Patent Application
20100290322
Cassette adapters have long been available for the purpose of allowing new media sources to be used through the relatively obsolete hardware associated with audio cassette players. Originally, such adapters arose in order to allow consumers to connect portable CD players to systems limited to audio cassette functionality; however, the technology has easily been adapted to accommodate other new forms of media as they arise, including digital media players, including Apple's popular iPod device. See for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,897 to Schotz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,675 to De Bie, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,756 to Lee.
Prior art instances of audio cassette adapters typically comprise: a housing in the shape of a standard audio cassette; an internal tape-head for contacting the playback-head of a cassette player and mimicking a magnetic audio-tape transferring an audio signal; a conducting means coupled to the tape head, extending from the cassette-shaped housing, and capable of conducting an audio signal; and a connection means for attaching to the output jack of a new media source, for instance, a TRS connector or stereo/audio phone jack plug. Variations in the prior art include assorted methods for connecting the conducting means or cable from the adapter to the new media source in order to accommodate various orientations of the cassette player (i.e., side loading, front loading, or top loading).
One commonality among the variants of prior art is the externality of the new media device, coupled with the need for a conductor cable connecting the device to the cassette adapter. Some efforts have been made to provide a more integrated solution in order to avoid the “dangling cable” problem traditionally inherent in the use of cassette adapters. The dangling cable problem presents inherent aesthetic and convenience limitations. See for instance, U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0256475 A1 by Lindsay, et al.
However, even the solutions addressing the dangling cable problem are less than optimal in that they connect to an external digital media player that is not aesthetically integrated into an existing audio system and also can be limited in their application depending upon the orientation of the audio cassette. For instance, some adapters (e.g., the adapter disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0256475 A1) are only useful for side loading cassette players, and have no useful application in front- or top-loading cassette players. Various attempts at solving the cable placement issue require the consumer to disassemble the housing to adjust the cable's attachment point, and then reassemble the housing. Hence, there is a need for a cassette adapter that is capable of fully integrating a specific digital media player (thereby eliminating the dangling cable problem) and has functionality without regard to the cassette player's orientation, all the while also maintaining compatible functionality with the growing variety of digital media players on the market.
The present inventive concept presents a solution to the dangling cable problem by optionally integrating a digital media player into the housing of the cassette adapter. The adapter is then used as though a standard cassette and is capable of playing back audio files stored in the media-player.
As one example of the inventive concept, the cassette shaped housing of a cassette adapter includes a docking portion and a removable portion of suitable size and shape to accommodate a digital media player in place of the portion when removed, thereby integrating the media-player into the functionality of the cassette adapter. In a preferred embodiment, the digital media player is a mini-media player. In a most preferred embodiment, the media player is an Apple iPod Shuffle. In a preferred embodiment, the digital media player is affixed and integrated into the housing by means of a groove, and is connected to the record-head of the adapter by an electronic coupling means capable of transmitting an audio signal; for instance, a TSR connector or stereo jack plug. Control means for the iPod Shuffle or other media player, including but not limited to play mode, track selection, and volume, can alternatively be integrated into the housing of the adapter, or can be embodied in a separate control housing connected to the circuitry in the main housing by a conducting cable.
Alternatively, the slideably removable shoulder portion of the cassette housing can be left intact and the adapter can be used as a traditional cassette adapter. As yet another alternative, a separate control housing can be mounted inline with a connector cable for alternate use with a media device not capable of being integrated into the main housing.
Cassette adapters are known in the art of consumer electronics, specifically home and car audio systems.
In its various embodiments, the invention consists of a cassette shaped housing with internal electronics consistent with the schematic of
