GB2129773A - Tamper proof video cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

A video cassette, conventionally assembled with a plurality of screws 42 securing the complementary halves 22, 32 of the cassette securely together with suitable recording medium contained on hubs mounted for rotation therewithin, has a tamper proof seal for at least one of the securement screws. The seal comprises a closure plug 46 installed over the screw head 44 by sonic welding so that the plug will be positively and integrally formed with the cassette, simultaneously avoiding any damage to the recording medium contained within the cassette. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tamper proof video cassette and method of assembly thereof This invention relates to video cassettes containing valuable magnetic recordings therein which are often subject to theft or piracy and methods of assembly thereof.

A common problem with known cassettes for containing video recorded magnetic tape is that when the video cassette is rented to persons desiring to view the contents of the tape, often there is a great temptation on the part of the temporary user to remove the valuable recorded contents and replace same with an inferior substitute. Rental agencies for video recordings have sprung up throughout the country, and even the world, and such rentals have become "big business".

However, it is impossible to completely check every returned rental cassette of the conventional type promptly upon the return thereof, and thus piracy or theft of the contents can often be successfully accomplished. The common and conventional type video cassettes fail to provide positive security against such piracy or theft.

Another problem of known type video cassettes that attempt to provide some type of theft prevention and/or detection structure therewith is that the structures are inadequate, and only slightly deter a person from stealing the contents of a cassette, and thus leave very much to be desired in actual use.

Another problem of previous theft preventing devices for video cassettes is that they often tend to partially destroy or deform the valuable recording material within the cassette.

Existing prior patents which may be pertinent to this invention are as follows: Inventor US Patent Number Date Granted R E Cousino 3420463 7 January 1969 Stahlberg et al 3686470 22 August 1972 Wig 3913145 14 October 1975 The patent to Cousino 3420463 discloses the use of a label 26 over the cassette cartridge holding screws 23 and 24. This label thus provides an antitamper indicator for much the same purpose as subject invention.

However, while this would be an indication of tampering, it certainly would not make it very difficult to tamper with a cartridge and remove the recorded tape material therein.

The Stahlberg et a patent, 3686470, discloses a file protection member 72, see Figure spa and refer to column 5, lines 35-59 of the Specification. However, this device is mainly to prevent re-recording on tape containing prerecorded information which should be used for reading only.

The Wiig patent, 3913 145, discloses the use of spring biased locking pins instead of screws to connect the housing and cover together.

The present invention provides a tamper proof video cassette comprising: a first half of a video cassette; magnetic tape medium support hubs mounted in said first half together with magnetic recording tape contained on one hub and connected to the second hub; a second video cassette half mounted over the aforesaid structure; a plurality of screws holding the two cassette halves securely together; and means for positively preventing removal of at least one of said screws to prevent opening of the video cassette and removal of the magnetic recording tape therefrom.

The present invention also provides a method of assembly of cassette structures containing valuable recording medium therein comprising the steps of: forming a cassette half for supporting a supply and take up hub therein; mounting suitable hubs containing recording medium therebetween in proper position on the aforesaid cassette half; installing a second cassette half having complementary portions therein to mate with and complement adjacent portions of the first cassette half; securing the two cassette halves together by use of securement screws at various opening positions as provided in the complementary cassette halves; using another securement screw in at least another opening position; and installing a plug permanently over the at least another securement screw to prevent any attempt at removal thereof.

The preferred arrangement of the present invention to be described provides a tamper and theft poor video cassette for positively preventing removal and theft of the magnetic recording medium with recorded material contained thereon.

The preferred arrangement of this invention provides a tamper proof video cassette which will positively prevent opening of the cassette without completely destroying same. Thus, it would be quite evident to anyone looking at the cassette that tampering had occurred.

The preferred arrangement of this invention also provides a video cassette having a sonically welded plug over at least one of the assembly screws to positively prevent the removal of the screw. Thus, the cassette cannot be opened for removal and/or theft of the contents without absolutely destroying the cassette.

The preferred arrangement of this invention also provides a plug over a removal screw of a video cassette which is sonically welded in place, thereby preventing removal of the screw but yet not causing any harm to the contents because of the use of sonic welding instead of other type of securement structure.

The present arrangement of the invention, while relatively simple, is an important contribution to the art. It permits a video cassette to be assembled in conventional fashion and then as a follow-up step a plug is secured in place over at least one of the assembly screws. Preferably the centre screw in many of the usual type cassettes is the one selected. By the use of sonic welding to secure the plug in place, no damage will be effected to the valuable recorded material on the magnetic tape contained within the cartridge or cassette.

Preferably the middle screw hole is covered with a sonically welded plug over the screw which has been installed during the initial assembly of the cassette. The idea is to discourage piracy in video tapes. It has been found in the renting of video movies, etc., that some people are unscrewing the screws of the cassette, separating the two halves, and replacing the recorded movie with a blank tape, and then returning the rented cassette. By welding sonically a plug over the screw access opening, the cassette itself must be destroyed in order to remove the tape. This, of course, would be immediately visible upon returning the cassette and obviously will discourage such theft, tampering or piracy.

Since the renting of video cassettes has become very "big business" in the United States, in fact around the world, this protection structure and method is a very important invention even though quite simple once disclosed. Of course, this same technique can be used for audio tapes and other cassette or cartridge type magnetic medium, however, in most cases the material contained on these type structures is not of the same magnitude of expense as the video cassettes. The invention, however, would still have very useful application thereto.

These together with other advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the sonically welded plug device of the present invention in combination with the video cassette; and, Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 2--2 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, reference numeral 10 indicates in general the plug device of the present invention. Reference numeral 12 indicates the video cassette structure with which the present invention is used. The video cassette 12 conventionally consists of two halves which are assembled together after the magnetic recording tape or other medium has been properly mounted on support hubs 14 therewithin. The support hubs 14 are rotatably mounted within the cassette halves to permit rotation thereof when driven from external drive mechanism. Of course various guide structure and opening apertures are provided to permit access of the recording and playback heads to the magnetic tape in conventional manner.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2, the lower half 22 of the cassette has a suitable boss 24 moulded therein which is provided with an internal hole 26. The other half of the cassette, the upper half shown in Figure 2 and indicated by reference numeral 32, is provided with a suitable aperture 34 and recess 36 for a reception of a self-tapping screw 42. The screw 42 is preferably provided with an enlarged head 44 and screw driver slot or philips head recesses 45. After the tape recording medium has been suitably wound on the hubs 14 and mounted within the cassette halves, the halves are fastened together by a plurality of screws 23, shown in Figure 1. Then the final, usually the fifth screw 42 is secured. After the screw 42 has been secured, a plastic plug 46 is then placed over the opening recess 36 in the cassette half 32.The plug 46 is then sonically welded into integral relationship with the rest of the structure so that the plug cannot be removed.

While covering only one screw usually offers sufficient protection, others of the screws 23 may similarly be covered and protected from access. In fact, in some cases, all five of the screws may be secured from access by the use of similar plugs 46 over eachg and every one of them. This will cost a little more in production cost, but will offerthe ultimate in security.

While the structure of the present invention is an important contribution to the art, the method of securement and tamper proofing of a video cassette is also equally important. Therefore, the method for assembling a video cassette with recording material of the magnetic tape type therewithin together with the additional step of securing a final screw during the assembly of the cassette halves, and then securing a plug over the screw access opening to prevent removal thereof later on.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A tamper proof video cassette comprising: a first half of a video cassette; magnetic tape medium support hubs mounted in said first half together with magnetic recording tape contained on one hub and connected to the second hub; a second video cassette half mounted over the aforesaid structure; a plurality of screws holding the two cassette halves securely together, and means for positively preventing removal of at least one of said screws to prevent opening of the video cassette and removal of the magnetic recording tape therefrom.

2. A video cassette as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for positively preventing removal of said at least one screw includes a plug mounted over the access portion of the screw and positively fastened on the cassette half to prevent removal thereof.

3. A video cassette as claimed in claim 2, wherein said positive fastening means for the plug consists of sonic welding so that the magnetic recording on the tape medium contained within the video cassette will not be injured.

4. A video cassette as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein additional plugs are sonically welded over the access openings for the other ones of the plurality of screws holding the two cassette halves together.

5. A method of assembly of cassette structures containing valuable recording medium therein comprising the steps of: forming a cassette half for supporting a supply and take up hub therein; mounting suitable hubs containing recording medium therebetween in proper position on the aforesaid cassette half; installing a second cassette half having complementary portions therein to mate with and complement adjacent portions of the first cassette half; securing the two cassette halves together by use of securement screws at various opening positions as provided in the complementary cassette halves; using another securement screw in at least another opening position; and installing a plug permanently over the at least another securement screw to prevent any attempt at removal thereof.

6. A method of assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said permanently installed plug device is sonically welded into place to positively prevent removal of the plug at a later time while avoiding any damage to the valuable recording medium contained within the cassette.

7. A method of assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein a plurality of plug devices are permanently installed over additional securement screws to positively prevent removal of the screws at a later time.

8. A tamper proof video cassette as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of assembly of cassette structures as claimed in claim 5 substantially as hereinbefore described.