Tape cassette with flexible aperture closure

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to tape cassettes in general.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the construction of a prior art tape cassette with a portion being cut away, such having already been described;

#FIG. 2 is a side view of the construction shown in FIG. 1.

#Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 6 to 9, an embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated as comprising a plastic bellows cover 24 having wrinkles 25 formed thereon at regular intervals, as shown in FIG. 9. The bellows cover 24 is held in a slot 26 which communicates with a slot 28 located on the side of an accidental erasure preventive slot 2 and opposite a bias changeover slot 3. A passage 27 from the slot 26 to the slot 28 is curved to allow the cover 24 to slip into the slot 28 smoothly by way of the passage 27. FIG. 6 shows the state that the cover 24 is pulled out of the slot 28 and covers the accidental erasure preventive slot 2, making the accidental erasure preventive function inoperative. FIG. 8 shows the state that the cover 24 is in the slot 28, causing the accidental erasure preventive function to be effected.

#According to the invention, as described above, the accidental erasure preventive slot can be readily opened or closed, independent of the bias changeover slot, without the possibility of losing the cover.

#The tape cassette can be a sound tape cassette and also other types of tape cassettes, as for computers and video tapes.