GB2249779A - One piece foldable video tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

A video tape cassette (10) that includes a housing (20) made out of a resilient material that has contiguous top (21), bottom (23) and rear sections (22) and the latter being hingedly joined to the first two. The front section (24) includes a front wall with suitable configuration to expose the tape housed therein. A dust cover member (40) is hingedly joined to the top section (21) and is provided with a locking mechanism (70) for releasably keeping it in place against the top section (21) and preventing any extraneous bodies from coming in. Two flanged spool members (50) are positioned over cooperating openings on the bottom section (23) and kept in place by a circular wall (58). The inner surface of the bottom section (23) has a teethed area (60) in the periphery of the openings (55) and cooperating teeth are provided to the underside of the flanged spool member (50). This cassette (10) is integrally built and of the same material thereby not requiring any metal parts.

Description

ONE PIECE FOLDABLE VIDEO TAPE CASSETTE The present invention relates to video tape cassettes, and more particularly, to such cassettes that are made from one foldable piece.

Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S.

patent No. 4,367,963 issued to Daughters for a "Refillable Typewriter Ribbon Cartridge". However, it differs from the present invention because its features are designed to meet a set of problems in the typewriter art that are completely different from the more precise video tape cassette art. The top 40 and bottom 42 are joined by hinged side 44.

In U.S. patent No. 4,227,622 an improvement for the state of the art is disclosed. It can be seen that the state of the art in video tape cassettes consists of mounting upper and lower halves to each other through fastening means. The improvement subject of said patent was concerned with eliminating the slip out problem documented therein. Thence, the need for a more sturdy casing. However, the screwing of the two halves is a time consuming operation in production and requiring a heavy plastic.

Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. No#e of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a unitary video tape cassette housing that can be readily closed after the spools have been mounted to an unfolded housing thereby the tape can be subsequently loaded to the spools without opening the housing.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a video tape cassette that uses a non-brittle material capable of withstanding substantial handling and misuse without breaking.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a video tape cassette that eliminates all metal parts.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness including its compatibility with existing video recorders' mechanisms.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a video tape cassette that is light in weight.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 represents an isometric view of an embodiment of the video tape cassette incorporating the features of the present invention wherein the housing is unfolded and the tape spools removed.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the video tape cassette represented in figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates the video tape cassette shown in the previous figures, in a isometric view, and about to be closed.

Figure 3A is a partial cross-section view of a corner of the video tape cassette shown in the previous figures in order to further illustrate details of the male locking tab members engaged to the female receiving members.

Figure 4 is a representation of the video tape cassette shown in the previous figures in the closed and locked position.

Figure 4A is a parti-ål--eross-sectional view of the video tape cassette showing the characteristics of the dust cover locking mechanism in the closed position.

Figure 5 represents a cross-sectional view of the video cassette housing shown in the previous figures, with a spool on the right as it would appear when engaged to the video recorder's drive shaft.

Figure 5A is a partial detail view of the engaging teeth of the inner surface and the bottom surface of the spool member in a pre-engaged position.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to figure 5 wherein the spool is disengaged from the video recorder's drive shape and it is engaged to the anti-slip ratchet mechanism on the bottom surface of the housing.

Figure 6A is a partial detail view of the engaging teeth of inner surface and the bottom surface of the spool member in an engaged position.

Figure 7 illustrates the clamp mechanism used in the preferred embodiment for holding the tape to the spool.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the flanged spool member.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the flanged spool member.

Figure 10 shows an elevational view of the flanged spool member.

Figure 11 is a top view of the flanged spool member.

Referring now to figure 1, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includes a substantially rectangular unitary housing 20 of a resilient material that can be made thinner, at certain points, to permit its folding. One of such materials that has been found to be suitable is polypropylene, which is the material used at present for covers for the cases for video tape cassettes (library cases). Housing 20 includes upper section 21, bottom section 23 and rear section 22 hingedly joined to sections 21 and 23 along lines 21' and 21" (thinner areas). Bottom section 23 includes lateral walls 23' and 23" that extend perpendicularly from the side edges of bottom section 23.

Front section 24, of irregular shape, is conformed to expose the tape to the pick up and recording magnetic heads of the video recorderiplayer machine (not shown) as well as letting a conventional control beam of light through window 25. Split sleeve 124 is preferably made out of a highly polished and hard material that guides the tape. Housing 20 includes top, rear and bottom sections 21, 22 and 23 contiguously formed from a unitary foldable material with substantial resiliency. Bottom section 23 includes two openings 55 and 55' and toothed areas 60 and 60' around their internal periphery. Top and bottom sections 21 and 23 are hingedly joined to rear section 22 so that, when folded, the sections define a substantially rectangular space. Teeth 60, 60' are of opposite slope.

As seen in figures 1, 2, 3 and 3A, when housing 20 is folded along lines 21' and 21", male locking tab members 28 are inserted through female receiving members 29 thereby firmly locking upper section 21 to lower section 23 by virtue of the cooperative spring bias of male locking tab member 28 that urges its head 28' inwardly after it cammingly passes through female receiving members 29. After being inserted through female receiving members 29, male locking tab members 28 cannot be separated since head 28' prevents it. This can be best seen in figures 3A, 5 and 6.

Dust cover 40, as best seen in figures 1, 3 and 4, includes a mechanism 30 for releasably locking dust cover 40 in place and protecting front section 24. Mechanism 30 includes protruberance 34, channel 35 and cavity 36. Dust cover 40 is hingedly mounted to the end of upper section 21. Protruberance 34 is cooperatively positioned to follow channel 35 when section 21 is brought against bottom section 23 and dust cover 40 is swung against section 24. Protruberance 34 ends up being lodged inside cavity 36. In this manner, rear extending walls 27 and 27 of dust cover 40 cover windows 25 at both ends. Rear edge 27' of rear wall 27 is brought in contact with forward edge 33 of wall 23', as best seen in figure 4.

In figure 5, we can see the video tape cassette, without the tape wound on a spool, and inside the video recorder/player. In any one of these modes, the drive shaft (not shown) of the video recorder/player disengages the toothed areas of on the underside Si and 53. of flange- -59 of spool 50 from toothed areas 60 and 60' on the inner surface of bottom section 23 around openings 55 and 55'. Spring leaf 62 is shown in contact with axle protrusion 54 of flanged spool member 50. Spring leaf 62 urges flanged spool 50 against drive shaft (not shown) of the video recorder/player machine. Spring leaf 62' is shown at left, without a spool, at rest. Circular walls 58 and 58' help keep flanged spool member 50 in place.In the present invention, spring leaves 62 and 62' are molded integrally with housing 20 thereby eliminating the need for secondary operations.

In figure 6, flanged spool member 50 is seen engaged to toothed area 60 since the drive shaft (not shown) of the video recorder/player has not engaged it. Spring leaf 62 urges flanged spool member 50 to engage with toothed area 60 preventing it from rotating while not in use.

A view in detail is shown in figure 5a wherein the teeth engagement is shown when the cassette is out of the video recorder/player. In this manner, a spool locking mechanism 70 is implemented with the engagement of toothed areas 51 and 60 and cooperating toothed are 80 on the bottom of the flange 52 of flanged spool 50. Locking mechanism 70 prevents the tape from unwinding when the cassette is not engaged to the shaft of the video recorder/player. Toothed areas 51 include a plurality of sawteeth that causes the spool to rotate in the direction of arrow A that causes the spools to wind the tape when dropping against toothed area 60 and 60', as shown in figures 5A and 6A, but in opposite directions thereby reducing the tape slack.

In figures 7 through 11, tape locking mechanism 90 is shown. A portion of tape T is shown inserted through tape locking mechanism 90, as seen in figure 7, biting the tape in more than one place preventing slippage of the tape. In conventional cassettes, clip 92 is a separate piece whereas here it is an integral part of the spool member, as best seen in the cross sectional view shown in figure 8. An integrally built hinge member 94 is designed to perform the hinge action once when tape T is inserted during the assembly of the cassette. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate opposite end views of the spool member.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention.

Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (14)

1. A video tape cassette for use in conjunction with video cassette players/recorder machine, comprising.

A. a housing including top, bottom and rear sections contiguously formed from a a unitary foldable material with substantial resiliency, said bottom section including two perpendicularly disposed lateral walls and one front section rigidly mounted to said 1bottom section and adapted to guide and expose said video tape to said machine, said bottom section further including two openings and a toothed area around the internal periphery of said openings and said top and bottom sections being hingedly joined to said rear section so that, when folded, said sections define a substantially rectangular space; B. locking means for keeping said top and bottom sections in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other;; C. dust cover means for protecting said housing from the introduction of extraneous bodies and said dust cover means being contiguously formed and hingedly joined to the other end of said top section not joined to said rear section and said cover means having two rearwardly extending walls that cooperatively cover part of said lateral walls when said dust cover means is closed; D. dust cover locking means for keeping said dust cover means against said bottom section and protecting said front wall; and E. spool means for liying said video tape and said spool means comprising two flanged spool members~avinS each:a bottom surface, positioned above said openings, and further including spool locking means for preventing the rotation of said spool member when said cassette is not in use.

2. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 1, wherein said spool locking means for preventing the rotation of said spool members includes a toothed area, including a plurality of sawteeth, in the underside of the flange of said spool members that cooperatively engages with said toothed area that includes a corresponding plurality of sawteeth, around the internal periphery of said openings thereby reducing tape slag.

3. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing includes two integrally built spring leaves that are cooperatively positioned over said spool members urging them to engage said toothed areas.

4. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 3 wherein said spool members include an integrally built-in clip for locking said tape in place.

5. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 4 wherein said rearwardly extending walls include inner surfaces and said dust cover locking means includes a protruberance on each of said inner surfaces and said lateral walls include an outer surface that have cooperative channels that receive said protruberance, guiding them to a cavity at the end of said channel thereby releasably locking said dust cover in place.

6. The video tape e-assette~ct for forth in claim 5 wherein said locking means for keeping said top and bottom sections in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other includes a plurality of male locking tab members rigidly mounted to said top section and a corresponding plurality of female receiving members that cooperatively receive said male locking tab members and said male locking tab members include headed ends that prevent the disengagement of said male locking tab members from said female receiving members.

7. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 4 wherein said clip for locking said tape includes at least three protrusions which cause said tape to be secured in place thereby preventing slippage of the tape.

8. A video tape cassette for use in conjunction with video cassette players/recorder machine,- comprising: A. a housing including top, bottom and rear sections contiguously formed from a unitary foldable polypropylene material with substantial resiliency, said bottom section including two perpendicularly disposed lateral walls and one front section rigidly mounted to said bottom section and adapted to guide and expose said video tape to said machine, said bottom section further including two openings and a toothed area around the internal periphery of said openings and said top and bottom sections being hingedly joined to said rear section so that, when folded, said sections define a substantially rectangular space;; B. locking means for kee#ng said -toF-and---bottom sections in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other; C. dust cover means for protecting said housing from the introduction of extraneous bodies and said dust cover means being contiguously formed and hingedly joined to the other end of said top section not joined to said rear section and said cover means having two rearwardly extending walls that cooperatively cover part of said lateral walls when said dust cover means is closed; D. dust cover locking means for keeping said dust cover means against said bottom section and protecting said front wall; and E. spool means for holding said video tape and said spool means comprising two flanged spool members having each a bottom surface, positioned above said openings, and further including spool locking means for preventing the rotation of said spool member when said cassette is not in use.

9. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 8, wherein said spool locking means for preventing the rotation of said spool members includes a toothed area, including a plurality of sawteeth, in the underside of the flange of said spool members that cooperatively engages with said toothed area around the internal periphery of said openings thereby reducing tape slack.

10. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 9 wherein said housing includes two integrally built spring leaves that are cooperatively positioned over said spool members urging them to engage said toothed areas.

11. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 10 wherein said spool members include an integrally built-in clip for locking said tape in place.

12. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 11 wherein said rearwardly extending walls include inner surfaces and said dust cover locking means includes a protruberance on each of said inner surfaces and said lateral walls include an outer surface that have cooperative channels that receive said protruberance, guiding them to a cavity at the end of said channel thereby releasably locking said dust cover in place.

13. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking means for keeping said top and bottom sections in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other includes a plurality of male locking tab members rigidly mounted to said top section and a corresponding plurality of female receiving members that cooperatively receive said male locking tab members and said male locking tab members include headed ends that prevent the disengagement of said male locking tab members from said female receiving members.

14. The video tape cassette set forth in claim 11 wherein said ciip for locking said tape includes at least three protrusions which cause said tape to be secured in place thereby preventing slippage of the tape.