Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Porperties Company

Mark W Weavers

Charles D Gebeke

John V Nowicki

Robert D DeMaster

Anthony W Konkler

Alexander R Mitka

Alexander S Sinclair

Richard E Skare

Ken'ichi Yamasaki

A cassette having a leader and recordable tape which cleans the various components of the tape path in videocassette recorders by dry scrubbing. Interactive diagnostic and instructional material is recorded on the tape to instruct the operator about the cleaning operation to enable the operator to evaluate progress of the head cleaning operation, and to program the maintenance protocol of head cleaning cycles relative to capstan cleaning cycles.

Tape cassette for cleaning VCR heads and transport components

A box for storing cassettes includes a base, a cover, and a plurality of side walls. One of the side walls is a spine side wall which has a window formed as an opening that permits viewing a label on the cassette. A transparent external pocket wraps around at least part of the spine side wall and at least part of either the base, the cover, or both. The transparent external pocket is the only physical barrier to prevent access to the inside of the box at the window. The external pocket permits viewing a label on the cassette and can receive a sheet of information that is readable through the transparent external pocket.

Cassette album box with spine window

Spring mechanism for biasing a visor-type lid of a cassette includes a coil spring which fits around a pin that journals the lid to the cassette. One end of the spring has a bent portion which is compressed into a well formed in the cassette such that the tip of the bent portion digs into a surface portion of the well and thus resists removal.

Spring mechanism for lid of video cassette

One broad wall of a recording cassette has a recognition hole which is covered by a breakout tab (here called a 'removable piece'), and there is a chamber projecting from the other broad wall of the cassette such that a punch which dislodges the removable piece permanently wedges it into the chamber.

Cassette removable piece

Hinge for two-part, double-wall plastic box. A spine-like projection extending along the rear of the base of the box terminates in hinge pins which fit into holes in the cover as in the prior art. In the novel box, the spine-like projection consists of two spaced spines, and another spine-like projection at the rear of the cover fits into the spacing between those spines to provide two additional hinge points.

Multiple-point hinge for double-wall plastic box

A rectangular plastic box for storing video cassettes which includes an unobtrusive hook portion by which the box may be hung on a horizontal member received through a recess in the box. The box also includes a handle portion along its edge opposite the hook which can be stored in a recess from the outer surface of the box, and can be swung out and manually engaged to facilitate carrying the box, or hanging it on or removing it from a horizontal member.

Recessed hook and handle for a plastic box

Latch for a hinged plastic box wherein a flexible plastic slide fits around the shoulders of a T-shaped rail projecting from the cover part of the box. A tab projecting from the container part of the box fits into a notch in the rail, after which the slide is moved along the rail to latch the cover part to the container part. A detent on the slide then is snapped into place against the rail to provide second latching action.

Double-acting latch for hinged plastic box

A case for storing a magnetic tape cartridge has a housing, a bias means that opposes movement of a cartridge or a drawer adapted to receive a cartridge into the housing and a latch means for engaging the cartridge or drawer to releasably retain it in the housing. The bias means is positioned near one end of the housing to serve the dual function of pivoting the cartridge or drawer into a latched condition when fully inserted in the housing and also moving the member or drawer toward an open position when unlatched.

Growing community of inventors

Little Canada, MN, United States of America

Mark W Weavers