GB2102768A - Storage case for tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage case for a tape cassette which is adapted to be joined to like storage cases so that the cases can be stacked vertically and horizontally comprises a drawer-like member B for holding a tape cassette and a casing A. Drawer-like member B has a leaf spring 7 to urge it out of the casing A and a projection 13 which engages in hole 8 in the casing to hold the drawer in a fully inserted position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage case for tape cassette This invention is composed of a frame for supporting cassette tape and connectable casing for storing.

A conventional tape cassette is packed in a plastic case or container and then stored in a storage case which may be made of wood, plastics, etc.

As is well known, a conventional plastic case is a container for a single tape cassette and therefore not suitable to be stored by being piled up and needs to be stored in a storage case which can store a number of containers or in a storing shelf. There are various kinds of storage cases on the market, from cases with an easy-take-out mechanism to cases with a large capacity, and the shapes of the storage cases are various too. However, the storage capacity of every conventional storage case has its limit, and often it is not easy to extract a desired cassette from the case without pulling down a pile of containers.

Thus, this invention aims to resolve such demerits by means of improving and contriving the plastic container case itself so as to be both a container case and a storage case.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a storage case for a tape cassette, including a frame for receiving a tape cassette and a casing for receiving the frame, wherein the frame comprises a base plate having a supporting member for supporting a tape cassette, a rear plate and a front plate; the casing has an open end which is closed by the front plate when the frame is inserted in the casing; stopper means for holding the frame in a fully inserted position in the casing; guide means for slidably holding the frame and preventing the frame from slip ping out of the casing when the frame is withdrawn from the casing; spring means for pushing said frame out from the fully inserted position on release of the stopper means; connection means for connecting the casing to a like casing to stack the casings vertically or horizontally.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a storage system for tape cassettes, comprising a plurality of storage cases, each case adapted to store a tape cassette and comprising a casing and frame member slidably located in the casing, the frame member being adapted to receive a tape cassette, and means for interlocking adjacent storage cases.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a casing of a storage case according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a frame of the storage case of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the complete storage case of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a coupling condition of first guide rails and second guide rails of the storage case of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the fitting condition of dovetail section rails and grooves of an adjacent interlocked pair of storage cases of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing storage cases of Fig. 3 in interlocked relationship; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1, the casing A has a front opening and two parallel opening slots 5, 5', at the bottom, upsidedown L-shaped guide rails 6, 6' are provided along the upper face of said opening slots 5, 5', i.e. within the casing A, and a stopper hole 8 is provided at a position near to the centre of the front opening.

Dovetail cross-section rails, or male members 1, 1' are mounted on an upper face of casing A near to sides and at the rear end, for use in interlocking casings when stacking up, and dovetail section grooves orfemale members 2, 2', are formed in the bottom or the base to receive the rails of an adjacent casing.

Similarly, groove 4 is provided on one side of the casing A and a rail 3 is provided on the other side to be received in a groove 4 on an adjacent casing.

A stopper 16 is provided on the upper surface near to the back of the casing A.

Fig. 2 shows a frame B with a rear plate with leaf springs 7 at its back side, with an opening/closing lever 10 at the front central part with a stopper projection 13 at the lower part.

Two transparent finders for index cards 9, 9' are provided either side of the opening/closing lever 10.

Two members 12, 12' are for location of a cassette tape at the centre of the frame in the middle. Guide rails 11, 11' are for sliding engagement with the guide rail receptors 5, 5' of the casing A.

On insertion of the frame B into the casing A, the frame B will be held by the stopper 13 inserting in the stopper hole 8 of the casing A, and the rear stopper 14, 14' will be slidably secured within the opening slots 5, 5'. When pulling out the frame B, the opening/closing lever is pulled slightly upwards so that the stopper 13 comes out of the stopper hole 8 and the frame B will be pushed out a little by the force of leaf springs 7. The frame can be pulled out until the rear stoppers 14, 14' abut the front end of slide opening slots 5, 5' so that the frame does not fall out. A cassette tape can be put on the frame B and the frame the pushed into the casing A.

When stacking up these storage cases, they are coupled by inserting the rails 1, 1' of the lower case into the grooves 2, 2' of upper case, as shown in Fig.

6. A large number of cases can be stacked by repeating the same connection vertically. Also the cases can be coupled horizontally at either side of the casings by the corresponding means 3, 4. Therefore, this invention makes it possible to couple cases both vertically and/or horizontally as many as wanted.

Advantageous features of this invention are: 1) It is possible to couple the cases (as many as wanted) left and right sides by means of putting a rail on the one side of case and a groove on the other side of casing.

2) It makes it possible to couple the cases vertically (as many as wanted) by means of putting the rail on the upper side of the case and the groove at the bottom of the casing.

3) Disappearance or fading of index descriptions can be avoided by putting the index finder at the front of casing (using a transparent method or casing inserting method).

4) The production cost can be reduced because of ease of moulding, that is the structure with the guide rail receptors along with the inside of slide opening part at the bottom of the casing.

Also utilizing this invention it is possible to make an automatic pop-out mechanism by putting a coil spring on the inside-rear-end of the case or at the end of the frame, to operate when the frame lever is pulled, and also it is possible for the frame lever to be positioned to one side of the front as seen in Fig.

7.

As mentioned the cassette storage case of this invention does not need another storage case or shelf as does the conventional plastic cassette case.

Claims (11)

1. A storage case for a tape cassette, including a frame for receiving a tape cassette and a casing for receiving the frame, wherein: the frame comprises a base plate having a supporting member for supporting a tape cassette, a rear plate and a front plate; the casing has an open end which is closed by the front plate when the frame is inserted in the casing; stopper means for holding the frame in a fully inserted position in the casing; guide means for slidably holding the frame and preventing the frame from slipping out of the casing when the frame is withdrawn from the casing; spring means for pushing said frame out from the fully inserted position on release of the said stopper means; connection means for connecting the casing to a like casing to stack the casings vertically or horizontally.

2. A storage case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper means comprises a projection on a lever which is operatively connected to the front end of said base plate of said frame and a hole in said base plate so that said projection engages with said hole to hold the frame in the fully inserted position.

3. A storage case as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide means comprises a first L-shaped guide rail mounted to the sole of the base plate of the frame, a second L-shaped guide rail mounted to the inside surface of said casing so that said first L-shaped guide rail is slidably engaged with said second L-shaped guide rail, a slot provided in said casing so as to be covered by said second L-shaped guide rail, and a projection mounted to an end portion of said first L-shaped guide rail so as to be slidably engaged in the slot.

4. A storage case as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the spring means comprises a leaf spring mounted on the back surface of said rear plate of said frame for urging said frame outward.

5. A storage case as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connection means comprises a male mamber mounted on one outside surface of said casing and a female member formed on the opposite outside surface of said casing and of corresponding shape to the male member to receive a male member of an adjacent like case.

6. A storage case as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front plate of said frame has a transparentfinderfor holding an index card at the front plate.

7. A storage system for tape cassettes, compris ing a plurality of storage cases, each case adapted to store a tape cassette and comprising a casing and frame member slidably located in the casing, the frame member being adapted to receive a tape cassette, and means for interlocking adjacent storage cases.

8. A storage system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each casing is provided with male and female members, a male member of one casing interlocking with a female member of an adjacent casing to interlock the storage cases.

9. A storage case adapted to be used in a storage system as claimed in claim 7 or8.

10. A storage case for a tape cassette, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, or Figs. 1 to 6 as modified by Fig. 7.

11. The features hereinbefore disclosedortheir equivalents in any novel combination.