GB2210353A

GB2210353A - Cassette for video tape

Info

Publication number: GB2210353A
Application number: GB8807015A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Young Lee Bong; Kyun Yun Duk
Original assignee: SKC Co Ltd
Current assignee: SKC Co Ltd
Priority date: 1987-09-28
Filing date: 1988-03-24
Publication date: 1989-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-24
Also published as: GB2210353B; GB8807015D0

Abstract

A cassette for a video tape which uses no separate fastening means such as screws is disclosed. The cassette is formed by providing hanger portions 11 on the peripheral wall 1' of upper plate member (1) of the cassette, and also providing hooks 21 at corresponding positions on the peripheral wall 2' of lower plate member (2), so that said hanger portions and the hooks can be coupled together by press-fitting. In addition, a cylindrical receiving portion 14 is provided at the front middle position of the upper plate member (1), and an anchor 24 is provided at a corresponding position of the lower plate member (2), so that they can be coupled together. Such a structure of the present invention is easy and speedy to assemble, and the manufacturing cost is lowered. Further since users cannot arbitrarily disassemble the cassette, the tape is securely protected. <IMAGE>

Description

CASSETTE FOR VIDEO TAPE DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a cassette for a video tape in which the assembly can be completed without using screws or tools.

Although a cassette for a video tape is similar to an audio tape in that the tape is wound forward and backward between two reels, they are different from one another in that the driving condition for a video tape cassette is more demanding, and a video tape cassette is mechanically more complicated, with the tape in a front portion of the cassette being exposed, and a tape protecting cover and reel stopper being provided.

A conventional video tape cassette comprises two generally rectangular cassette box portions, also referred to herein as an upper plate member and a lower plate member respectively. At the respective four corners of the upper and lower plate members, fixing means are provided comprising bosses on the lower plate member that are coupled with boss receivers provided on the upper plate member and are fastened with screws.

This form of fixing means, utilising screws, undesirably increases the total mass of the cassette, increases manufacturing cost, and if the screws are loosened inadvertently and the upper and lower plate members come apart, the tape in such a situation is damaged by other components in the cassette.

Further such a conventional cassette requires a lengthy assembly time, and there are potential risks because it is possible for it to be disassembled.

The present invention is intended to provide solutions to the above-described disadvantages. Specifically the present invention provides a cassette in which, instead of screws, hooks and their counterpart portions are integrally formed respectively in order to couple the upper and lower plate members, so that the assembly may be speedily carried out. The cassette of the present invention cannot be readily disassembled once it is assembled.

In order that the inveniton may be more fully understood an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a video tape cassette according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a bottom view of the upper plate member of a cassette according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B; Figure 5 is a plan view of the lower plate member of a cassette according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the assembled state of the hook portion; and Figure 9 is a sectional view of the assembled state of the anchor portion.

An example of a cassette in accordance with the invention is shown in perspective in Figure 1 and includes an upper and a lower plate member 1, 2 of moulded plastics material defining portions of a cassette box that in the usual way contains two reels around which is wound a length of video tape. The upper and lower plate members 1, 2 are generally retangular and are provided with respective peripheral walls 1', 2'.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the upper plate member 1.

At two sites the peripheral wall 1', there are provided inwardly opened grooves 11 respectively, and the outer wall of each of these grooves 11 forms a hanger portion 12, the thickness of which is t1, and the tip of which forms an inclined face 13.

In the middle front position of the upper plate member 1, there is integrally formed a cylindrical receiving portion 14. This receiving portion 14 opens towards the top, and is provided with a securing end portion 15 and an annular step 16 of thickness t2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the lower plate member 2 which is to be coupled with the upper plate member 1.

At two sites on the peripheral wall 2' of the lower plate member 2, there are integrally formed hooks 21 which are to be engaged with the hanger portion 12 of the upper plate member 1. The hook 21 has an inclined head 22, and the width W1 of the recess formed inside the hook 21 is equal to said thickness tl.

At the corresponding position of the cylindrical receiving portion 14, an anchor 24 is integrally formed on the lower plate member 2, and the anchor 24 is provided with a halting shoulder 25, and an annular hook 27 which is provided with a tapered head 26. The width W2 of the annular groove formed on the tip portion of the anchor 24 is equal to said thickness t2.

The assembly of the cassette can be completed by combining the reels and other components on the lower plate member 2, then by putting the upper plate member 1 onto the lower plate member 2 so that they should be exactly overlapped, and finally by pressing down on the upper plate member 1 with a slight force. During the pressing-down procedure, the inclined head 22 of the hook 21 is contacted onto the inclined face 13, and the hanger portion 12 and the hook 21 are bent in opposite directions, until the tips of the peripheral walls 1' and 2' are contacted together. Then the inclined head 22 is engaged with the groove 11, and the hook 21 is engaged onto the hanger portion 12 to securely fix the peripheral walls 1' and 2' together.

The tapered head 26 of the anchor 24 is forcefully pressed into the annular step 16 until the halting shoulder 25 and the securing end portion 15 are contacted together, whereby engaging the annular hook 27 onto the annular step 16.

In such a simple assembly process which is carried out by pressing only, a smooth coupling between the upper plate member and the lower plate member is achieved through the mutual functions between the inclined face 13 and the inclined head 22, and the hook 21 is smoothly engaged into the groove 11. Since the thickness tl and the width W1 equal each other, there can be no movement between the walls 1' and 2' after the assembling of the cassette. The annular hook 27 generates no eccentricity when passing through the annular step 16. When the securing end portion 15 is contacted onto the halting shoulder 25, the annular hook 27 is engaged with the annular step 16, and therefore, no movement can arise after the assembly.

Further since dual fastenings are made by means of the anchor 24 and the hooks 21, no horizontal movement between the upper plate member 1 and the lower plate member 2 cannot arise. Once the casette is assembled, users cannot disassemble it because no means is provided for the separation of the plate members.

As described above, the device of the present invention enables simple and speedy assembly, and the removal of the need for screws reduces the total mass of the cassette, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

Further, as users cannot disassemble the cassette, the video tape is more securely protected.

Claims

1. A video tape cassette comprising two cassette box portions provided with means whereby they can be press-fitted together for assembly.

2. A cassette according to claim 1 wherein said box portions comprise generally rectangular plate members each with an integral peripheral wall formed with cooperating recesses and projections pressfittable to one another.

3. A cassette according to claim 2 including an upstanding cylindrical portion on one of said plate members and that is adapted to receiving an annular hook on the other of said plate members, to be received by the cylindrical portion.

4. A cassette for a video tape which comprises an upper plate member and a lower plate member, characterised in that the peripheral wall of the upper plate member is provided with two hanger portions with inclined faces and with inwardly opening grooves respectively; two hooks with inclined heads and hooking portions are provided on the counterpart positions of the lower plate member; a cylindrical receiving portion with a securing end portion and an annular step is provided at the front middle position of the upper plate member; and an anchor with an annular hook and a tapered head is provided at the counterpart position of the lower plate member.

5. A cassette for a video tape and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.