U.S. patent application number 10/617795 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-22 for swing door for cassette inlet of magnetic recording-and-reproducing device.
Invention is credited to Yanagihara, Naoto.
Application Number | 20040011804 10/617795 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29774667 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040011804 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yanagihara, Naoto |
January 22, 2004 |
Swing door for cassette inlet of magnetic recording-and-reproducing
device
Abstract
A swing door fixed to a cassette inlet of a magnetic
recording-and-reproducing device. In order to prevent the resilient
member coming off from the swing door even when a pivot pin is
broken, it comprises a rectangular plate having pivot pins
projecting from the opposite ends of the upper longitudinal edge of
the plate. The opposite pivot pins are supported by the counter
bearings of the front panel of the device. The upper longitudinal
edge of the plate has a recess notched inward apart from one of the
opposite pivot pins, and the rectangular plate has a resilient
member fixed to the recess.
Inventors: |
Yanagihara, Naoto; (Fukui,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
29774667 |
Appl. No.: |
10/617795 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/830 ;
220/836; G9B/33.005 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/027
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/830 ;
220/836 |
International
Class: |
B65D 043/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 19, 2002 |
JP |
2002-210795 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A swing door rotatably fixed to a cassette inlet of a magnetic
recording-and-reproducing device comprising: a rectangular plate
having pivot pins projecting from the opposite ends of the upper
longitudinal edge of the plate, the opposite pivot pins being
supported by counter bearings of a front panel of the device, the
upper longitudinal edge of the plate having a recess notched inward
apart from one of the opposite pivot pins, the rectangular plate
having a resilient member fixed to the recess.
2. A swing door rotatably fixed to a cassette inlet of a magnetic
recording-and-reproducing device comprising: a rectangular plate
having pivot pins projecting from the opposite ends of the upper
longitudinal edge of the plate, the opposite pivot pins being
supported by counter bearings of a front panel of the device, the
upper longitudinal edge of the plate having a recess notched inward
apart from one of the opposite pivot pins, the rectangular plate
having engagement pins in the recess to be in alignment with the
pivot pin, and a coiled spring fixed to the recess with their
opposite end-extensions laid on the plate and the front panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a swing door fixed to the
cassette inlet of a magnetic recording-and-reproducing device.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 3, a magnetic recording-and-reproducing
device has a swing door 1 rotatably fixed to its cassette inlet.
When a tape cassette is applied to the swing door 1 to push the
door 1, the door 1 yieldingly swings inward to allow the tape
cassette to enter the device. Normally the door 1 is spring-biased
toward its closing position, thereby preventing foreign matters
from invading.
[0005] The door 1 comprises a rectangular plate having pivot pins
projecting from the opposite ends of the upper longitudinal edge of
the plate, and the opposite pivot pins are supported by the
associate bearings of the front panel of the device.
[0006] JP 6-77090(U), titled "Cassette Door Fastening Structure"
discloses a fastening structure for pivotally fastening the swing
door to the cassette inlet frame of a magnetic
recording-and-reproducing device, which fastening structure
facilitates the fastening of the swing door to the cassette inlet
frame, and eliminates the possibility of its pivot pins coming off
from the cassette inlet frame. Specifically, one pivot pin has a
key-like projection formed thereon whereas the counter vertical
side of the doorframe has a key-like hole to allow the pivot pin to
enter. A coiled spring is attached to the pivot pin to be caught by
its key-like projection, thereby preventing the spring from coming
off from the pivot pin. When the pivot pin with the coiled spring
is inserted in the key-like hole of the vertical side of the
doorframe, the pivot pin cannot come off from the key-like hole of
the vertical side because the pivot pin is caught by the
projection.
[0007] In this conventional structure the spring cannot come off
from the projection of the pivot pin, but when a strong force is
applied to the door to break the pivot pin, the spring comes apart
from the broken pivot pin. When the spring jumps into the inside of
the device, a serious accident such as short-circuiting may happen
since such spring is generally made of metal. Also,
disadvantageously when the door is being fixed to the cassette
inlet, it may happen that the spring comes off from the pivot pin
to jump into the inside of the device where it cannot be easily
located.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 4, a conventional swing door 1 has pivot
pins 2, 2 projecting from the opposite ends of the upper
longitudinal edge of the door, and one of the opposite pivot pins
has a coiled spring 3 wound therearound. FIG. 5 shows how the swing
door 1 is attached to the cassette inlet of the front panel 5 of
the cabinet. As seen from the drawing, the coiled spring 3 is wound
around the pivot pin 2, and the pivot pin 2 is pivotally supported
by a bearing 6, which is fixed to the front panel 5. One end
extension 7a of the coiled spring 3 is laid on the front panel
whereas the other end extension 7b is laid on the door 1. The end
extension 7b of the coiled spring 3 pushes the door 1 on the rear
side to close the cassette inlet normally.
[0009] The pivot pins 2 is fragile, and when the pivot pin 2 is
broken, the coiled spring 3 comes off from the broken pivot pin 2
and jumps into the inside of the device.
[0010] One object of the present invention is to provide a swing
door rotatably fixed to the cassette inlet of a magnetic
recording-and-reproducing device, guaranteed to be free of such
defects as described above. Specifically a swing door according to
the present invention is so constructed as to prevent the resilient
member from coming off from the pivot pin even when it is broken.
Also, it is to provide the swing door can be fixed to the cassette
inlet without allowing the resilient member to come off from the
pivot pin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] To attain this object a swing door rotatably fixed to a
cassette inlet of a magnetic recording-and-reproducing device is
improved according to the present invention in that it comprises a
rectangular plate having pivot pins projecting from the opposite
ends of the upper longitudinal edge of the plate, the opposite
pivot pins being supported by counter bearings of a front panel of
the device, the upper longitudinal edge of the plate having a
recess notched inward apart from one of the opposite pivot pins,
the rectangular plate having a resilient member fixed to the
recess.
[0012] The rectangular plate has engagement pins in the recess to
be in alignment with the pivot pin, and a coiled spring is fixed to
the recess with its opposite end-extensions laid on the plate and
the front panel.
[0013] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be understood from the following description of a swing door
according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention,
which is shown in accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swing door according to
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating how the swing door
is fastened to the front panel of the cabinet;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a magnetic recording-and-reproducing
device in appearance;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional swing door;
and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating how the
conventional swing door is fastened to the front panel of the
cabinet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a swing door 1 according to the present
invention is basically similar to the conventional one, having two
opposite pivot pins 2, 2 projecting from its upper edge ends, and a
stopper 4 formed on one side. The opposite pivot pins 2, 2 are
supported by counter bearings fixed to the front panel, and the
stopper 4 is applied to the front panel.
[0020] As seen from the drawing, the upper longitudinal edge of the
plate 1 has a recess 8 notched inward apart from one of the
opposite pivot pins. The rectangular plate 1 has engagement pins 9a
and 9b in the recess 8 to be in alignment with the pivot pin 2. As
seen from the drawing, the two engagement pins 9a and 9b confront
to each other, leaving a gap large enough to insert a coiled spring
3. The engagement pins 9a and 9b are inserted in the turns 11 of
the coiled spring 3, so that the coiled spring 3 is fixedly held by
the engagement pins 9a and 9b. The plate 1 has a groove 10 made on
its rear side to extend down from the bottom edge of the recess 8,
thereby catching the end extension 7b of the coiled spring 3.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, the swing door 1 is rotatably fixed to
the rear side of the front panel 5 with the opposite pivot pins 2,
2 fitted in the associated bearings 6. The coiled spring 3 is wound
around the confronting engagement pins 9a and 9b in the recess 8
with one end extension 7a lying on the front panel 5 and with the
other end extension 7b lying on the door surface. Thus, the swing
door 1 is normally closed under the influence of the coiled spring
3. When a tape cassette is being inserted in or taken out of the
device, the coiled spring 3 is yieldingly twisted to open the swing
door 1, and immediately after the tape cassette is completely
inserted in or taken out of the device, the swing door 1 is
closed.
[0022] Assume that an undesired strong force is applied to the
pivot pin 2, and that the pivot pin 2 is broken, thus making the
swing door 1 come off from the cassette inlet. The coiled spring 3,
however, cannot fall from the swing door 1; the engagement pins 9a
and 9b remain as they are, holding the coiled spring 3 totally
independent from the breaking of the pivot pin 2.
[0023] In the particular embodiment a coiled spring 3 is used as
the resilient member. Alternatively a rubber or resin plate of good
resiliency can be equally used. The resilient plate has holes made
on its opposite sides, and it can be fixed to the recess by
inserting the confronting engagement pins 9a and 9b into the holes
of the resilient plate. The engagement pins 9a and 9b should not be
understood as restrictive; any other appropriate bearing means
would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0024] As may be understood from the above, a swing door has a
resilient member fixedly held in its recess, and therefore, even
when the pivot pin of the swing door is broken to allow the swing
door to come off from the cassette inlet of the cabinet, the
resilient member cannot come off from the recess to jump into the
inside of the device. The device, therefore, can be guaranteed to
be free of any serious circuit trouble, which otherwise may be
caused by the coiled spring jumping into the inside of the
device.
[0025] In attaching the swing door to the cassette inlet of the
cabinet, the coiled spring is attached to the recess of the swing
door, and then the swing door is fixed to the cassette inlet. Thus,
the swing door can be fixed to the cassette inlet with ease.
* * * * *