JPH11260024A - Cassette tape - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accommodate small articles so that they can be loaded and unloaded by utilizing a surplus space in a cassette body. SOLUTION: A cassette tape is provided with a reel flange 14'... with a small diameter for taking up a shorter tape than the tape with the longest standard. In this case, a surplus part 16 being generated between the reel flange 14'... with a small diameter and a cassette body 10 is set to an accommodation part 17 of small articles, the opening of the accommodation part 17 is pivoted by the cassette body 10 and is fixed to a closing position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette tape such as a VTR having two rotatable tape reels and performing recording or reproduction with a tape moving from one tape reel to another tape reel. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cassette tapes have a standardized shape and dimensions so that a tape of a predetermined length can be wound. For this reason, as the tape length becomes shorter as compared with the longest tape, the space inside the cassette body increases. In particular, VTRs for demonstration of new products
In the case of a tape or the like, the tape is often a few minutes to about 20 minutes long, and the unused space in the cassette body is very large.

In addition, it has been pointed out that conventional cassette tapes, particularly VTR tapes, are black or almost black, and thus cannot be seen very much because they are dark cases. The only clue to know the recorded contents from the outside is a single label. If the labels are peeled off or not attached from the beginning, the recorded contents cannot be known until they are reproduced.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned point, and a problem thereof is that when the tape is short and the extra space in the cassette body is large, the extra space is reduced to a small article. That it can be used as a storage unit. In this case, it is necessary to prevent the small article from suddenly popping out by opening the lid.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to indicate the contents of a tape from outside by storing a small article adapted to the contents recorded on the tape in a cassette body.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a tape reel for winding a shorter tape by reducing the diameter of a reel flange than a tape reel capable of winding a longest tape. A small-diameter reel flange is formed, and a surplus portion generated between the small-diameter reel flange and the cassette body is used as a storage section for small articles, and a lid is pivotally supported on the cassette body so that the opening of the storage section can be opened and closed. And means for enabling the lid to be fixed at the closed position.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The cassette tape according to the present invention
It has two rotatable tape reels 11 and 12, and can record or reproduce sound and video on a tape 13 such as a magnetic tape that moves from one tape reel 11 to the other tape reel 12. Two tape reels 11, 12
Is rotatably incorporated in each boss of the cassette body 10.

The illustrated cassette body 10 can be disassembled, and includes an upper half 10a having a transparent window 10c and each reel 1.
And a lower half 10b having a boss portion into which the bosses 1 and 12 are incorporated. The upper and lower parts are for convenience and should not be used for limiting interpretation of the present invention. Each part 10a, 10b of the main body is resin molded,
Although it can be manufactured by other means, an example structure is a resin case.

The tape reels 11 and 12 have a pair of reel flanges 14 and 15 having a diameter capable of winding a tape of a required length. The cassette tape according to the present invention is a cassette tape that uses a tape 13 shorter than the longest standard tape. According to one example, if the playback time is, for example, 20 minutes, the tape length is 1/6 compared to the longest 120 minutes, and the winding diameter of the tape 13 for 20 minutes is 120 minutes on a scale. It is about one fifth of the tape.

Therefore, the diameter of the small-diameter reel flange capable of winding the shorter tape 13 is set, for example, to a size that does not hinder the winding of the tape 13 for 20 minutes. See FIG. 1 and FIG. The diameter reduction of the reel flange, that is, the reduction of the diameter, may be performed only for one reel flange of the tape reel. However, it is also permissible to reduce the diameter of both the pair of reel flanges. In the case of the example of FIG.
The small-diameter reel flange 14 'is located on the side of the upper half portion 10a of the cassette main body having 0c. The reel flanges thus reduced in diameter are indicated by dashes 14 'and 15'.

Due to the reduced diameter of the reel flange 14 '(15'), an extra portion 16 is formed in the cassette body 10. Therefore, the present invention utilizes the surplus portion 16 as the storage portion 17 for the small articles M. The surplus portion 16 is a space between the reduced-diameter reel (12) and the outer wall surface. If there is a conflicting portion that does not interfere with the function, it can be secured by removing it.

The storage section 17 is a recessed portion secured in the cassette body 10 for accommodating a small article M from outside the case. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the two peripheral surfaces and the upper surface of the non-head side corner of the upper half 10 a of the main body are cut off, and the lower half 10 b of the main body is only the two peripheral surfaces of the same corner. Is provided, and a housing portion 17 having a lower surface as a bottom surface 18 is provided. A lid 19 is attached to the housing 17 so that the opening can be opened and closed, and the surface of the cassette 17 can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the deck without damaging the outer shape of the cassette body 10 by forming the housing 17. Keep flat. Such an accommodating portion 17 includes upper and lower half portions 10 of the cassette body 10.
a and 10b can be provided simultaneously with resin molding.

The cover 19 is attached to the cassette body 10 by a support shaft 20.
By pivoting about that point, it is possible to put it in and out of the housing part 17. Further, the elastic means 2 such as a spring is moved in a direction in which the lid 19 is fixed at the closed position.
1 to urge the lid 19 inward. Therefore, the lid 19 is always pushed inward and placed in the retracted position, but it is also possible to engage the movable end in the retracted position within the scope of the present invention.

The accommodation section 17 can be provided, for example, in the upper half 10a of the cassette body 10 so as to be offset. Examples are shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the lower half 10
It is formed shallow in the accommodation section 17 on the b side. Therefore, it is not necessary to reduce the diameter of the lower reel flange. Other configurations may be the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the opening / closing support shaft 20 of the lid 19 is located on the cassette body 10 as in each of the illustrated examples.
The lower halves 10a and 10b can be formed integrally with each other, but it is naturally possible to use another member.

By providing the accommodating portion 17 at the corner (corner) of the cassette body 10, it is possible to sufficiently use an extra space corresponding to the reduction in the diameter of the reel, and the lid 19 is at least provided. Since it has a three-dimensional shape composed of the three peripheral surfaces 22, 23 and the upper surface 24, it can be used as a container for small articles M, and has a feature that its structural strength is increased as compared with a flat plate. Reference numeral 25 denotes a cover shaft support hole, and reference numeral 26 denotes an engagement piece with the end of the housing portion, which also serves as a stopper for defining a retracted position. Reference numeral 27 denotes a movable space of the engaging piece 26, and reference numeral 28 denotes an opaque portion that prevents the vicinity of the pivot portion from being exposed to the outside.

An engaging projection 31 is provided, for example, on the moving end portion of the lid 19 as an engaging means 30 capable of engaging and disengaging the moving end of the lid 19, and the mating partner 32 is provided on the cassette body 10, for example. Can be provided adjacent to the accommodation portion 17.
The engaging means 30 may be provided as a substitute for the elastic means 21 or may be provided together with the elastic means 21. Reference numeral 33 denotes a rotation shaft of the engagement partner 32, which enables the engagement partner 32 to be occupied at the engagement position with the engagement protrusion 31 and the disengagement position. Numeral 34 denotes a pressing spring for pressing the mating partner 32 to an engaging position with the engaging projection 31, and numeral 35 denotes a knob for releasing the engagement.

The small articles M are arbitrarily selected. Examples of the small article M include a three-dimensional object such as a miniature doll and a toy, a printed matter such as a card and a miniature book, and the like. When the cassette tape contains an animated movie or the like, it is a preferable example of the present invention to store a character doll such as a hero as a small article M in the storage section 17. This is because a synergistic effect can be expected in which the image of the tape content is combined with the small article M symbolizing the tape, and the small article M can be sold at the same time.

[0018]

The present invention is constructed and operates as described above, so that when the tape is short, the extra space in the cassette main body can be used as a receiving section for small articles. To play. Also, select a small article that matches the content recorded on the tape,
It can be combined with a tape, so that the contents of the tape can be suggested externally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a cassette tape according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the same.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the same.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing Embodiment 2 of the same.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part in an assembled state.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the same partially cut away.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway side view.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 8, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a tape reel for winding a shorter tape by reducing the diameter of a reel flange than a tape reel capable of winding a longest tape. A small-diameter reel flange is formed, and a surplus portion generated between the small-diameter reel flange and the cassette body is used as a storage section for small articles directly related to the contents of the tape, and an opening of the storage section can be opened and closed. Is supported on the cassette body and the cover can be fixed at the closed position.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0018]

The present invention is constructed and operated as described above. Therefore, when the tape is short, the extra space in the cassette body is used as a receiving part for small articles directly related to the contents of the tape. This has the effect of being able to perform. In addition, a small article suitable for the content recorded on the tape can be selected and combined with the tape, whereby the tape content can be suggested from outside.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. It has two rotatable tape reels,
For cassette tapes that perform recording or playback with a tape that moves from one tape reel to the other tape reel, the diameter of the reel flange is made smaller than that of a tape reel that can take up the longest tape, and shorter tapes are wound. A small-diameter reel flange for picking is formed, and an excess portion generated between the small-diameter reel flange and the cassette main body is used as a small-article storage section. A cassette tape which is supported by a shaft and can be fixed at a closed position. 2. The cassette body comprises an upper half having a transparent window and a lower half having a boss for incorporating each reel, and a housing portion is provided by integrally forming a recess in both the upper and lower halves. The cassette tape according to claim 1, wherein 3. The cassette tape according to claim 1, wherein the accommodating portion is provided at a corner of the cassette main body, and the lid has a three-dimensional structure having three surfaces adjacent to the peripheral surface of the corner and the upper surface. 4. The cassette tape according to claim 1, wherein the means for fixing the lid in the closed position is an elastic means for urging the lid in the closing direction. 5. The cassette tape according to claim 1, wherein the means for fixing the lid at the closed position has an engaging means capable of engaging and disengaging the moving end of the lid.