Tape cassette and method of manufacturing a tape cassette

A tape cassette containing a tape for passage relative to a magnetic head, the tape cassette comprising:

• a base having a peripheral wall surrounding a floor;
• a cover having a peripheral wall surrounding a ceiling, the peripheral walls of the base and cover mating to enclose the tape between the base and cover, the tape being supported on two spools with a portion of the tape between the spools extending along an interior portion of the mated peripheral walls of the base and cover;
• a head intrusion area defined by openings in the peripheral walls of the base and cover, the tape being exposed to the magnetic head in the head intrusion area;
• a bracket integrally formed with the base and cover to surround the head intrusion area, the tape passing between the bracket and the openings in the peripheral walls of the base and cover;
• and
• tape guides integrally formed with the base and cover on opposite sides of the bracket, the tape guides guiding the tape;
• wherein the base and the cover are comprised of substantially equal amounts of material, and wherein the base and cover are symmetric about a centerline passing through the cassette in a direction parallel to the floor and ceiling and centrally between the spools, the centerline being perpendicular to the portion of the tape between the spools;
• wherein said tape guides comprise:
• at least two azimuth posts integrally formed with one of the base and the cover on opposite sides of the head intrusion area, the azimuth posts being substantially perpendicular to the floor and ceiling of the base and cover, respectively, the azimuth posts guiding the tape through the head intrusion area;
• and
• at least two support ribs integrally formed with each corresponding azimuth post, a first support rib of the at least two support ribs being located between the bracket and the corresponding azimuth post and a second support rib of the at least two support ribs being located between the corresponding azimuth post and the peripheral wall such that the first and second support ribs are arranged symmetrically about the azimuth post, each of the first and second support ribs having the same mass and height as measured from the floor of the base to a top surface of the support ribs;
• and
• wherein said first and second support ribs maintain each of said azimuth posts perpendicular to the floor of said base or ceiling of said cover of the tape cassette.