Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Cartridge system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-10-16
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Cartridge system
C360S132000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302345
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tape cassette having a tape member stored in a housing. More particularly, it relates to a tape cassette having a covering member for protecting a tape member exposed outside the housing and a lock member for preventing the covering member from moving at the time the cassette is not in use.
2. Related Background Art
A conventional tape cassette, such as a VHS video cassette, is provided with a cover lock member for locking the front cover so that the front cover protecting the tape exposed outside of the housing is prevented from moving when the cassette is not in use. For example, Japanese utility model publication No. 60-20210 discloses a cover lock member which is integrally connected with a spring member formed in a curved board shape wherein the cover lock member is biased by the spring member toward the locking position (See
FIG. 6
of the publication). However, if the spring member formed in a curved board shape is kept in a unlocked condition (the tape cassette is inserted into a record reproduction device) for a long period of time and thus the spring member is kept biased during that period, the shape of the spring member may be permanently changed. As a result, the locking force generated by deformation of the board shaped spring member is decreased and the sufficient locking force cannot be maintained.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,583 discloses a lock member whose structure is basically the same as the lock member disclosed by the Japanese utility model publication No. 60-20210 although projecting direction of the spring member is different (FIGS. 2 to 5). In this case also, it is difficult to maintain the locking force of the lock member for a long period of time. FIGS. 6 to 9 of the above U.S. Patent further discloses a lock member which utilizes the deformation of a plastic member for generating biasing force. Durability of this lock member is superior to the lock member having the above structure. However, if outside force is applied to the locking projection by impact or the like in such direction that the front cover be opened at a time the cassette is not in use, the deformed portion may be easily ruptured by the force transmitted from the projection owing to the proximate position of the deformed portion to the lock projection. If the deformed portion is ruptured, it can no longer function as a lock member.
The lock member disclosed by Japanese patent Publication No. 2675103 utilizes deformation of a deformable portion. The lock member is excellent in durability having a simple structure. However, since the lock member is fixed to the housing by fitting thereto, workability at assembling may be deteriorated (when the fitting is tight) or the locking force may become insufficient (when the fitting is loose) depending on variations of products. As a result, it is difficult to stably maintain the quality of the products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette whose lock member is integrally connected with a spring member having high durability and strength as well as improved workability at assembling. Also, it is another object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette whose lock member can maintain the locking force for a long period of time.
According to the aspect of the present invention, the tape cassette is provided with housing, a pair of tape reels rotatably stored in the housing and wound by a tape member therearound; a covering member rotatably mounted to the housing so as to cover the tape member drawn from the tape reel and placed in a front of the housing, and a lock member provided in the housing for locking the covering member in such a state that the front of the tape member at a time the tape cassette is closed by the covering member, wherein the lock member is provided with a main body, a rotation shaft rotating together with the main body and pivotally supported in the housing, an engagement projection rotating around the rotation shaft between a locked position where the engagement projection is engaged with the covering member and the unlocked position where the engagement projection is not engaged with the covering member, a biasing member for biasing the engagement projection toward the locked position, and an unlock member for moving the engagement projection to the unlocked position against the biasing force of the biasing member, and the biasing member is integrally connected with the main body at a position separated from the engagement projection and the unlock member.
According to the tape cassette of the present invention, even if force is applied from outside to the engagement projection or the unlock member, excessive force is prevented from applying to the biasing member. This is because the position where the engagement projection and the biasing member are provided, is separated from the position where the biasing member is integrally connected with the main body by a predetermined distance, and resultantly, rupture of the biasing member due to the outside force can be prevented. Further, the lock member is pivotally supported in the housing such that the rotation shaft is rotated between the locked position and the unlocked position. Therefore, workability at assembling can be improved than the tape cassette whose lock member is fitted into the housing. Also, loosening of the fitting which might result in insufficient locking force can be prevented. Thus, a tape cassette having high durability and strength as well as improved workability at assembling can be achieved.
Preferably, the biasing member may be provided with a spring mounted in the vicinity of the rotation shaft and an arm for biasing the engagement projection toward the locked position of the covering member by the biasing force of the spring. In this case, the spring can be integrally connected with the main body in the vicinity of the rotation shaft and the arm is extended from the spring.
Preferably, the spring can be provided at a position projecting from the surface of the main body. By this configuration, the load placed on the spring caused by deformation of the arm at the time of incorporating the lock member into the housing, locking the engagement projection or unlocking the engagement projection can be decreased. As a result, durability of the lock member can be enhanced and the locking force by the spring can be maintained for a long period of time. For example, there may be provided convexities projecting toward a direction opposite from the projecting direction of the engagement projection and the spring may be mounted to these convexities.
Preferably, the arm may be provided at a position closer to the front of the housing than the engagement projection and bent at a predetermined position thereof. Under this configuration, when an optical path hole for detecting the end of the tape member is formed in the vicinity of the opening of the housing through which the engagement projection is engaged with the covering member, obstruction of the optical path due to the arm can be avoided, thereby preventing the arm from hindering the detection of the end of the tape member. The arm may be provided at a side of the main body opposite from the side of the unlock member.
Preferably, the spring may be elastically deformed by being twisted by the arm when the engagement projection is placed at the locked position or rotated toward the unlocked position. Due to the torsional elastic deformation of the spring, the engagement projection may be biased at the locked position, or biased toward the locked position when the engagement projection is placed at an unlocked position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4466583 (1984-08-01), Giannis et al.
patent: 4475700 (1984-10-01), MacLeod, Jr. et al.
patent: 4485988 (1984-12-01), Kikuya et al.
patent: 4628389 (1986-12-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 4858849 (1989-08-01), Okamura et al.
patent: 4930821 (1990-06-01), Jang
patent: 5011096 (1991-04-01), Nagai et al.
patent: 5222686 (1993-06-01), Komeiji et
Hashizume Kenji
Kaneda Hiroshi
Okamura Masatoshi
Sato Shin'ichi
Darby & Darby
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
TDK Corporation
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