GB2215701A

GB2215701A - Video tape cassette

Info

Publication number: GB2215701A
Application number: GB8806653A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chan Ping Sun
Original assignee: MAGNETIC ENTERPRISES Ltd
Current assignee: MAGNETIC ENTERPRISES Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-21
Filing date: 1988-03-21
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Also published as: GB8806653D0

Abstract

A video tape cassette has spools 6, 7 having lower plates 11a, 11b of different colour and transparent upper plates 10a, 10b. By colour coding the spools a user can determine readily whether a tape needs to be rewound before playing. The spools are viewed through transparent windows (9) in the cassette housing. <IMAGE>

Description

Video Tape Cassette The present invention relates to a video tape cassette.

Video tape cassettes comprise two spools which between them carry a magnetic tape on which a video signal is recorded. Unlike present day audio tape cassettes, the video tape cassette is not reversible, normal play back and record can be carried out only with the tape running in one direction. The spools are housed in a cassette which carries on one edge a hinged flap. The required orientation for inserting a cassette into a record/playback machine is therefore readily determined by a user. However, to determine whether the tape is at the beginning or at the end is not so straight forward.The user must orient the cassette into the position in which it is used in the machine, note the expected direction of tape movement which is usually displayed on the machine, compare this to the cassette to determine that the tape must move from one reel to another, and so determine whether the tape needs to be rewound before it is played.

Also, if both spools have a black lower disc it is difficult to tell which spool the tape is on.

The present invention provides a video tape cassette comprising a housing, two spools rotatably mounted in the housing for carrying a magnetic tape, the housing having at least one transparent window for visual inspection of the amount of tape wound on each spool, wherein the spools are distinguishable from each other by colour coding.

If, for example, the take up spool on normal playback is pink and the other spool is black, the user can simply note that the pink spool should be exposed at the beginning of recording or playback. If the tape is fully wound onto to the pink spool, then both spools will appear black through the transparent window(s) because of the presence of the black tape covering the pink spool, hence the user will know that the tape must be rewound.

Other preferred features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a video tape cassette forming an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic view of two spools and a magnetic tape of the cassette of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a VHS format video tape cassette. The cassette is of standard configuration and comprises a plastics housing 1 having upper and lower halves 2, 3.

The upper half 2 carries a flap 4 which is lifted automatically when the cassette is loaded into a video cassette recorder (VCR) to expose a length of magnetic tape which is picked up and carried into contact with the VCR record and/or playback head(s).

The magnetic tape 5 is wound on two spools 6, 7. When the cassette is played in the forward direction, e.g. for normal playback or recording, the tape 5 is wound from spool 7 onto spool 6. The housing 1 is generally opague but top wall 8 has two transparent windows 9 through which the tape 5 and spools 6, 7 can be viewed.

Referring to Figure 2, each spool 6, 7 comprises a transparent upper disc 10a, 10b and an opague, coloured lower disc Ila, llb. The discs are joined by a central boss 12a, 12b. The spools may be fabricated in a variety of ways. In the example shown, the boss 12 and lower disc 11 are integrally moulded of plastics material. The upper disc 10 is also of plastics and is attached to the boss 12 by a bayonet coupling. The tape 5 is wound onto the boss 12 between the discs 10, 11. Since the upper disc 10 is transparent, a user can see the tape 5 and the colour of the lower wall lla, llb by inspection through the transparent window 9 and upper disc 10a, 10b. In the example shown, the lower disc lib is black, and the lower disc lla is pink. The bosses are also coloured, the same colour as the respective disc, so that when the tape is fully wound onto one disc or the other, the user can readily identify that the cassette is of the type having different coloured spools.

In use, the user will note, for example, that the pink spool is not exposed, and so the tape needs to be rewound before playing.

The invention is applicable to cassettes of different tape capacities and different formats. For example, the invention is applicable to VHS, BETAMAX and 8mm formats.

The upper and lower discs may be transparent, a coloured background being provided beneath the lower disc of at least one of the spools.

It is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A video tape cassette comprising a housing, two spools rotatably mounted in the housing for carrying a magnetic tape, the housing having at least one transparent window for visual inspection of the amount of tape wound on each spool, wherein the spools are distinguishable from each other by colour coding.

2. A cassette as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spools comprise upper and lower discs joined by a central boss, and the material of one of the discs is at least in part a different colour to the material of the other disc.

3. A cassette as claimed in claim.2, wherein the upper discs of the spools are transparent, and the lower disc of one spool is a different colour to the lower disc of the other spool.

4. A cassette as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spool comprises upper and lower transparent discs joined by a central boss, and a coloured background is provided behind the lower disc to distinguish the spool from the other spool.

5. A video tape cassette comprising a housing, two spools rotatably mounted in the housing for carrying a magnetic tape, the housing having at least one transparent window for visual inspection of the amount of tape wound on each spool, the spools each comprising upper and lower discs joined by a boss, the upper discs being transparent, wherein the lower disc of the take-up spool when the cassette is being used in the normal playback mode is of non-black colour, and the lower disc of the other spool is black.

6. A cassette as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5, including a said magnetic tape.

7. A video tape cassette substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.