# US 5,703,742 A · Universal cassette cartridge

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- Number: US 5,703,742 A
- Document ID: US5703742A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/741,570
- Filed: 1996-10-31
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1996-10-31
- Assignees: Geneva Group of Companies, Inc.
- Inventors: Jeffrey S. Thiessen; John M. Enga; Hector F. Gonzalez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703742A

## CPC

- G11B 5/41: Cleaning of heads {(of record carriers G11B23/50)}
- G11B 23/049: {Cassettes for special applications not otherwise provided for}
- 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 driving cleaning cartridge having a housing with recognition openings, a slide mechanism slidably movable to cover one recognition opening while leaving the other open. The slide mechanism is manually movable between the two positions. If additional recognition openings are employed, multiple slide mechanisms may be used.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A universal tape drive cleaning cartridge, comprising:
a housing having a top and a bottom, said bottom having first and second recognition openings spaced apart along a side of said housing; and
a slide mechanism having first and second tabs at spaced apart locations thereon, said slide mechanism slidably movable between a first position in which said first tab covers said first recognition opening and said second recognition is unobstructed, and a second position in which said second tab covers said second recognition opening and said first recognition opening is unobstructed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A universal tape drive cleaning cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein:
said housing has a movement tab opening; and
said slide mechanism has a movement tab extending therefrom at said movement tab opening, whereby movement of said slide mechanism between said first and said second positions may be effected by moving said movement tab.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A universal tape drive cleaning cartridge as described in claim 1, and further comprising:
first and second support extensions which extend between the top of said housing and said bottom of said housing in blocking juxtaposition to one of the tabs to prevent displacement of each tab when in its opening covering position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A universal tape drive cleaning cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein:
said slide mechanism has first and second support extensions, said first support extension positioned adjacent said first tab and said second support extension positioned adjacent said second tab;
wherein each said support extension extends substantially from said top of said housing to said tab to prevent displacement of each tab when in its opening covering position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A universal tape drive cleaning cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein:
said recognition openings are positioned at opposite ends of said housing; and said tabs are positioned at opposite ends of said slide mechanism.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A universal tape drive cleaning cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein:
said slide mechanism has a reinforcing shelf located approximately midway between its ends, said reinforcing shelf strengthening said slide mechanism.