GB2101096A - Container for a cassette of magnetic tape - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for a cassette of magnetic tape comprises two parts (1, 2) pivoted one with the other by a hinge device including a shaped through hole (8) and a shaped pivot (7) suitable to be forcibly introduced through the hole (8). The hole (8) and the pivot (7) are shaped to allow the pivot to pass through the hole only in a specific relative orientation of the parts (1, 2), avoiding the disengagement of the pivot (7) from the hole (8) in the usual positions of use of the container. Internal ribs (11) are provided to facilitate insertion of a label. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for a cassette of magnetic tape The present invention concerns a container for a cassette of magnetic tape. As it is known the containers for cassettes are embodied by two pieces hinged together, one of which, generally transparent is a substantially Ushaped body having one side longer than the other, which forms a housing or seat for the cassette, while the second piece, generally made with not-transparent material, hinged with the first one, embodies essentially a cover of the container, as it encloses and covers the open zones of the first piece.

In the tradiational containers, the pivoting of said pieces is made by a little pivot provided on the inner face of the covering piece of the container, which can turn inside a dead hole provided on the outside of the transparent piece.

This particular kind of embodiment is adopted as inside the transparent piece, an explicative label or wrapper is inserted showing data and pictures concerning the themes recorded in the cassette; this label must not be damaged in any way during the insertion operations, by projecting parts such as, for instance, the hinging pivot.

The dead hole obtained on the transparent piece allows the have inside this last a perfectly smooth surface which does not cause breakages and tearings of the explicative label during both its placing in manufacturing and the use of the container itself.

Such a pivoting nevertheless presents some drawbacks due to the instability of the joint, mainly due to the fact that the little pivot can easily get out from its housing, during the use.

This can often cause the separation of the two parts of the container with great trouble for the user, who is obliged to reassemble the container, providing to replace both the pivots in their housings.

This drawback occurs also in the manufacturing phase of the containers in which they are obtained by automatic machines lacking therefore the sensitivity of workman could have, avoiding the possible disjunction of one part of the container from the other one.

Now a container for a cassette has been conceived and is the object of the present invention, which is provided with an original pivoting system which allows to eliminate the above-mentioned drawback.

The container according to the invention assuring an high stability of the connection between the two parts embodying the container, is suitable simultaneously to avoid tearings of the illustrative label because it is provided with suitable means fitted up to allow its introduction as though the inner surface of the container were smooth.

The characteristics and advantages of the container for a cassette of magnetic tape according to the present invention will be more evident by the following detailed specification of a not limiting embodiment made with reference to the enclosed figures of which: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded schematic view showing the container according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view in cross-section according to section ll-ll of Fig. 1 of one of the two side walls of the transparent piece of the container; Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section according to the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1 of the other wall; Figure 4 is a front view, from inside, of the joining hole of the hinge connecting the two pieces of the container; Figure 5 is a side view showing the coupling pivot of the hinge connecting the two pieces of the container;; Figure 6 is a front view of the said pivot.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, the container according to the invention essentially consists of two parts and precisely of a first generally transparent part 1 and of a second generally not-transparent part 2.

The first transparent part 1, known in its general shape, is embodied by an essentially U-shaped body with side closing walls 3 and 4, one side of this body, marked by 5, being longer than the other. This part is fitted up to embody a housing for a cassette.

The second part 2 fitted up to embody the closing cover of the first part 1, is embodied by an essentially U-shaped body, whose sides are connected by a closing wall 6 having substantially the same length of the projecting part of the larger side 5 of the first part 1.

At the end of the body 2 and inside it, on both sides a shaped coupling pivot 7 is provided, which is fitted up for being inserted through a corresponding hole 8 of the walls 3 and 4 of the first part 1.

The pivoting system between the parts 1 and 2, which embodies the distinctive feature of the present invention, is now described with particular reference to the Figs. 2 to 6.

The pivot 7 is embodied by an essentially Lshaped body, one side 7a of which is perpendicular to the inner surface of the face 9 of the second part 2 of the container, while the other side 7b, perpendicular to the first one, turns outside the part 2, that is in the direction of the first part 1 in the position shown in the Fig. 1.

In Fig. 6 it can be seen that the pivot 7 has in its essentially rectangular part 7b two lateral projecting parts 10 fitted up to embody an enlargement of the pivot 7 whose purpose will appear more clearly here below.

The hole 8, as it appears in particular in Fig. 4, is shaped in two parts, a first part 8a substantially rectangular which extends in a second part 8b circularly shaped.

The introduction of the pivot 7 inside the hole 8 is made therefore by introducing said pivot in the hole directly in the positions shown in the Figs. 4 and 6, that is introducing the less wide part 7b of the pivot 7 inside the part 8a of the hole 8, while the wider part provided with the projections 10 is introduced in the part 8b of the hole 8. This coupling is made when the container is completely open.

Then the container is closed in the use position and the hole 8 and the pivot 7 move respectively to the position shown in the magnified detail of Fig. 4. It can be seen that the wider part 10 of the pivot 7 is facing the part 8a of the hole 8, while the less wide part 7b of the pivot 7 is facing the part 8b of the hole 8.

In such a way it is impossible the drawing of the pivot 7 out of the hole 8 and the decoupling of the parts 1 and 2 of the container.

From the magnified detail of Fig. 4 it is obvious that the less wide part 7b of the pivot 7 will maintain its end always beyond the edge of the part 8b, preventing the drawing of the pivot in whatsoever mutual position of the parts 1 and 2 of the container.

In that way, for whatever position of use of the container, the de-coupling of the parts 1 and 2 is prevented. Their mutual rotation is allowed because the side 7a of the pivot 7 is inserted through the hole 8. The only position which allows the said de-cocpling is that of introduction above-mentioned, but in this condition it is possible to make hard the drawing out of the pivot 7 from the hole 8, carrying out the introduction by a tight fit that is, for instance, between the parts 7b and 8a.

The possibility that the explicative label is damaged, during its application, by the pivot 7 projecting inside the container is avoided by a couple of lateral ribs 11, having a variable thickness. provided on both the sides of the hole 8 as shown more in particular in Figs. 1 to 4.

These longitudinal ribs, stretching along the whole length of the sides 3 and 4 of the part 1 of the container, as shown in Fig. 3, have thickness increasing in the direction of the housing of the label, in particular having one angle-plate shaped part 1 1 a which embodies a draft surface for the introduction at the side in which the label is inserted, and one flat part 1 1 b fitted to lead the label as far as its complete introduction.

It is clear that the inclined-plane part 1 1 a ends a little before the zone where the pivot 7 projects, in order to draw the label upon this last and then the ribs 11 are of constant height, so that, besides holding firmly the label, will avoid as well any further contact with the pivot 7 in case of extraction.

Finally it would be obvious that changes and/or modifications can be made to the container for a cassette according to the present invention, without departing from the protective scope of the invention. Clearly the shape both of the pivot 7 and of the hole 8 can be modified, but they will always be embodied in order to provide one only coupling position different from the use position of the container, and to carry out the intrnduc- tion of the pivot 7 through the hole 8 by a tight fit.

Claims (5)

1. A container for a cassette of magnetic tape embodied by two parts the first of which, generally transparent, is suitable to embody a housing for the cassette while the second part, generally not transparent, is suitable to embody a closing cover of the first one, being the said parts pivoted one with the other by a hinge device, characterized by the fact that said hinge includes a shaped through hole on the transparent part and a shaped pivot on the not-transparent part suitable to be forcibly introduced through the hole, said hole and pivot being shaped according to two differently wide parts fitted up to allow the inlet of the pivot through the hole in a different position from the use positions of the container, the said parts avoiding in the usual positions of use of the container the disengagement of the pivot from the hole, being further provided on the inner face of the transparent part of the container, laterally to the holes, at least a couple of ribs, whose eight is a little higher than the projecting part of the pivot out of the hole.

2. A container for cassette according to claim 1, wherein the hole is shaped in two parts the first of which is substantially rectangular and extends in a second part essentially circularly shaped.

3. A container for cassette according to claim 1, wherein the pivot is substantially Lshaped, having one side perpendicular to the face of the cover of the container, while the second side, perpendicular to the first one, towards the open end of the cover and is provided with radial projections.

4. Container for cassette according to claim 1, wherein said ribs have an inclinedplane shaped part fitted up to embody a draft surface for the introduction of an explicative label and a part of constant height.

5. Container for cassette substantially as above described and shown in the enclosed figures.