GB2138778A

GB2138778A - Video cassette security device

Info

Publication number: GB2138778A
Application number: GB08409843A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cecil Thomas Dunne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-04-14
Filing date: 1984-04-16
Publication date: 1984-10-31
Also published as: GB8409843D0; GB2138778B

Abstract

A video cassette security device 10 is in the form of an insert which has radial teeth 12 which engage in the corresponding spaces of a video cassette spool in an interference fit. The insert has a central bore which tapers inwardly away from the spool. The insert prevents unauthorised playing of the video cassette and cannot be removed without the use of a co-operating key except with great difficulty and considerable risk of damage to the cassette. The key (not shown) has an elongate barrel which is provided adjacent one end with lateral retractable balls which partially project through openings in the side of the key barrel. The diameter of the barrel is such that the balls must be retracted to allow insertion of the end of the barrel in the insert bore. To remove the insert, the balls are retracted, the key end is inserted in the insert bore and the balls are then returned to their original, projecting position to prevent withdrawal of the key from the insert bore. Pulling on the key then draws the insert from the cassette spool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Video cassette security device The present invention relates to a video cassette security device.

With the ready availability of video cassette recorders, both for purchase and for rental, the number of homes having a video cassette recorder has increased considerably. However, the lack of any compulsory viewer age rating system for video cassettes has given rise to considerable concern, particularly as it is difficult, if not impossible to prevent children from watching video cassette recordings in the absence of their parents.

The present invention seeks to provide a security device for preventing the playing of video cassettes on video cassette recorders.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a security device for preventing the playing of a video cassette on a video cassette recorder, comprising an insert shaped frictionally to engage in a spool of the video cassette and adapted to inhibit unauthorised removal from the spool.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a security device according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a section on the line I-I of Fig.

1.

The security device 10 shown in the drawings is in the form of an insert for insertion into the central bore provided in a video cassette spool for receiving a drive spindle of a video cassette recorder. The insert is substantially cylindrical in shape and its radially outer surface is provided with teeth 12 which engage in correspondingly shaped recesses in the video cassette spool bore. The teeth 12 are dimensioned such that the insert is an interference fit in the bore. The insert has a central bore 14 in which a sleeve 16 is secured. The sleeve 16 has a radially inner wall 18 which tapers inwardly from each end of the sleeve 16 to form a neck 20 conveniently approximately midway between the sleeve ends.

Removal of the insert from a spool is by means of a co-operating key (not shown in the drawings). The key has an elongate hollow barrel which is provided with lateral retractable projections adjacent one end, conveniently in the form of balls which partially project through openings in the side of the key barrel.

An inner rod provided with one or more circumferential grooves is axially movable to allow or prevent retraction of the balls.

To withdraw the insert from a video cassette spool bore the end of the key barrel is inserted into the sleeve 16 in the insert. The diameter of the key barrel is such that the balls must be retracted to allow insertion of the end of the key in the sleeve 16, this being effected by axial adjustment of the key inner rod. Once the key end is inserted into the sleeve 16 beyond the neck 20 the key inner rod is axially moved to prevent retraction of the balls. Withdrawl of the key causes the balls to engage the tapered inner surface of the sleeve 16 and withdraw the insert from the video cassette spool. It will be appreciated that although the sleeve 16 is provided with a tapered inner surface any suitable configuration such as a circumferential groove will suffice.In addition, the bore 14 may be provided with a sleeve whose inner wall which tapers in one direction only towards the mouth of the bore.

The insert is conveniently moulded from a hard or semi-hard rubber or synthetic compound, preferably with a high coefficient of friction. The sleeve 16 is conveniently brass or other metal.

The insert may be provided at one end with a thin radial membrane covering the spaces between the teeth to prevent incorrect insertion of the insert into a cassette spool bore, although this would not be necessary on the illustrated dual tapered insert.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the key barrel comprises a sleeve having a number of angularly spaced radial slots therethrough over part of its axial length: preferably, there are four such slots disposed at 90 intervals. These slots define tongues therebetween which face an end portion of the inner rod to be inserted in the insert in use, this end portion being provided with a slight outward taper. In use, the said end portion of the rod is inserted into the central bore 14 and the barrel is moved axially along the rod until the tongues come into contact with the outwardly tapering end portion. The taper causes the tongues to splay outwardly into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the sleeve 16, so that the insert may then be removed from the cassette spool.

1. A security device for preventing the playing of a video cassette on a video cassette recorder comprising an insert shaped frictionally to engage in a spool of the video cassette and adapted to inhibit unauthorised removal from the spool.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising key means for engaging said insert to enable withdrawal of the insert from said spool.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said insert has a central bore for engagement with said key means.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said insert has a tapered central bore, said insert being arranged to engage in said spool with said bore tapering inwardly away from said spool and said key means is expan

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Video cassette security device The present invention relates to a video cassette security device. With the ready availability of video cassette recorders, both for purchase and for rental, the number of homes having a video cassette recorder has increased considerably. However, the lack of any compulsory viewer age rating system for video cassettes has given rise to considerable concern, particularly as it is difficult, if not impossible to prevent children from watching video cassette recordings in the absence of their parents. The present invention seeks to provide a security device for preventing the playing of video cassettes on video cassette recorders. Accordingly, the present invention provides a security device for preventing the playing of a video cassette on a video cassette recorder, comprising an insert shaped frictionally to engage in a spool of the video cassette and adapted to inhibit unauthorised removal from the spool. The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a security device according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a section on the line I-I of Fig. 1. The security device 10 shown in the drawings is in the form of an insert for insertion into the central bore provided in a video cassette spool for receiving a drive spindle of a video cassette recorder. The insert is substantially cylindrical in shape and its radially outer surface is provided with teeth 12 which engage in correspondingly shaped recesses in the video cassette spool bore. The teeth 12 are dimensioned such that the insert is an interference fit in the bore. The insert has a central bore 14 in which a sleeve 16 is secured. The sleeve 16 has a radially inner wall 18 which tapers inwardly from each end of the sleeve 16 to form a neck 20 conveniently approximately midway between the sleeve ends. Removal of the insert from a spool is by means of a co-operating key (not shown in the drawings). The key has an elongate hollow barrel which is provided with lateral retractable projections adjacent one end, conveniently in the form of balls which partially project through openings in the side of the key barrel. An inner rod provided with one or more circumferential grooves is axially movable to allow or prevent retraction of the balls. To withdraw the insert from a video cassette spool bore the end of the key barrel is inserted into the sleeve 16 in the insert. The diameter of the key barrel is such that the balls must be retracted to allow insertion of the end of the key in the sleeve 16, this being effected by axial adjustment of the key inner rod. Once the key end is inserted into the sleeve 16 beyond the neck 20 the key inner rod is axially moved to prevent retraction of the balls. Withdrawl of the key causes the balls to engage the tapered inner surface of the sleeve 16 and withdraw the insert from the video cassette spool. It will be appreciated that although the sleeve 16 is provided with a tapered inner surface any suitable configuration such as a circumferential groove will suffice.In addition, the bore 14 may be provided with a sleeve whose inner wall which tapers in one direction only towards the mouth of the bore. The insert is conveniently moulded from a hard or semi-hard rubber or synthetic compound, preferably with a high coefficient of friction. The sleeve 16 is conveniently brass or other metal. The insert may be provided at one end with a thin radial membrane covering the spaces between the teeth to prevent incorrect insertion of the insert into a cassette spool bore, although this would not be necessary on the illustrated dual tapered insert. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the key barrel comprises a sleeve having a number of angularly spaced radial slots therethrough over part of its axial length: preferably, there are four such slots disposed at 90 intervals. These slots define tongues therebetween which face an end portion of the inner rod to be inserted in the insert in use, this end portion being provided with a slight outward taper. In use, the said end portion of the rod is inserted into the central bore 14 and the barrel is moved axially along the rod until the tongues come into contact with the outwardly tapering end portion. The taper causes the tongues to splay outwardly into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the sleeve 16, so that the insert may then be removed from the cassette spool. CLAIMS

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said insert has a tapered central bore, said insert being arranged to engage in said spool with said bore tapering inwardly away from said spool and said key means is expan dable radially of said bore after engagement of said key means in said bore to engage said bore and prevent disengagement of said key means fsom said bore thereby to enable withdrawal of said insert from said spool.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said key means comprises an elongate member one end of which is arranged to be inserted in said insert bore and is provided with lateral retractable projections adjacent said one end, said projections being extendable to engage said insert in said bore and prevent disengagement of said key means from said bore.

6. A security device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lateral retractable projections are in the form of tongues which are engageable with an outwardly tapering portion of the elongate member.

7. A security device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lateral retractable projections are in the form of balls which partially project through openings in the elongate member.

8. A security device for preventing the palying of of video cassette on a video cassette records, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.