Player latching and unlatching mechanism for video disc holder
OwnerGeoffrey W. Gordoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for latching a disc holder to a frame while unlatching the holder from its carrier. A pair of pivotally mounted pry bars are extendable between the opposite edges of a video disc holder and its caddy to unlatch the holder from the caddy. A pair of pivotally mounted wedges are projectible into recesses provided on the disc holder to hookingly engage the holder while the caddy is removed therefrom. A pair of springs urge the wedges into the holder whereas a second pair of springs urge the pry bars relative to the wedges to allow the pry bars to be pivoted away from the holder. Reinsertion of the caddy to recapture the holder results in the pry bars being forced against the wedges thereby unlatching the holder from the wedges and allowing the holder to relatch to the caddy.
Claims12
A device for removing and reinserting a playing disc holder enclosed in and releasably latched to a caddy comprising:
- a frame into which said caddy with holder may be inserted;
- a first pryor pivotally mounted to said frame to move parallel to a given plane from an initial inserting position to a removal position and having first unlatching means operable to unlatch said holder from said caddy when said caddy and holder are initially inserted into said frame positioning said unlatching means between said caddy and holder in said initial inserting position, said pryor having a control surface;
- a first hook movably mounted to said frame to move in a direction parallel to said plane, said hook including an outer end configured to hookingly engage said holder when said caddy is unlatched and removed apart from said holder;
- first spring means secured to said frame and said hook being operable to urge said outer end of said hook into latching engagement with said holder when said holder is inserted into said frame but yieldable to allow movement of said outer end of said hook to disengage said holder when said caddy is reinserted into said frame to recapture said holder contacting and forcing said pryor to move to said removal position and moving said control surface against said hook moving said hook from said holder;
- and
- second spring means connecting said pryor and hook together being operable to urge said unlatching means away from said holder once said first hook is latched to said holder and said caddy is removed therefrom.
A latch mechanism for operation with a disc holder enclosed in a caddy comprising:
- a frame having an opening to receive said holder in caddy;
- a first pryor pivotally mounted to said frame to move in a first plane and including a bar extending forwardly toward said opening to engage and separate said caddy and holder, said pryor having a pryor seating surface;
- a first latch pivotally mounted to said frame to move in a direction parallel to said first plane, said latch having a main body with a latch seating surface which said pryor seating surface contacts, said latch having a projection outwardly therefrom to hookingly engage said holder when separated from said caddy;
- a first spring mounted on said frame and connected to said latch to urge said projection into said holder;
- and
- a second spring connecting said pryor and latch together to urge said pryor toward said latch and said bar away from said holder when said pryor seating surface is not in contact with said latch seating surface.
A latch mechanism for operation with a holder in a caddy comprising:
- a frame;
- a first latch having a first end and a second end with said first end pivotally mounted to said frame, said latch having a wedge-shaped hook extending upwardly therefrom in a direction from said first end toward said second end to engage said holder;
- first spring means mounted on said frame and connected to said second end to urge said hook upwardly in a given plane;
- a first pryor pivotally mounted to said frame to move parallel to said given plane and having a finger extending in a direction from said second end toward said first end, said pryor contacting said latch and moving said latch from said holder when said caddy is reinstalled on said holder while moving said pryor;
- and
- a second spring connected to and between said latch and pryor to urge said latch and pryor together.
A latch mechanism for operation with a holder enclosed in a caddy comprising:
- a frame having an opening to receive said holder in caddy;
- a first pryor movably mounted to said frame to move in a first plane and including a bar extending forwardly toward said opening to engage and separate said caddy and holder, said pryor having latch-actuating means;
- a first latch movably mounted to said frame to move in a direction parallel to said first plane, said latch having a main body which said latch-actuating means actuates, said latch having a projection outwardly therefrom to hookingly engage said holder when separated from said caddy;
- means associated with said latch to urge said projection into said holder and further associated with said latch-actuating means of said pryor and said latch to urge said latch away from said holder when said caddy is reinstalled on said holder forcing said latch-actuating means of said pryor to move said latch from said holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.