Electronic apparatus having a main body and a detachable input /or output block

• US 5,995,319 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Ichiro, Kurosawa, Hideaki, Tanigawa, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): HEINZ, ALLEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/023,102
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 439/347, 360/90, 360/93, 360/83-85, 360/137
• US Class Current: 360/90
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/063 using tape inside container
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/02 Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon

Abstract

An electronic apparatus such as a tape recorder includes a main body, an input and/or output block, and an attach/detach mechanism. The main body has a first terminal section. The input and/or output block has a second terminal section to be connected to the first terminal section and is detachably mounted on the main body. When the first terminal section is connected to the second terminal section, the input and/or output block is supplied with a signal from the main body through the first and the second terminal sections. The attach/detach mechanism detachably attaches the input and/or output block on the main body. The attach/detach mechanism has at least one engagement section provided on one of the main body and the input and/or output block, an engagable section provided on the other of the main body and the input and/or output block, so as to be engaged with the engagement section, and an urging mechanism for urging the engagement section to be engaged with the engagable section. The input and/or output block is mounted on the main body, the engagement section is operated to shift against the urging force of the urging mechanism and then shifted by the urging force of the urging mechanism so that the engagable section is engaged with the tip portion of the engagement section so that the input and/or output block is temporarily attached to the main body.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a main body;

an input and/or output block detachably mounted on said main body; and

an attaching/detaching mechanism for detachably mounting said input and/or output block on said main body, wherein said attaching/detaching mechanism includes;

at least one engagement section provided in one of said main body and said input and/or output block, said engagement section having a plurality of guide walls each formed in a U-shape and protruding from the engagement section and each having a cut-off portion,

an engagable section provided on the other of said main body and said input and/or output block for engaging with said engagement section, said engagable section having a plurality of indentations for respectively receiving the plurality of guide walls inserted thereinto, each indentation being provided with a pushing piece for bringing a tip portion of the engagement section into abutment with the pushing pieces, wherein a recess is located above each pushing piece for receiving a side of each guidewall not having the cut-off portion, and

a spring for urging a slide member of said engagement section to urge said engagement section to engage with said engagable section,

wherein the engagement section also includes an operation mechanism for shifting the slide member with or against an urging force of the spring when the operation member is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, respectively,

wherein said spring brings said input and/or output block into a temporarily mounted state on said main body when said engagement section is engaged with said engagable section.

2. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operation mechanism operates said spring to shift said engagement section in a direction for engaging with said engagable section when said input and/or output block is temporarily mounted on said main body.

3. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said spring includes an urging member for urging said slide member in said direction where said engagement section is engaged with said engagable section.

4. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said operation mechanism operates said slide member for shifting said engagement section in said direction for engaging with said engagable section.

5. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a main body;

an input and/or output block detachably mounted on said main body; and

an attaching/detaching mechanism for detachably mounting said input and/or output block on said main body, wherein said attaching/detaching mechanism includes;

at least one engagement section provided in one of said main body and said input and/or output block, said engagement section having a plurality of guide walls each formed in a U-shape and protruding from the engagement section and each having a cut-off portion,

an engagable section provided on the other of said main body and said input and/or output block for engaging with said engagable section, said engagable section having a plurality of indentations for respectively receiving the plurality of guide walls inserted thereinto, each indentation being provided with a pushing piece for bringing a tip portion of the engagement section into abutment with the pushing pieces, wherein a recess is located above each pushing piece for receiving a side of each guidewall not having the cut-off portion, and

a spring for urging a slide member of said engagement section to urge said engagement section to engage with said engagable section,

wherein the engagement section also includes an operation mechanism for shifting the slide member with or against an urging force of the spring when the operation member is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, respectively,

wherein said input and/or output block on said main body is mounted by said engagement section shifted against the urging force of said spring and then shifted by the urging force of said spring so that said engagable section is engaged with the tip portion of said engagement section bringing said input and/or output block into a temporarily mounted state on said main body.

6. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the operation mechanism operates said spring to shift said engagement section in a direction for engaging with said engagable section when said input and/or output block is temporarily mounted on said main body.

7. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said spring includes an urging member for urging said slide member in said direction where said engagement section is engaged with said engagable section.

8. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein an operation of said operation mechanism while said engagable section is engaged with the tip portion of said engagement section causes said attaching/detaching mechanism to shift said slide member for engaging said engagement section with said engagable section and for mounting said input and/or output block on said main body.

9. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a main body having a first terminal section;

an input and/or output block having a second terminal section for connecting to said first terminal and detachably mounted on said main body for supplying said input and/or output block with a signal at least from said main body through said first terminal section and said second terminal section when said first terminal section is connected to said second terminal section; and

an attaching/detaching mechanism for detachably mounting said input and/or output block on said main body, wherein said attaching/detaching mechanism includes;

a plurality of engagement sections provided on one of said main body and said input and/or output block, each engagement section having a plurality of guide walls each formed in a U-shape and protruding from the engagement section and each having a cut-off portion,

a plurality of engagable sections provided on the other of said main body and said input and/or output block for engaging with said plurality of engagement sections, each engagable section having a plurality of indentations for respectively receiving the plurality of guide walls inserted thereinto, each indentation being provided with a pushing piece for bringing a tip portion of the engagement section into abutment with the pushing pieces, wherein a recess is located above each pushing piece for receiving a side of each guidewall not having the cut-off portion, and

a spring for urging a slide member of said engagement section to urge said plurality of engagement sections in a direction for engaging with said plurality of engagable sections,

wherein each engagement section also includes an operation mechanism for shifting the slide member with or against an urging force of the spring when the operation member is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, respectively,

wherein said spring brings said input and/or output block into a temporarily mounted state on said main body when said plurality of engagement sections are engaged with said plurality of engagable sections.

10. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the operation mechanism operates said spring to shift said plurality of engagement sections in said direction for engaging with said plurality of engagable sections when said input and/or output block is temporarily mounted on said main body.

11. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said spring includes an urging member for urging said slide member in said direction where said plurality of engagement sections are engaged with said plurality of engagable sections.

12. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said operation mechanism operates said slide member for shifting said plurality of engagement sections in said direction for engaging with said plurality of engagable sections.

13. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said plurality of engagement sections are provided in a stepped arrangement and said plurality of engagable sections are provided in a corresponding stepped arrangement.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a main body having a first terminal section;

an input and/or output block having a second terminal section for connecting to said first terminal section and detachably mounted on said main body for supplying said input and/or output block with a signal at least from said main body through said first terminal section and said second terminal section when said first terminal section is connected to said second terminal section; and

an attaching/detaching mechanism for detachably mounting said input and/or output block on said main body, wherein said attaching/detaching mechanism includes;

a plurality of engagement sections provided on one of said main body and said input and/or output block, each engagement section having a plurality of guide walls each formed in a U-shape and protruding from the engagement section and each having a cut-off portion,

a plurality of engagable sections provided on the other of said main body and said input and/or output block for engaging with said plurality of engagement sections, each engagable section having a plurality of indentations for respectively receiving the plurality of guide walls inserted thereinto, each indentation being provided with a pushing piece for bringing a tip portion of the engagement section into abutment with the pushing pieces, wherein a recess is located above each pushing piece for receiving a side of each guidewall not having the cut-off portion, and

a spring for urging a slide member of said engagement section to urge said plurality of engagement sections in a direction for engaging with said plurality of engagable sections,

wherein each engagement section also includes an operation mechanism for shifting the slide member with or against an urging force of the spring when the operation member is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, respectively,

wherein said input and/or output block on said main body is mounted by said plurality of engagement sections shifted against the urging force of said spring and then shifted by the urging force of said spring for engaging said plurality of engagable sections with a plurality of tip portions of said plurality of engagement sections for bringing said input and/or output block into a temporarily mounted state on said main body.

15. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the operation mechanism operates said spring to shift said plurality of engagement sections in said direction for engaging with said plurality of engagable sections when said input and/or output block is temporarily mounted on said main body.

16. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said spring includes an urging member for urging said slide member in said direction where said plurality of engagement sections are engaged with said plurality of engagable sections.

17. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said input and/or output block is attached to said main body with an operation of said attaching/detaching mechanism for shifting said slide member when said plurality of engagable sections are engaged with the plurality of tip portions of said plurality of engagement sections for engaging said plurality of engagement sections with said plurality of engagable sections.

18. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said plurality of engagement sections are provided in a stepped arrangement and said plurality of engagable sections are provided in a corresponding stepped arrangement.