# US 4,399,912 A · Tape cassette holder

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- Number: US 4,399,912 A
- Document ID: US4399912A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/257,169
- Filed: 1981-04-24
- Granted: 1983-08-23
- Earliest claimed: 1981-04-24
- Assignees: Patent Investment Associates
- Inventors: Alfred Mollen; Zelman Levine
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399912A

## CPC

- G11B 23/0236: {Containers for several cassettes}
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A tape cassette holder for use with automobile and home tape systems includes a base and a plurality of partitioning members dimensioned to define channels therebetween which slideably engage the surface trapezoidal enlargements of a tape cassette inserted into the channel, in a manner which allows the cassette to move lengthwise but effectively prevents movement laterally or in a direction normal to the base. In the preferred embodiment, the tape cassette holder has backstopping means and resilient locking means for restraining lengthwise movement as well, whereby the cassette is held firmly in place regardless of the orientation of the holder, the cassettes being removable by application of sufficient force to overcome the resilient locking means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tape cassette holder comprising a base; a plurality of substantially parallel partitioning members projecting from the base, said partitioning members defining therebetween a plurality of channels dimensioned to slideably engage in the lengthwise direction only the trapezoidal enlargements of a tape cassette and being adapted and positioned on said base so that each channel shares at least one partitioning member with an adjacent channel; a backstopping means for limiting the path of travel of the tape cassette in the channels defined by said partitioning members and a resilient locking means on at least one of the partitioning members defining each channel, said resilient locking means being adapted to engage the top edge of the trapezoidal enlargement of a tape cassette and to resiliently deflect in an upward direction from said top edge as a tape cassette is inserted into the channel and to resiliently return to a position of overlapping engagement with the corner of the top edge of said trapezoidal enlargement when the tape cassette is fully inserted.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A tape cassette holder according to claim 1 wherein the partitioning members are dimensioned to afford an unrestricted view of the tape cassette labels.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A tape cassette holder according to claim 1 further including mounting means for removeably mounting the tape cassette holder.