Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Signs – Interchangeable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-09-25
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Signs
Interchangeable
C040S576000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293036
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information cassette.
More particularly, the invention relates to an information cassette for exchangeable information carriers with a carrier housing, including at least one partially transparent hinged lid, which can be opened by a swivel movement and has at least one integrated drawer for receiving an information carrier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such information cassettes are known for example from the published EP 0 383 042. Those information cassettes consist substantially of a basic body, a hinged lid, and a closeable cassette. The hinged lid, which is pivotable above the basic body, is link-supported by the basic body. The pivot axis of the closing lid is in the lower region of the basic body. Several drawers for receiving part information carriers are arranged in the basic body. Above these drawers a drawer for a further part information carrier is arranged in the hinged lid. The drawer, including the information carrier received therein is situated above, and in front of, the part information carriers of the drawers of the basic body. After insertion or exchange of the part information carriers, the closeable information cassette is mounted over the upper part of the combination of the basic body and the hinged lid of the closed information cassette. The closeable cassette locks the information cassette.
Such a cassette has several disadvantages. On one hand, the handling of the information cassette is cumbersome and expensive. Thus, for exchanging partial information carriers always at least two parts must be moved. The closeable cassette has to be taken off and the hinged lid is to be pivoted open. When being pivoted open, the hinged lid can move to a fully open position, so that an information carrier can fall out. On the other hand, not all information carriers are in a single plane behind the display panel, which can, amongst others, influence the legibility by unfavorable shadow formation or sliding of the front information carrier.
Furthermore, due to the large exposed surface of the closeable cassette, there always is the danger that it can be pushed upwardly by persons or articles such that the information cassette is opened.
Furthermore, from the DE 72 22 056 U1, an information table is known, which includes signs, that are movable sideways onto separate cassettes. The signs are located in guide rails at the outer walls of the individual cassettes. They are prevented from sliding out of place by using side rails. The cassettes themselves are removed for exchanging the signs in a push and pivot movement and are re-inserted similarly. This information table however is of a complicated design and requires several operating steps for exchanging the signs.
The invention therefore has as its principal object to create an information cassette allowing a rapid and reliable exchange of the information carriers in a simple and uncomplicated procedure. At the same time, the information cassette must be robust. Furthermore, the design must prevent an unintended opening by external influences. Of course, the disadvantages of the prior art arrangements should be avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an information cassette for receiving exchangeable information carriers including a carrier housing, the carrier housing has bent over top and bottom end walls and a T-shaped center web so as to form two information carrier sections covered by hinge lids on which the information carriers can be mounted and which have bottom walls with spring means on which the hinge lids are seated in the carrier housing and which resiliently bias the hinge lids upwardly such that the top ends of the hinge lids are engaged behind the front edges of the bent-over carrier housing top end wall or the T-shaped center web, respectively.
The spring means may consist of at least two spring arms arranged at an end wall of the lid parallel to the swivel axis of the hinged lid.
The spring arms are bending springs which may project from the side wall forming the bottom of the hinged lid at an angle of about 15-30° relative to the pivot axis of the hinged lid in such a way that their respective free ends are directed outwardly.
The design provides for a robust information cassette, which is simple to handle. When the information cassette is closed, the hinge lid is seated fully in the protective carrier housing. The spring mechanism and the guide parts, in which the hinge lid is fitted, are then all disposed in the protective carrier housing. In this manner, the information cassette can take the usual mechanical bumps in all directions without being damaged. Also, if dropped, the information cassette does not open on impact on the floor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1524668 (1925-02-01), Miller et al.
patent: 1994686 (1935-03-01), Chernow
patent: 2745201 (1956-05-01), Giuseppe et al.
patent: 3387397 (1968-06-01), Buchanan et al.
patent: 3742633 (1973-07-01), Palm
patent: 5257472 (1993-11-01), Harnois et al.
patent: 5267405 (1993-12-01), Seggerson
patent: 5357701 (1994-10-01), Grate
patent: 19643414.9 (1998-02-01), None
patent: WO 98/18113 (1998-04-01), None
Printout from Derwent for WO 98/18113.
Bach Klaus J.
Chop Andrea
Dayoan B.
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