WO1998056001A1

WO1998056001A1 - One-play cassette

Info

Publication number: WO1998056001A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/023596
Authority: WO
Inventors: John A. Gelardi
Original assignee: Nfo Research, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-06-03
Filing date: 1997-12-18
Publication date: 1998-12-10
Also published as: AU5385598A

Abstract

A one-play cassette is disclosed. The cassette includes a magnet holder (34) and a magnet (37) mounted in the cassette adjacent the tape path. The magnet holder and magnet are rotatable between a first record position and a second erase position. After dubbing of the tape, the magnet holder and magnet are fixed in the erase position whereby the tape is erased after one-play.

Description

DESCRIPTION ONE-PLAY CASSETTE

Background of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a videotape cassette and more specifically to an improved one-play cassette. Video cassettes with erasing means are known in the prior art and are shown, for example, in

Japanese Application No. 6056/1982 bearing Publication No. 58-125277 dated July 26, 1983. The Japanese publication discloses the broad concept of placing a magnet within a cassette to erase recorded information immediately after playing the tape. Another prior art cassette with erasing means is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,847,718 dated July

1 1 , 1989 and owned by the Assignee of the present invention.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is directed to an improved one-play videotape cassette. The one-way cassette includes a magnet holder and a magnet mounted in the cassette adjacent the tape path. The magnet holder and magnet are rotatable between a first record position and a second erase position. After dubbing of the tape, the magnet holder and the magnet are fixed in the erase position, whereby the tape is erased after one-play.

Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a one-play cassette having the top removed and showing the magnet in the record position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the magnet in the erase position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the magnet in the record position; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the magnet in the erase position;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the magnet spaced from the magnet holder; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the magnet seated in the magnet holder;

Fig. 7 is a view of the magnet holder and magnet similar to Fig. 6 and showing the magnet holder rotated 180°;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view with the top removed of a one-play cassette, according to the present invention, and showing the magnet and magnet holder being inserted into the cassette housing;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 8 and showing the magnet and magnet holder after installation in the cassette housing; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 9 showing the magnet and magnet holder after it has been rotated to the erase position;

Fig. 1 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing the tape moving past the record head where the tape is dubbed and showing the magnet holder and magnet in the record position;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 1 1 showing the tape being rewound prior to its initial play;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing a tool being used to rotate the magnet holder and magnet to the erase position; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 showing the magnet holder being fixed in place relative to the housing;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing the tape moving past the magnet after the tape has travelled past the play head; and Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 14 showing a sonic weld for securing the magnet holder to the cassette housing.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figs. 1-10, an improved one-play cassette, according to the present invention, is generally indicated by the reference number 20. The one-play cassette 20, according to the present invention, is particularly useful in connection with market research where it is important that a panel member only reviews the video recorded material once. Such a market research method is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,891 ,712, dated January 2, 1990, which is owned by the assignee of the present invention. The one-play cassette 20 includes a housing 21 having a base 22 and a top 23. A pivotal door (not shown) is normally mounted on the top 23 and serves to protect the video tape. A segmented front edge 25, opposed side edges 26 and 27 and rear edge 28 extend upwardly from the base 22.

A supply reel 30 and a take-up reel 31 are mounted on the base 22 in a normal fashion. Video tape 32 is guided along a predetermined path between a supply reel 30 and a take-up reel 31. The tape path is defined by guide posts and portions of the segmented front edge 25 in the normal manner.

An important feature of the present invention is a magnet holder 34. The video tape 32 extends along the defined path to the take-up reel 31 and the magnet holder 34 is mounted in the cassette 20 adjacent the path. Referring to Fig. 5, in the present invention, the magnet holder 34 is mounted vertically within the housing 21 and includes a holder body 35 which defines an opening 36 for receiving a rectangular magnet 37. The magnet holder 34 is rotatable between a first record position, where the magnet 37 is spaced from the tape 32, and a second erase position where the magnet 37 is adjacent the tape 32 and video signals on the tape 32 are erased as the tape 32 passes the magnet 37.

Referring to Figs. 5-7 and 1 1-15, the magnet holder 34 includes an outwardly extending circular post 39. The top 23 of the housing 21 defines a bearing opening 40 which is cylindrical and receives the post 39.

In the present embodiment, the base 22 of the housing 21 defines a circular opening 42 which extends through the base 22. An arm or projection 44 extends outwardly from the magnet holder 34 in opposed relationship to the post 39. The projection 44 is received in the base opening 42. The projection 44 includes a tool receiving slot 45. The magnet 37 is adhered or otherwise secured in the opening 36 defined by the holder body 35. The post 39 is positioned within the bearing opening 40 defined by the top 23 and the projection 44 is inserted in the base opening 42. After positioning of the magnet holder 34 and the loading of the video tape 32, the top 23 of the housing 21 is connected to the base 22 by screws in the typical manner. At that time, the tape is positioned on the supply real 30. The tape is guided along the tape path with its end being connected by a tape leader 46 (see Fig. 1 1 ) to the take-up reel 31. The tape 32 is then recorded by movement across a recording head 47, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 11. At this time, the magnet 37 is in the record position with the magnet 37 spaced from the tape 32 as shown in Fig. 3.

After recording, the direction of the video tape is reversed and the tape is again positioned on the supply reel 30, while the magnet 37 remains in the record position, as illustrated in Fig. 12. A tool 49 is then inserted in the slot 45 defined by the projection 44 of the holder body 35. The tool 49 rotates the holder 34 moving the magnet 37 from the first record position to the second erase position, shown in Fig. 4, where the magnet 37 is adjacent the tape 32. The magnet holder 34 is then secured in this second erase position. Means for fixing the post 39 in the bearing opening 40 includes, for example, the use of an adhesive. A second means of affixing is preferable and comprises the use of a sonic weld. Referring to Figs. 14 and 16, a sonic welding head 51 is moved into position adjacent the magnet holder 34 and energized. As shown in Fig. 16, this creates a sonic weld portion 52 securing the post 39 to the housing 21.

After the one-play cassette is forwarded to a user, for example a member of a marketing research panel, the tape is played and the user views the recorded information. After the tape 32 passes the play head of the video tape player, the tape 32 is guided adjacent the magnet 37 where the video signals are erased. After the video tape 32 is transported to the take-up reel 31 , the one-play cassette 20 is either discarded or recycled. In either event, the information on the video tape has been erased or removed and the viewer or panel member cannot rewind to again review the same information.

Many revisions may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention or from the following claims.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A one-play cassette having a base, a top, a supply reel and a take-up reel mounted for movement on said base, tape mounted on said supply reel and extending along a path to said take-up reel, a magnet holder mounted in said cassette adjacent said path, a magnet mounted within said magnet holder, said magnet holder rotatable between a first record position whereby said magnet is spaced from said tape and a second erase position whereby said magnet is adjacent said tape and signals on said tape are erased as said tape passes said magnet.

2. A one-play cassette, according to claim 1 , wherein said holder includes an arm extending exteriorly of said cassette whereby rotation of said arm moves said magnet holder between said first position and said second position.

3. A one-play cassette, according to claim 2, wherein said cassette defines an opening and said arm comprises a projection including a tool receiving slot.

4. A one-play cassette, according to claim 2, wherein said holder includes a post extending from said holder in an opposed relationship to said arm, said cassette defining a bearing opening for receiving said post.

5. A one-play cassette, according to claim 4, including means for fixing said post in said bearing opening to secure said magnet holder in said second erase position.

6. A one-play cassette, according to claim 5, wherein said fixing means comprises a sonic weld.

7. A one-play cassette, according to claim 5, wherein said fixing means comprises an adhesive.