Tape cassette with improved cover operation

A tape cassette comprising:

• a pair of tape reels wound with a tape-like member;
• a casing for accommodating said tape reels in a rotatable manner;
• and
• a cover member for protecting said tape-like member stretched outside said casing when said cassette is not used,
• wherein said cover member includes:
• a front cover having side plates pivotally supported on side surfaces of said casing, and a front plate, rotating together with said side plates, for covering a front surface of said tape-like member before the front surface of said casing when said cassette is not used;
• an upper cover, connected on one side to an upper end portion of said front cover, and interlocking with a rotation of said front cover while being guided on its other side along guide portions provided in the side surface of said casing, for covering from above said tape-like member stretched outside said casing when said cassette is not used;
• and
• a rear cover, connected at an upper end portion to said upper cover, and interlocking with the movement of said upper cover while being guided by a cam portion provided in said casing, for covering a rear surface of aid tape-like member when said cassette is not used,
• said front cover is biased in such a direction as to cover the front surface of said tape-like member, and rotates against the biasing force when using the cassette, whereby said upper cover and said rear cover move interlocking with each other to open the front surface of said casing,
• said guide portion includes a horizontal portion provided on a rear side of said cassette, and an inclined portion provided on the side of the front surface of said cassette and inclined to said horizontal portion, and
• said cam portion includes a first inclined portion, inclined to the lower surface of said casing at an angle of about 30 to about 40 degrees, for guiding said rear cover so as to move away from said tape-like member when said front cover starts rotating to open the front surface of said casing, a second inclined portion, more inclined than said first inclined portion, for subsequently guiding said rear cover upwards of said casing, and a perpendicular portion inclined substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of said casing.