JP2002145375A - Cassette storing case - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cassette storing case constituted of a combination of an upper half 32 and a lower half 33, in which, for example, even in the case where a wall 33d of the lower half 33 is inwardly warped, this warp is corrected so that no step portion is caused between the upper half 32 and the lower half 33. SOLUTION: Walls 32d and 33d are opposed to each other in the state of a combination of an upper half 32 and a lower half 33. A protruding thick- walled portion 50 is provided on an inner face side of the wall 33d of the lower half 33 which forms an outer wall of the cassette storing case. Even in the case where the wall 33d of the lower half 33 is inwardly warped, this warp is kept in a corrected state by the thick-walled portion 50 when the upper half 32 is combined with the lower half 33.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette storage case suitable for storing a tape cassette such as an audio compact cassette, and more particularly to a combination structure of a pair of halves constituting the case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A compact cassette used for audio equipment or the like is stored in a cassette storage case made of plastic or the like when not in use.

The cassette storage case has conventionally been implemented in various forms, and the present applicant has previously proposed a slide-type cassette storage case as shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a cassette storage case, and an audio compact cassette (hereinafter simply referred to as a cassette) 1 is inserted into the cassette storage case 11 from an insertion opening 14 provided on one side of the cassette storage case. It is designed to be slidably inserted into and housed.

[0005] The structure of the cassette 1 will be briefly described. The casing 2 of the cassette 1 has a rectangular thin housing shape, and a reel drive shaft insertion hole 3 is formed on the left and right sides. 3, a pair of tape reels 5 around which a magnetic tape 4 is wound are provided inside the cassette housing 2.
Is rotatably housed.

An opening 6 through which the magnetic tape 4 is exposed is formed on the front surface of the cassette housing 2.
Inside, one side tape reel (supply side reel) 5
A tape running path is formed such that the magnetic tape 4 unwound from the tape reel is wound on the other tape reel (winding reel) 5 through the opening 6.

A magnetic head or the like is inserted into the opening 6 from the cassette deck side. In order to increase the thickness of an inserted portion of the magnetic head or the like, a front portion of the cassette housing 2 is provided on both upper and lower sides. A bulging portion 7 having a trapezoidal shape bulging out is formed. Further, a capstan shaft insertion hole 8 and a positioning reference hole 9 are formed symmetrically in the bulging portion 7. On the left and right side surfaces 2a of the cassette housing 2, projections 10 are provided which project like ears.

A cassette storage case 11 into which the cassette 1 is inserted is configured by combining an upper half 12 and a lower half 13. As a molding material of the cassette storage case 11, a polypropylene resin is suitably used, and the upper half 12 and the lower half 13 are integrally formed in a shape connected in an expanded state as shown in FIG.

Here, the side wall portion 12b of the upper half 12 and the side edge portion 13b of the lower half 13 are integrally connected by a thin connecting portion 20, and this connecting portion 20 is assembled at the time of assembly.
Is used as a hinge to bend the upper half 12 with respect to the lower half 13 to be united.

The upper half 12 and the lower half 13 are combined with the side wall 12c and the rear wall 12d of the upper half 12 facing the inside of the side wall 13c and the rear wall 13d of the lower half 13, respectively. In this combined state, both are fixed in a fitting manner.

That is, in the cassette storage case 11, fitting projections 21 are provided at a plurality of locations on the outer surface side of the side wall portion 12c of the upper half 12, and an engagement hole 22 is formed therein. Correspondingly, a notch-shaped fitting concave portion 23 is formed in the side wall portion 13c of the lower half 13, and an engaging projection 24 protrudes therefrom. The engaging projection 24 has a wide end and a tapered hook shape.

In a state where the upper half 12 and the lower half 13 are united, the upper half 12 and the lower half 13 can be accurately positioned by fitting the fitting projection 21 and the fitting recess 23. At the same time, the engaging projections 2
4 are fitted and engaged in a press-fitting manner, whereby the upper half 12 and the lower half 13 are fixedly held in a united state.

One side surface of each of the upper half 12 and the lower half 13 is an open surface 12a, 13a having no side wall. When the upper half 12 and the lower half 13 are combined, the open surfaces 12a and 13a are joined. The cassette 1 is slidably inserted laterally from the insertion opening 14.

The cassette storage case 11 accommodates the cassette 1 with almost no gap. Therefore, inside the cassette storage case 11, the upper half 12 is provided.
On the inner surface side of the lower half 13, concave grooves 15, 16 for escaping the bulging portion 7 of the cassette 1 are formed in the cassette insertion direction.

The concave grooves 15 and 16 are provided symmetrically on both the left and right sides in the cassette insertion direction, so that in the cassette storage case 11, the bulging portion 7 is oriented leftward and rightward in the cassette insertion direction. The cassette 1 can be inserted in any direction.

As is apparent from FIG. 7, a central portion on the inner surface side of the upper half 12 (a portion between the concave grooves 15 on both sides).
Is formed as a thin portion 12g while leaving the thick portions 12e and 12f along the concave groove 15 and the open surface 12a. Similarly, a central portion on the inner surface side of the lower half 13 (portion between the concave grooves 16 on both sides). Also, the thick portion 13e along the concave groove 16 and the open surface 13a
And 13f, leaving a thin portion 13g, thereby reducing the molding material.

In the center of the upper half 12 of the cassette storage case 11, an elongated opening 17 which is long in the cassette insertion direction is formed.
When taking out the cassette 1 from the cassette 1, the opening 17
The cassette 1 is pushed out from the insertion slot 14 by inserting a finger (for example, a thumb) into the cassette 1. A rib 1 is provided around the opening 17 in the thin portion 12 g on the inner surface side of the upper half 12.
7a are formed, thereby improving the strength of the upper half 12 to prevent bending.

Further, inside the cassette storage case 11, a stopper piece 18 for preventing the cassette 1 from jumping out when the cassette 1 is stored is provided. The stopper piece 18 is used for the cassette storage case 11.
In the lower half 13 in the concave groove 16 of the lower half 13
It is formed by providing a U-shaped notch groove, and an engagement convex portion 18a is provided at a tip portion thereof.

When the cassette is inserted into the cassette storage case 11, the stopper piece 18
When the cassette 1 is completely pushed down by the bulging portion 7 of the cassette 1 and thereafter the cassette 1 is completely inserted into the cassette storage case 11, the engaging convex portion 18a The cassette 1 is engaged in the capstan shaft insertion hole 8 of the cassette holder 7, whereby the cassette 1 is held in the lightly locked state in the cassette storage case 11, thereby preventing the cassette 1 from unexpectedly popping out (dropping out).

Since the cassette storage case 11 has a structure in which the cassette 1 can be inserted in any direction as described above, correspondingly, the stopper pieces 18 are provided symmetrically on both the left and right sides in the cassette insertion direction. Have been.

Further, inside the cassette storage case 11, there is provided a reel rotation preventing piece 19 for preventing unnecessary rotation of the tape reel 5 in the cassette 1 and preventing loosening of the magnetic tape. The reel rotation preventing piece 19 is integrally formed in the thin portion 13g on the inner surface side of the lower half 13 so as to correspond to the reel drive shaft insertion hole 3 of the cassette 1 and is provided side by side in the cassette insertion direction. The two pieces are formed as one set.

When the cassette 1 is inserted into the cassette storage case 11, the reel 1 is elastically deformed so as to be pushed down by the cassette 1, and when the cassette 1 is completely stored in the cassette storage case 11, the cassette 1 Since the reel drive shaft insertion hole 3 corresponds to the reel rotation preventing piece 19, the reel rotation preventing piece 19 elastically returns to the upright state, and engages with the engaging projection 5 a on the inner periphery of the tape reel 5, and The structure prevents rotation. Here, the two pieces of the reel rotation preventing piece 19 are engaged with the tape reel 5 at the same time, whereby the rotation of the tape reel 5 can be more reliably prevented.

[0023]

The conventional cassette storage case constructed as described above has the following problems. That is, in this cassette storage case, since a polypropylene resin, which is a crystalline resin, is used as a molding material, warping due to resin shrinkage after molding tends to occur. In particular, the rear wall 13d of the lower half 13, which is the outer wall in the case rear part, does not have a side wall on the upper half 12 side, and therefore faces inward of the lower half 13 as shown in FIG. Large warpage is likely to occur.

When the upper half 12 and the lower half 13 are combined in this state, a step is generated between the upper end of the lower wall 13 d of the lower half 13 and the upper half 12.
This greatly impairs the appearance of the cassette storage case,
Furthermore, when the cassette storage case is held by hand, a step is caught in the hand, giving a sense of incongruity, and the quality of the cassette storage case has been greatly reduced.

In general, when a tape cassette is commercialized, the cassette storage case is wrapped with an overlap film.
In the case where a film bonding portion (so-called waist portion) is provided in a portion corresponding to the above, if there is such a step, the film bonding is not performed well, and poor bonding occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and in a cassette storage case configured by combining a pair of cassette halves, a step between the two halves due to warpage after molding is eliminated, and the above problem is solved. It is intended to solve.

[0027]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a cassette storage case composed of a combination of an upper half and a lower half. And at least one convex thick portion is formed on the inner surface side of the outer wall portion or the outer surface side of the inner wall portion.

With such a structure, in the cassette storage case of the present invention, even if the outer wall has an inward warp, this warp is caused by the thick portion when the upper half and the lower half are combined. As a result, there is no step between the upper half and the lower half.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 31 denotes a cassette storage case according to the present invention,
The cassette storage case 31 is configured by combining an upper half (cover half) 32 and a lower half (base half) 33, and inserts the cassette 1 in a laterally slidable manner through an insertion port 34 provided on one side surface thereof. It is structured to be stored.

As a molding material of the cassette storage case 31, a polypropylene resin is suitably used, and the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are integrally formed in a connected shape in an expanded state as shown in FIG.

Here, the side wall portion 32b of the upper half 32 and the side edge portion 33b of the lower half 33 are integrally connected by a thin connecting portion 40, and this connecting portion 40 is assembled at the time of assembly.
Is used as a hinge to bend the upper half 32 with respect to the lower half 33 to combine them.

The upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are united such that the side wall 32c and the inner wall 32d of the upper half 32 face the inside of the side wall 33c and the inner wall 33d of the lower half 33, respectively. In this combined state, both are fixed in a fitting manner.

That is, in the cassette storage case 31, fitting projections 41 are provided at a plurality of locations on the outer surface side of the side wall 32c of the upper half 32, and an engagement hole 42 is formed therein. Correspondingly, a notch-shaped fitting concave portion 43 is formed in the side wall portion 33c of the lower half 33, and an engaging protrusion 44 protrudes therefrom. The tip of the engaging projection 44 is formed in a wide and tapered hook shape.

In a state where the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are united, the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 can be accurately aligned by fitting the fitting projection 41 and the fitting recess 43. At the same time, the engaging projections 4
The upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are fixedly held in a united state.

One side surface of each of the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 is an open surface 32a, 33a having no side wall. When the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are combined, the open surfaces 32a and 33a are joined. The cassette 1 is slidably inserted laterally from the insertion opening 34.

The cassette 1 is accommodated in the cassette storage case 31 with almost no gap. Therefore, inside the cassette storage case 31, the upper half 32 is provided.
On the inner surfaces of the lower half 33 and the lower half 33, recessed grooves 35 and 36 for escaping the bulging portion 7 of the cassette 1 are formed in the cassette insertion direction.

The concave grooves 35 and 36 are provided symmetrically on both the left and right sides in the cassette insertion direction, so that in the cassette storage case 31, the bulging portion 7 is oriented rightward and leftward in the cassette insertion direction. The cassette 1 can be inserted in any direction.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the central portion on the inner surface side of the upper half 32 (portion between the concave grooves 35 on both sides).
Is formed as a thin portion 32g except for the thick portions 32e and 32f along the concave groove 35 and the open surface 32a. Similarly, a central portion on the inner surface side of the lower half 33 (a portion between the concave grooves 36 and 36 on both sides). Also, the thick portion 33e along the concave groove 36 and the open surface 33a
And 33f, leaving a thin portion 33g, thereby reducing the amount of molding material.

In the center of the upper half 32 of the cassette storage case 31, an elongated opening 37 which is long in the cassette insertion direction is formed.
When taking out the cassette 1 from the cassette 1, the opening 37
The cassette 1 is pushed out of the insertion slot 34 by inserting a finger (for example, a thumb) into the cassette 1. In the thin portion 32g on the inner surface side of the upper half 32, the rib 3 is provided around the opening 37.
7a are formed, thereby improving the strength of the upper half 32 to prevent bending.

Further, inside the cassette storage case 31, there is provided a stopper piece 38 for preventing the cassette 1 from jumping out when the cassette 1 is stored. The stopper piece 38 is used for the cassette storage case 31.
In the lower half 33 in the concave groove 36 of the lower half 33
It is formed by providing a U-shaped notch groove, and an engagement convex portion 38a is provided at a tip portion thereof. .

When the cassette is inserted into the cassette storage case 31, the stopper piece 38
When the cassette 1 is completely pushed down by the swelling portion 7 of the cassette 1 and thereafter the cassette 1 is completely inserted into the cassette storage case 31, the engagement convex portion 38a is resiliently restored by the stopper piece 38 so that the swelling portion of the cassette 1 The cassette 1 is engaged in the capstan shaft insertion hole 8 of the cassette holder 7, whereby the cassette 1 is held in a lightly locked state in the cassette storage case 31, thereby preventing the cassette 1 from unexpectedly popping out (dropping out).

Since the cassette storage case 31 has a structure in which the cassette 1 can be inserted in any direction as described above, correspondingly, stopper pieces 38 are provided symmetrically on both the left and right sides in the cassette insertion direction. Have been.

Further, inside the cassette storage case 31, there is provided a reel rotation preventing piece 39 for preventing unnecessary rotation of the tape reel 5 in the cassette 1 and preventing loosening of the magnetic tape. The reel rotation stoppers 39 are integrally formed in the thin portion 33g on the inner surface side of the lower half 33 so as to correspond to the reel drive shaft insertion holes 3 of the cassette 1 and are arranged side by side in the cassette insertion direction. The two pieces are formed as one set.

When the cassette 1 is inserted into the cassette storage case 31, the reel 1 is elastically deformed so as to be pushed down by the cassette 1, and when the cassette 1 is completely stored in the cassette storage case 31, the cassette 1 is removed. Since the reel drive shaft insertion hole 3 corresponds to the reel detent piece 39, the reel detent piece 39 elastically returns to the upright state and engages with the engaging projection 5 a on the inner periphery of the tape reel 5. The structure prevents rotation. Here, two of the reel detent pieces 39 are engaged with the tape reel 5 at the same time, whereby the rotation of the tape reel 5 can be more reliably prevented.

In the cassette storage case 31 constructed as described above, particularly in this embodiment, the upper wall 32d of the upper half 32 and the rear wall 32 of the lower half 33 which face each other in a state where the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are combined. At 33d,
A protruding thick portion 50 is provided on the inner surface side of the inner wall portion 33d of the lower half 33 serving as the outer wall portion.

This thick portion 50 is formed at a predetermined width over the entire height of the back wall portion 33d at a position substantially at the center of the back wall portion 33d of the lower half 33, and the protruding height a is as shown in FIG. Back wall part 32 where upper half 32 and lower half 33 face each other
It is formed to have substantially the same size as the gap b between d and 33d.

With this structure, in the cassette storage case 31 of the present embodiment, even if the inner wall of the lower half 33 is warped inward due to resin shrinkage after molding,
When the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are combined, the warp is corrected by the thick portion 50 of the inner wall portion 33d of the lower half 33 contacting the inner wall portion 32d of the upper half 32. In this case, the back wall portion 33 of the lower half 33
Since the warp generated in d is maximized substantially in the central portion of the back wall portion 33d, it is desirable to provide the thick portion 50 in this central portion.

In the state where the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 are combined as described above, the inner wall portion 33d of the lower half 33 is formed.
By correcting the warpage of the lower half 33, there is no step between the upper end of the back wall 33d of the lower half 33 and the upper half 32.

Therefore, in this cassette storage case 31,
The appearance is kept good and the cassette storage case 3
It is possible to provide a cassette storage case of higher quality than before, without giving a sense of incongruity when holding the device 1 by hand.

When the cassette storage case 31 is wrapped with an overlap film, the inner wall 3 of the lower half 33 is closed.
Even when a film bonding portion is provided in a portion corresponding to 3d, no defective bonding occurs in the film bonding portion, and reliable packaging is possible.

In addition to the above configuration, in the cassette storage case 31, as is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4, the end of the thick portion 50 in the combination direction of the upper half 32 and the lower half 33 (in this example, An inclined surface 50a is formed at the upper end).

As a result, the upper half 32 and the lower half 33
Is combined, the back wall 32d of the upper half 32
Is guided along the inclined surface 50 a, so that the thick wall portion 50 does not catch the back wall portion 32 d of the upper half 32. Therefore, in this configuration, the warp of the back wall portion 33d of the lower half 33 can be corrected without hindering the smooth combination of the upper half 32 and the lower half 33.

In the above-described example, the thick portion 50 is formed on the inner surface side of the back wall portion 33d of the lower half 33. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 5, the back wall portion 32d of the upper half 32 is formed. It is obvious that the same effect can be obtained even if the thick portion 50 is formed on the outer surface side of the.

In the above example, the thick portion 50 is formed at one place, but it may be formed at a plurality of places, and it is needless to say that this is more effective.

Further, in the above-described example, a cassette housing case having a structure in which the upper half and the lower half are integrally formed is illustrated. However, the upper half and the lower half are separately formed and fixed by ultrasonic welding or the like. The present invention can also be applied to a cassette storage case that is assembled by assembling.

[0056]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention relates to a cassette storage case constituted by combining a pair of halves, the inner side or the inner side of the outer wall of the opposing wall in the combined state of the halves. By forming a convex thick part on the outer surface side of the wall part, even if the outer wall part has an inward warp, this warp is corrected by the thick part when both halves are combined As a result, there is no step between the two halves. Therefore, according to the present invention, the quality of the cassette storage case is improved as compared with the related art,
Further, in the case where the cassette storage case is wrapped with the overlap film, it is possible to effectively prevent poor adhesion at the bonded portions of the films.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cassette storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same expanded state.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the main part with a part cut away.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a thick part.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view of a main part showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional cassette storage case.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the same expanded state.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the main part with a part cut away.

[Description of Signs] 31 ‥‥ Cassette storage case, 32 ‥‥ upper half, 32
d ‥‥ back wall, 33 ‥‥ lower half, 33d ‥‥ back wall,
50 ‥‥ thick part, 50a ‥‥ inclined surface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cassette storage case configured by combining a pair of halves, wherein a convex shape is formed on an inner surface side of an outer wall portion or an outer surface side of an inner wall portion of the opposing walls in the combined state of the two halves. A cassette storage case, wherein a thick portion is formed at one or more locations. 2. The cassette storage case according to claim 1, wherein the thick portion is formed to have a projection height substantially equal to a gap between the opposed wall portions. 3. The cassette storage case according to claim 1, wherein the thick portion is formed substantially at the center of the wall portion. 4. The cassette storage case according to claim 1, wherein an inclined surface is formed at an end of the thick portion in a direction in which the halves are combined.