Tape recorder

Claim 2

A tape recorder comprising an operating section for performing a plurality of functions including, a recording-playback function and a plurality of other functions, an indicating section for indicating data from one of the functions performed, a plurality of input means for constraining said operating section to cause said indicating section to indicate data from one of said plurality of other functions, actuating means for individually and selectively actuating one of said input means, and disabling means coupled to each of said input means for simultaneously disabling operation of each of said input means so that said recording-playback function is undisturbed.

Claim 3

A tape recorder, comprising a housing, means in said housing for producing recording and playback a multifunction operating section in said housing and having a plurality of separate portions, one of said portions being one of a tape counter, a clock, a stopwatch; actuating means for selectively actuating separable ones of said portions, and disabling means for disabling the actuating means of separable ones of the portions of the operating section, an indicator coupled to each of the portions and responsive to operation of each of said portions for indicating the operating ones of the portions.

Claim 4

A tape recorder, comprising a housing, means in said housing for producing recording and playback a multifunction operating section in said housing and having a plurality of separate portions, one of said portions being one of a tape counter, a clock, a stopwatch; actuating means for selectively actuating separable ones of said portions, and disabling means for disabling the actuating means of separable ones of the portions of the operating section, an indicator coupled to each of the portions and responsive to operation of each of said portions for indicating the operating ones of the portions.

Claim 5

A tape recorder comprising an operating section for performing a plurality of functions including a recording-playback function and at least one other function, an indicating section for indicating data from one of the functions performed, a plurality of input means for constraining said operating sections to cause said indicating section to indicate data from a different function, actuating means for individually and selectively actuating one of said input means, and disabling means for disabling operation of said input means, said disabling means including a plurality of gates each between said actuating means and one of said input means, said gates being capable of being turned on to render said actuating means effective at the input means to which said gate is connected and of being turned off, and a switch for simultaneously turning said gates off.

Claim 6

A tape recorder comprising an operating section for performing a plurality of functions including a recording-playback function and at least one other function, an indicating section for indicating data from one of the functions performed, a plurality of input means for constraining said operating sections to cause said indicating section to indicate data from a different function, actuating means for individually and selectively actuating one of said input means, and disabling means for disabling operation of said input means, said disabling means including a plurality of gates each between said actuating means and one of said input means, said gates being capable of being turned on to render said actuating means effective at the input means to which said gate is connected and of being turned off, and a switch for simultaneously turning said gates off.

Claim 7

A tape recorder as in claim 3, wherein said gates perform an AND function.

Claim 8

A tape recorder as in claim 4, wherein said gates each have two inputs, one of said inputs of said gate being connected to said switch, said switch being otherwise grounded.

Claim 9

A tape recorder, comprising a housing, means in said housing for producing recording and playback, a multifunction operating section in said housing and having a plurality of separate portions, one of said portions being one of a tape counter, a clock, a stopwatch; actuating means for selectively actuating separable ones of said portions, and disabling means for disabling the actuating means of separable ones of the portions of the operating section, an indicator coupled to each of the portions and responsive to operation of each of said portions for indicating the operating ones of the portions; said disabling means including a plurality of gates having one input connected to said actuating means and an output connected to said operating section, said gates each have a second input, said disabling means having biasing means connected to each of said second inputs of each of said gates for biasing said gates into an on condition which renders said actuating means effective, said disabling means including an override switch connected to each of said second inputs of said gates for turning said gates off.

Claim 10

A tape recorder, comprising a housing, means in said housing for producing recording and playback, a multifunction operating section in said housing and having a plurality of separate portions, one of said portions being one of a tape counter, a clock, a stopwatch; actuating means for selectively actuating separable ones of said portions, and disabling means for disabling the actuating means of separable ones of the portions of the operating section, an indicator coupled to each of the portions and responsive to operation of each of said portions for indicating the operating ones of the portions; said disabling means including a plurality of gates having one input connected to said actuating means and an output connected to said operating section, said gates each have a second input, said disabling means having biasing means connected to each of said second inputs of each of said gates for biasing said gates into an on condition which renders said actuating means effective, said disabling means including an override switch connected to each of said second inputs of said gates for turning said gates off.

Claim 11

A tape recorder as in claim 6, wherein said switch is grounded.

Claim 12

A tape recorder as in claim 6, wherein said gates means include AND gates each having two inputs, wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of actuating switches one for each gate, each of said switches having two sides, a plurality of inverters each connecting one of said actuating swtiches to one input of said AND gates, the other input of each of said AND gates being biased to a first polarity, the sides of the switches more remote from the inverter being biased to a second polarity, and the side of the switch connected to the inverter being biased to the first polarity.