Patent ID: 7014136

Claim:
Magnetic tape cassettes in combination with a recording and reproducing apparatus which can commonly operate a plurality of sizes of the magnetic tape cassettes, the recording and reproducing apparatus having common positioning pins for commonly positioning the plurality of sizes of the magnetic tape cassettes inside the recording and reproducing apparatus, and each of the magnetic tape cassettes comprising: a magnetic tape for storing data; tape reels respectively provided with bosses around which the magnetic tape is wound; upper and lower flanges for restricting vertical movement of the magnetic tape as it is wound around the tape reels, said lower flange having a radially inner portion; upper and lower halves for rotatably accommodating said tape reels, said lower half respectively having ribs at a front end of the lower half, in such a manner that said magnetic tape is restricted in height by said lower flange and the ribs; and positioning marks provided in each of the magnetic tape cassettes for receiving the common positioning pins of the recording and reproducing apparatus, where a distance between the positioning marks are the same for each of the magnetic tape cassettes, wherein a size relationship among the magnetic tape cassettes is such that each of the magnetic tape cassettes has a substantially similar vertical length while a horizontal length varies among each of the magnetic tape cassettes, and wherein a difference between a height of the radially inner portion and a height of the ribs is the same for each of the varying size magnetic tape cassettes; wherein at least one of the upper and lower halves having a pair of guide members for defining a tape running area of tape running openings, and wherein: distances between the pair of guide members vary among each of the magnetic tape cassettes, and inclinations defined by tape running paths that are defined by connecting the bosses and said guide members, are the same for each of the varying size magnetic tape cassettes.