Loading apparatus for tape cassette including safety mechanism for protecting cassette housing and hanger structure from damage by externally applied force

A loading mechanism for a tape cassette player comprising:

• a cassette housing supported on a mechanical chassis so as to be elevated and lowered between a cassette loading position and a cassette playing position, respectively;
• a housing hanger pivotally supported on the mechanical chassis and operatively connected with said cassette housing in a manner effective to cause said cassette housing to be elevated and lowered;
• a loading lever arrangement operatively connected with a control motor in a manner to be driven to move by the control motor;
• and
• a loading arm interconnecting said housing hanger and said loading lever arrangement for converting movement of said loading lever arrangement to rotation of said housing hanger, said loading arm including:
• a first support shaft movably engaged with a vertically-elongated opening defined in the mechanical chassis,
• a second support shaft engaged with an operation cam opening defined in said loading lever arrangement, and
• a first spring connected between the mechanical chassis and said loading arm for biasing said loading arm in a direction wherein said first support shaft is biased into engagement with an upper end of said elongated opening defined in the mechanical chassis;
• said loading arm being resiliently supported by said first spring in a manner wherein said first support shaft is pivotable about said second support shaft against said spring in a manner wherein, when a downward external force is applied to said cassette housing, damage to said housing hanger and said cassette housing is prevented.