GB2250126A

GB2250126A - Cassette deck with integrated battery compartment

Info

Publication number: GB2250126A
Application number: GB9022956A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Loong-Piu Lai
Original assignee: STAR TOUCH Ltd
Current assignee: STAR TOUCH Ltd
Priority date: 1990-10-22
Filing date: 1990-10-22
Publication date: 1992-05-27
Also published as: GB9022956D0

Abstract

A cassette player (10) comprising a housing (12) and a cassette deck 20 mounted within the housing, on which cassette deck substantially all the cassette control mechanism 21 and drive means 23 are mounted characterised in that a battery compartment 24 is also mounted on the cassette deck adjacent to the drive means, the battery compartment holding at least two batteries side by side. <IMAGE>

Description

CASSETTE PLAYER This invention relates to a cassette player and in particular to a portable cassette player.

At present, the best known portable cassette player is the "Walkman" cassette player manufactured by Sony. Although the "Walkman" is relatively compact, there is always a demand for even smaller cassette players.

It is an object of this invention to address this problem.

In accordance with the invention a cassette player comprises a housing and a cassette deck mounted within the housing, on which cassette deck substantially all the cassette control mechanisms and drive means are mounted characterised in that a battery compartment is also mounted on the cassette deck adjacent to the drive means, the battery compartment holding two batteries side by side.

It has been found that by so mounting the battery compartment on the same deck as all the control mechanisms and drive means, the size of the cassette player housing can be substantially reduced in size. Indeed, the size can be reduced to even a 41 of the size of a conventional Walkman cassette player.

Suitably, the cassette deck also has mounted thereon a hinge mechanism for the lid opening of the housing of the cassette player. This advantageously even further reduces the size of the cassette player housing.

Suitably, the cassette tape whilst played is actually mounted partly within the cassette housing and partly outside the cassette housing. In this respect, the drive wheels for the cassette tape are also mounted on the cassette deck near to the outer edge of the deck (causing the tape to be partly outside the housing).

Suitably, one of the drive wheels is also adapted to act as a support for the outer end of the lid opening of the housing of the cassette player, thus also further reducing the size of the cassette player.

Suitably, an insertable and removable adapter is provided which is placed within the cassette player when no cassette tape is being played. This takes the place of the cassette tape and makes the whole surface of the outer housing of the cassette player flush when not in use.

Suitably, this adapter which is hollow is provided with means to mount the headphone of the cassette player, thus again reducing the overall size of the cassette player housing and accessories package, since the headphone is kept in the adapter within the cassette player housing.

Such an arrangement is substantially smaller in size than conventional portable cassette players, and is of such small size that it can even be held in the fist of a hand or even a pocket.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a cassette player in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a cassette deck used in the cassette player shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the cassette deck shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an end view of the cassette deck shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure 1, a cassette player 10 is shown having a housing 12 and a clip connector 14 which is used to attach the cassette player, for example to the belt of a user.

The housing is formed in two parts, namely an upper lid opening portion 16 which can be opened and shut, and a lower base portion 18 in which is mounted a cassette deck 20 (see Figures 2 to 4).

An insertable and removable adapter 22 is also provided which fits within the upper lid portion 16 of the cassette player in order to keep the whole outer surface of the cassette player 10 flush when no cassette tape is being played.

In Figures 2 to 4, a cassette deck 20 is shown which is used in the cassette player 10 shown in Figure 1.

The cassette deck 20 uses conventional control mechanisms 21 and drive means 23 for a cassette tape (not shown) and in consequence will not be further described herein.

Modifications that have been made to the cassette deck 20 include firstly the fact that a battery compartment 24 (see Figure 3) has been mounted directly on the cassette deck 20 adjacent to the drive means, the battery compartment holding two batteries side by side. Suitably UM4 or AAA sized batteries are used since these are very small in size. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the battery compartment 24 occupies approximately the same area (and volume) as does the drive means 23.

Secondly, the hinging mechanism 26 (see Figure 4) for the upper lid portion 16 is also directly mounted onto the cassette deck 20. Finally, the drive mechanism for the cassette tape includes drive wheels 28 (see Figure 2) which are positioned near the outer edge of the cassette deck 20 (since the cassette tape actually extends outwardly of the cassette player when in use), and which are also further adapted to support the upper lid portion 16 of the housing.

In particular, one of the drive wheels 28a is provided with a hole 30 in its centre into which a spigot 32 (shown dotted in Figure 1) extending from the outer end and underside of the upper lid portion 16 can be placed and firmly held in order to support the upper lid portion 16 relative to the base portion 18, both when the cassette tape is being played and when it is not being played.

All these features substantially reduce the size of the cassette player 10 to such an extent that the cassette player in plan view is actually smaller than the cassette tape it drives, and to a size which is a 41 of the size of a standard "Walkman" cassette player.

The adapter 22 shown in Figure 1 acts as mentioned to keep flush the outer surface of the housing of the cassette player when not in use. However, this also has the advantage that the underside acts as a container for accessories for the cassette player, for instance the headphones. In consequence, the headphone is stored within the adapter, which is itself placed within the housing. In consequence, the headphone is contained within the cassette player when a cassette tape is not being used. This again reduces the size of the overall cassette player package.

Such an arrangement is simple in design and construction yet has the major advantage of substantially reducing the size of the cassette player to such an extent that it can be easily held in one's hand or placed in a small bag or alternatively placed in one's pocket. In particular, the overall size of the housing of the cassette player (ie. not including the batteries and the clip connector) is preferably in millimeters between 100 x 75 x 40 and 80 x 55 x 20, more preferably between 95 x 70 x 35 and 85 x 60 x 25, and even more preferably 93 x 63 x 32 in size. The outer shape of the cassette player housing can be of any shape, for instance instead of the housing having rounded corners as shown in the drawings, the housing could have square shaped corners.

Claims

1. A cassette player comprising a housing and a cassette deck mounted within the housing, on which cassette deck substantially all the cassette control mechanisms and drive means are mounted characterised in that a battery compartment is also mounted on the cassette deck adjacent to the drive means, the battery compartment holding at least two batteries side by side.

2. A cassette player as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cassette deck also has mounted thereon a hinge mechanism for the opening of a lid of the housing of the cassette player.

3. A cassette player as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2 wherein the cassette tape whilst played is actually mounted partly within the cassette housing and partly outside the cassette housing.

4. A cassette player as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the drive means includes at least one drive wheel for the cassette tape mounted on the cassette deck near to the outer edge of the deck.

5. A cassette player as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the drive means includes at least one drive wheel, and wherein one of the drive wheels is also adapted to act as a support for the outer end of a lid of the housing of the cassette player.

6. A cassette player as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an insertable and removable adapter is provided which is capable of being placed within the cassette player when no cassette tape is being played.

7. A cassette player as claimed in claim 6 wherein the adapter is hollow and is provided with means to mount headphones of the cassette player.

8. A cassette player as claimed in claim 7 wherein the headphones are kept in the adapter within the cassette player housing.

9. A cassette player substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.