INTERACTIVE AUDIO CASSETTE DEVICE OR SIMILAR ARTICLE

CASSETTE AUDIO INTERACTIVE OU ARTICLE SIMILAIRE

English Abstract

A tape cassette (10) including interactive indicia (24) and (25) for providing visual entertainment while the tape (18) is be-
ing played. Preferably, a first indicia (24) is provided on the outer side of the cassette (10) which comprises a scene. A second in-
dicia (26) is provided on a reel (22) such that the second indicia (26) interacts with the first indicia (24) when the reels (20) and
(22) are turned.

Claims

I CLAIM
-1-
A cassette tape comprising a generally rectangular casing having
transparent side portions such that the tape reels are visible inside said casing,
wherein:
said side portions are provide with a first indicia such that a portion of
the first and second reels are visible;
a second indicia provided on each of said first and second reels such that
said second indicia interacts with said first indicia upon rotation of said first and
second reels.
-2-
The cassette tape of claim 1, wherein:
said first indicia is provided on a first and second plastic film adhered to
the outer side of each said side portions; and
said cassette casing without interfering with the rotation of said first and
second reels.
-3-
The cassette tape of claim 2, wherein:
said first member is provided on said second reel adjacent said first side
portion; and
said second member is provided on said first reel adjacent said second
side portion.
-4-
The cassette tape of claim 3 wherein:
said first indicia comprises a scene and said second indicia comprises an
animate object.
-5-
The cassette tape of claim 4, wherein:
said first and second members are substantially circular.
-6-
The cassette tape of claim 5, wherein:
said first and second members are adhesively secured to said first and
second reels.

5.
CLAIMS
A cassette tape comprising a generally rectangular casing having
transparent side portions such that the tape and a first tape reel and a second
tape reel are visible inside said casing, wherein:
said side portions including a first indicia such that only a portion of said
first and second tape reels are visible;
a second indicia provided on each of said first and second tape reels such
that said second indicia interacts with said first indicia upon rotation of said first
and second reels.
-8-
The cassette tape of claim 7, wherein:
said first indicia provided on a first and second plastic film adhered to the
outer side of each said side portions; and
said second indicia provided on a first and second member sized to fit
inside said cassette casing without interfering with the rotation of said first and
second reels.
-9-
The cassette tape of claim 8, wherein:
said first member is provided on said second reel adjacent said first
plastic film on said first side portion; and
said second member is provided on said first reel adjacent second plastic
film on said second side portion.
-10-
The cassette tape of claim 9, wherein:
said first indicia includes a scene depicted thereon and said second indicia
includes an animate object depicted thereon.

6.
-11-
The cassette tape of claim 10, wherein:
said first and second members are substantially circular.
-12-
The cassette tape of claim 11, wherein:
said first and second members are adhesively secured to said first and
second reels.
A tape cassette of the type having a first reel, a second reel, tape thereon
and an outer casing, the outer casing being substantially transparent such that
said reels are viewable thlough two main side portions, wherein the
improvement comprises:
said two main side yulliuns comprises a first side and a second side and
each side includes a first indicia permitting viewing of a portion of said first reel
and said second reel;
said first reel and said second reel each include a second indicia which fits
within said outer casing without interfering with the rotation of said first reel and
said second reel; and
said second indicia rotates in conjunction with said first reel and said
second reel to give the appearance of said second indicia interacting with said
first indicia while said tape is being played in a playback device.
-14-
The tape cassette of claim 13, wherein:
said second indicia is provided on a first member and a second member,
said first member rotates in accordance with said second reel and second
member rotates in conjunction with said first reel; and
said first member being viewable from said first side and said second
member being viewable from said second side such that said first indicia and said
first member and said second member interact.

7.
-15-
The tape cassette of claim 13, wherein:
said first indicia comprises a scene depicted on said second cassette first
and second sides.
-16-
The tape cassette of claim 13, wherein:
said first indicia comprises a first plastic film and a second plastic film,
each said film having a scene depicted thereon.
-17-
The tape cassette of claim 15, wherein:
said second indicia includes an animate object depicted on said first
member and said second member such that the animate object appears to
interact with said scene depicted on said first indicia.
-18-
The tape cassette of claim 16, wherein:
said second indicia includes an animate object depicted on said first
member and said second member such that the animate object appears to
interact with said scene depicted on said first indicia.
-19-
The tape cassette of claim 13, wherein:
said first indicia covers said first reel on said first side and covers said
second reel on said second side.

Description

W O 92/04714 PC~r/US91/06475
- 1 2068~18
INTERACTlV~ AUDIO CASSETTE DEVICE OR SIMILAR ARTICLE
The invention relates to audio or video cassettes and the like. More
particularly, the invention relates to an ill~ vGd cassette WhG1ein interactive
indicia are affixed or provided on the c~csette case and reels.
The invention provides collesl)onding indicia or markings on the cassette
S case and cassette reel which interact. Generally, a cassette casing may be
provided which is ll~ns~arent to permit viewing of the cassette reels and tape
therein. The tape travels from the left reel to the right reel during play of a
particular side.
In a ~lcrGll~d embodiment, a first plastic film member having indicia
thereon is adhered to the cassette casing or placed on the inside surface of theouter c~cfing~ A second plastic member having indicia thereon is secured to the
right side reel or take-up reel and/or both reels. The first plastic film is viewed.
The indicia on the plastic film may be provided dileclly on the cassette
casing elimin~ting the step of applying the plastic film.
The indicia may be provided on each side of the cassette and on each
respective take-up reel and/or both reels.
It is an object of the ylesent illVGl-liol- to provide additional visual
entertainment to a cassette tape.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide interactive indicia
on the cassette casing and a take-up reel.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide interactive
designc or indicia which can be viewed through the window portion of most
cassette players.
Figure 1 illustrates a cassette consll ucted in accordance with the ~ sent
hlvelllion.
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the cassette illustrated in figure
1.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to figure 1 thereof,

WO 92/W7~6Q~ PCI/US91/06475
there is shown a novel cassette 10 which is COllSIl ucted in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. As can be seen in figure 1, the tape cassette
co~ of an outer casing having two halves 12, 14 (best seen in figure 2),
means for securing the hahes 12, 14 together 16, a magnetic tape 18 and first
and second reels 20, 22 respectively. Each halve 12, 14 includes a l,ansyarent
face.
Generally, when a tape c~csette is being played in a cassette player (not
shown), the tape unwinds from the first reel 20 to the second reel 22 (the take-up reel). When the second side of the tape 18 is played, the tape then unwinds
from second reel 22 to first reel 20.
A first indicia 24 is located on the outer t~ yarenl face of each halve
12 and 14. The first indicia 24 may be p~interl directly on the cassette or
molded therein. Preferably, the indicia 24 is air-brushed painted silk-screened
or printed in some other fashion, onto a plastic film 21 which includes a yle;~ule
sen~ilive adhesive on one side. The plastic film 21 may then be secured to each
side of cassette 10. Additionally, indicia may be printed on a thin plastic
member and placed on the inside of the outer casing.
A second indicia 26 is secured inside the cassette 10 to each reel 2Q 22,
to be seen when each reel colll~lises the take-up reel and/or both reels. Secondindicia 26 rotates with each reel 20, 22 such that the second indicia 26 interacts
with the first indicia 24. For example, as shown in the drawing figures, first
indicia 24 resembles a wave and would be blue in color to signi~ water. The
second indicia includes a figure which would appear to leaping from and
entering the water of first indicia 24 when the reel 22 is rotated.
When the tape is r~ cd, the same arrangement would be provided,
except that a first indicia 24 would be placed adjacent reel 22 and a second
indicia would be provided on reel 20, which now would colllylise the take-up
reel and/or both reels.
Second indicia 26 is yl efel~bly provided on a substantially circular plastic
member 28. Member 28 is yrefelably adhesively secured to the reels 20, 22.

W O 92/04714 2 0 6 8 2 1 8 PC~r/US91/06475
Thererore, reel 22 would have a plastic member 28 secured thereto such that
member 28 is adjacent halve 12. Reel 20 would have a member 28 secured
cent halve 14.
Indicia 24, 26 may colllylise any ~ ;..cl;ve marks which would
S coll~,s~ondingly interact. ~ ably, first indicia 24 colll~lises a scene in-liç~tine
the place or occullence of the interaction. .Secon~l indicia 26 should then
Colll~lisc an ~nim~te object or color wheel which would belong in the scene of
first indicia 24.
First and second indicia 24, 26 would be viewable through a window in
the cassette player to provide additional visual entertainment for the user of the
cassette 10.
Although there has been desclibcd what is at ~les~llt considered to be
~lcrelled embodilllel.b of the invention, it will be understood that various
modifications and variations may be made therein, and it is intended to cover inthe appended claims all such morlific~tion~ as fall within the true spirit and scope
of the invention.

Representative Drawing