EP0182860A1

EP0182860A1 - Means for cassette

Info

Publication number: EP0182860A1
Application number: EP19850902690
Authority: EP
Inventors: Knut Aale-Hansen
Original assignee: ANDERSEN Tor
Current assignee: ANDERSEN Tor
Priority date: 1984-06-06
Filing date: 1985-06-06
Publication date: 1986-06-04
Also published as: NO842267L; WO1985005725A1

Abstract

Cassette vidéo verrouillable (8) conçue pour bloquer de manière verrouillable et fixer des appareils à cassette vidéo. A l'intérieur de la cassette se trouve un verrou cylindrique (14) qui est relié via un bras (18) à un arbre à came (16) poussant des pênes (19) dotés de pièces terminales (20) à base de matériau de caoutchouc ou de plastique souple vers l'extérieur contre les parois intérieures (21) de l'ouverture recevant la cassette et, grâce à des forces de compression et de friction, verrouillant et fixant la cassette.Lockable video cassette (8) designed to lockable lock and secure video cassette devices. Inside the cassette is a cylindrical lock (14) which is connected via an arm (18) to a camshaft (16) pushing bolts (19) provided with end pieces (20) based on material of rubber or flexible plastic to the outside against the interior walls (21) of the opening receiving the cassette and, by means of compression and friction forces, locking and fixing the cassette.

Description

Means for Cassette

This invention relates to a lockable cassette, henceforth called lock-cassette, intended for video cassette apparatus for blocking the cassette receiving opening thus physically preventing the video cassette aparatus from beieng used. The lock-cassette is furthermore equipped with a built-in electronic alarm which will sound an alarm signal if someone, for instance a burglar attempts to move the vide apparatus with lock-cassette.

No video cassette apparatus is today equipped with any kind of a mechanical blocking device which can prevent the video cassette from being inserted and the video apparatus thereafter from being started. There is presently no special equipment available which can prevent unauthorized persons or small children from using the video cassette apparatus. One solution might possibly be to remove the video apparatus.

In stores and in other places where video cassette apparatuses are on display it is commen to guard the video apparatuses and other equipment by securing them by means of a chain and a padlock. Other types of burglar alarms might be the usual electronic alarm systems which might be mounted on windows, doors or elsewhere in a room.

Although it has now become possible to obtain burglar alarm devices specially designed for private homes, there are still no special anti-theft alarm device available for expensive video cassette apparatuses, and which will sound an alarm in case of an attempted theft of said apparatuses.

The rapid development of video cassette apparatuses and the large collection of video films which is available have had certain unfortunate consequences. Because video cassette apparatuses seem to be quite easy to sell, the theft of such apparatuses is also fairly common. The available selection of films with emphasize on violence has gradually increased and has reached a large audience among children. The undesirable use of video in this connection has turned out to be very difficult to put an end to.

According to the present invention this is achieved by providing a lockable video cassette by means of which the cassette receiving opening can be blocked, thereby preventing the unauthorized use of the video cassette player.

The lockable video cassette furthermore has a built- in battery-operated alarm system which will greatly reduce the number of thefts of expensive video machines.

The present invention also provides a lockable video cassette system which can be used in connection with all known types of video cassette machines.

It will also be appreciated that the cassette lock mechanism in no way can cause any damage to the video cassette apparatus as no metal components or particularly hard components will come in contact with the internal components of the video cassette apparatus when the lock- cassette is inserted and locked in place.

The said object is achieved with an arrangement according to the present invention, and the following description with reference to the drawings shows an embodiment example of the invention.

Fig.1 shows a lock-cassette in perspective.

Fig.2 shows a cross-section of a lock-cassette.

Fig.3 shows a cross-section through fig.2 in the direction 7-7.

Fig.4 shows the same cross-section as in fig.3, but with a locked cassette.

Fig.5 shows a side-view of a video apparatus with top loading.

Fig.6 shows a side view and part cross section of a video apparatus with front-loading.

The lock-cassette shown in fig. 1 - 5 is generally designated with the numeral 8. The cassette comprises an upper and a lower box-half 9, 10 which might have identical shapes. The cassette dimensions, width 11, length 12, thickness 13 are substansially the same as those of a conventional video cassette. The lock-cassette has a shape which is adapted to fit the video apparatus internal mechanisms and components. Mounted within the cassette is a cylindrical lock 14 operated by key 15. A rotary camshaft device 16 having a mainly oval cross section 17 is mounted inside the cassette. The camshaft is turned by means of the arm 18 which connects the cylindrical lock 14 to the camshaft 16. On each side of the camshaft 16 and resting against said camshaft there are mounted two lock bolt devices 19. The ends of the bolts 19 are provided with end pieces 20 made from a soft plastic or rubber material. The cassette 8 has openings 31 at both ends for the bolts 19. The inside wall of the cassette receiving opening of the video apparatus is indicated by the line 21. The lock-cassette 8 has end stops 22 on the outside. The end stops 22 have notches 23 thereby making it possible to remove the stops if required. As shown in fig. 5 and fig. 6 the lock-cassette has been designed to fit two types of video machines. When used in a top loading machine as shown in fig.5 the end stops 22 are removed and the cassette is then pushed all the way in up against the end stop 24 in the cassette receiving opening. Fig. 6 shows a cassette being inserted into a side loading machine. It is stopped by end stop 22 placed at a distance 25 from the end of the cassette. The distance 25 equals the distance from the front of the video apparatus to the cassette loading mechanism 26 which automatically will pull an ordinary video cassette into the video player.

The lock-cassette alarm system is made up from basically known components mounted inside the cassette and include switch 27, alarm device 28, battery 29, circuit card 30 and other necessary electronic components. The alarm system components have been assembled by applying known assembly methods. Turning the key 15 will rotate the cylindrical lock 14 approximately 180 degrees and arm 18 will thereby rotate camshaft 16 approximately 90 degrees. Camshaft 16 which rests against lock bolts 19 will push the lock bolts outwards thereby pressing end pieces 20 against the inner wall 21 of the cassette receiving opening. The relatively soft end piece 21 will be partly compressed and will furthermore to some degree be squeezed into holes and cavities in inner wall 21. The compression forces and the friction forces betweεn end pieces 20 and inner walls 21 will effectively, but gently lock and secure the cassette in the cassette receiving opening as has been shown in experiments. The arm 18 will simultaneously turn camshaft 16 and activate alarm system switch 27. Any movement of the video apparatus with the lock cassette 8, as for instance if someone attempts to move the video apparatus, will close a movement sensitive switch in the system and thereby activate the alarm system and turn on the audible alarm.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Lockable video cassette intended for lockably blocking and securing video cassette apparatuses where said cassette is locked in the video apparatus by compression forces and friction forces exerted against the inner walls of the video apparatus cassette receiving opening by means of suitable lock bolts characterized in that the cassette (8) has a sentrally located camshaft (16) with a mainly oval cross- section, rotatable 90 degrees, with said camshaft pushing against the ends of two L-shaped lock-bolts (19) where said lock-bolts thereby can be pushed outwards in opposite directions, the directions being perpendicular to the direction of insertion of a cassette in a video apparatus, and that the lock-bolts (19) are equipped with end-pieces (20) attached to the ends opposite the ends which are in contact with camshaft (16).

2.Lockable video cassette (8) according to patent claim 1 characterized in that the end-pieces (20) are made from a relatively soft, about eraser soft, plastic or rubber material.

3. Lockable video cassette (8) according to patent claim 2 characterized in that the end-pieces (20) can be disconnected, interchanged or replaced.

4. Lockable video cassette (8) according to patent claim 1 characterized in that the cassette (8) on the outside has end-stops (22) placed at a distance (25) from the end of the cassette which equals the distance from the front of a front-loaded video cassette apparatus to the cassette loading mechanism (26).

5. Lockable video cassette (8) according to patent claim

4 characterized in that the end-stops (22) have notches (23).