Patent ID: 7004417

Claim:
A tape cartridge comprising: a tape reel which is rotatably housed; a tape-shaped recording medium wound around the tape reel; a reel teeth portion disposed on the tape reel; and a brake-locking member having a brake teeth portion disposed coaxially and selectively mated with the reel teeth portion wherein when the reel teeth portion and the brake teeth portion are mated a rotation of the tape reel is prevented and the tape cartridge is not used, and rotation of the tape reel is possible when the reel teeth portion and the brake teeth portion are not mated and the tape cartridge is used; wherein the reel teeth portion and the brake teeth portion respectively have a plurality of teeth projected from a base portion, each of said teeth comprising: a tip part; a taper portion comprising: a first taper portion inclined toward at least one direction from the tip part of the teeth to at least one terminal; and a second taper portion inclined toward at least another direction from the tip part of the teeth to at least one terminal; vertical portions comprising: a first vertical portion extending in a substantially vertical manner from the terminal of the first taper portion to the base portion; and a second vertical portion extending in a substantially vertical manner from the terminal of the second taper portion to the base portion; and at least one portion of each of said teeth is constituted so that the first vertical portion of each of the teeth of the reel teeth portion contacts the first vertical portion of each of the teeth of the brake teeth portion when the reel teeth portion and the brake teeth portion are mated and at least another portion of each of said teeth is constituted so that the second vertical portion of each of the teeth of the reel teeth portion contacts the second vertical portion of different teeth of the brake teeth portion when the reel teeth portion and the brake teeth portion are mated.