Tape cartridge connector lock

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a tape connector lock for use in a tape cartridge. The cartridge is used in a two-piece videocassette. One piece is a removable cartridge and the second piece is a complimentary videocassette adaptor. Together the two piece assembly emulates an industry standard videocassette.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#Throughout the drawing, identical reference numerals refer to identical structural elements, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a an exploded view of the cartridge assembly;

#FIG. 2 is a detail view of the lock clip and related structures;

#FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the videotape cartridge 10 assembly. The cartridge housing is formed from an upper portion 11 and a lower portion 12 which mate to form a housing 13. The housing 13 locates the lock clip 30 in a lock clip cavity 31 formed in the lower portion 12 of the housing 13.

#A tape supply reel 14 is provided within the housing 13 to store tape 15. This supply reel 14 is mounted for rotation within the housing 13. The preferred supply reel 14 includes an upper flange 16 and a lower flange 17. The lower flange 17 preferably has a plurality of gear-form teeth formed on its periphery forming a supply reel gear flange 18. These teeth are used to rotate the reel 14 in the complimentary adaptor according to the teachings of companion U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/481,986 filed Feb. 20, 1991, now abandoned and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/398,069 filed Aug. 24, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,378 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,842 to Turgeon, all commonly assigned, which describe the use of the teeth during the winding function in greater detail and which are incorporated by reference herein.

#These teeth also interact with the reel brake assembly 24 which includes a bias spring 25 which forces the ratchet arm 26 into engagement with the gear tooth flange 18. This assembly permits counterclockwise rotation of the reel 14 to take up slack tape 15 within the cartridge 10. The axle 27 locates the ratchet arm 26 within the cartridge 10 and aligns the cartridge upper and lower portions 11 and 12 when assembled. A guide pin 28 also serves to position and register the upper 11 and lower 12 portions of the housing 13.