walls and slots 417 provide a limit stop. Locking tongue 421 engages the front 408 of the slide with tongue 423. In the embodiment of Fig. 10, not shown the spring 414 is replaced by two resilient tongues (530).