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:
Jan. 30, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 24, 1995
Osamu Taguchi, Miyagi, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A recording/reproducing tape cassette attached with an improved lid is provided. The cassette comprises a cassette body accommodating therein a cassette tape a part of which is exposed outside and a rotatable lid mechanism for clamping the exposed part of the tape. The lid mechanism is provided with a rotary shaft including a guide portion eccentric therewith and a torsion coil spring fitted on the guide portion. When the rotary shaft rotates, the guide portion rotates eccentric therewith and the torsion coil spring moves in a direction in which it does not interfere with a tape end detecting optical path located near the rotary shaft so that the torque on the torsion coil spring can be increased to smoothly open and close the lid. Further, the rotary shaft may be provided with a rib so that a lid spring for constantly urging the lid toward a direction in which the lid is closed may engaged the rib without bending thereby reducing the space to be occupied by the spring.