The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 19, 1986
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1985
Anthony L Gelardi, Cape Porpoise, ME (US);
Paul J Gelardi, Cape Porpoise, ME (US);
Robert B MacLeod, Jr, Kennebunkport, ME (US);
Shape Inc., Biddeford, ME (US);
Abstract
A tape cassette pressure flap and pressure flap/cassette housing assembly and related methods for manufacturing the pressure flap and for assembling the pressure flap in the cassette housing. The pressure flap is substantially flat and made of a flexible material. The flap has a first free end with a low coefficient of friction for normally urging a tape portion into contact with a support member of the cassette housing so as to minimize slackness of the tape, and a second end for being fixedly attached to the cassette housing. A piece is formed at the fixed end to form a flange. The fixed end is then inserted between a pair of walls and the support member formed in the cassette housing. The inserted fixed end of the pressure flap terminates at an area formed by the second wall positioned substantially at an angle to the first wall, so that the pressure flap cannot be pushed out of position relative to the tape upon which it resiliently abuts. The angled flange cut in the fixed end of the pressure flap abuts a columnar supporting member. This pressure flap and pressure flap/cassette housing assembly eliminates slackness and the disadvantages of the prior art adhesive-type and non-adhesive-type pressure flaps. Moreover, it provides a more efficient manufacturing process using a relatively simple stamping, bending and inserting procedure and increased efficiency during automated insertion of the pressure flap into the cassette housing.