Recording tape cartridge

1. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a substantially rectangular-shaped case in which a single reel around which a recording tape is wound is rotatably accommodated;

an opening which is formed by notching a corner, on a front side in a direction of loading the case into a drive apparatus, of the case and from which a leader member attached at an end of the recording tape is pulled out;

a shielding member having a flat plate shape, which is provided in the case and can be selectively positioned between a close position in which the shielding member is inclined from the loading direction to close the opening and an open position in which the shielding member is disposed substantially along a side wall parallel to the loading direction in the case to open the opening;

a compression coil spring disposed along the side wall and applying an urging force to the shielding member toward the close position;

an operation portion provided at the shielding member, which comes into engagement with an engagement member of the drive apparatus by an operation of loading of the case to the drive apparatus, thereby applying a moving force to the shielding member toward the open position; and

a guide provided at the case, which guides the shielding member so that the shielding member travels between the close position and the open position while changing orientation thereof by the urging force or the moving force.

2. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the guide takes form of a cam rail which engages with a guide projection projected from an end portion of the shielding member.

3. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein the cam rail is formed so that a travel locus of a portion in the shielding member, on which the urging force of the compression coil spring acts, draws one of a straight line which is almost parallel with the side wall or a circular arc passing a point closest to the side wall.

4. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a core member which is inserted into the compression coil spring to thereby prevent deformation of the compression coil spring in a direction intersecting an axial line of the compression coil spring.

5. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the core member is swingably coupled to a portion in the shielding member, on which the urging force of the compression coil spring acts.

6. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the operation portion is exposed from a window portion provided in the side wall so as to be engaged with the engagement member, wherein the operation portion projects through the window portion.

7. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a first guide and a second guide, and a first guide projection projected from one end portion of the shielding member and a second guide projection projected from the other end portion of the shielding member are respectively engaged with the first guide and the second guide.

8. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the first guide is arranged in the case such that the first guide is along the side wall parallel to the loading direction, and the second guide is arranged in the case such that a longitudinal direction of the second guide is inclined with respect to the loading direction.

9. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein a rear end portion of the second guide is disposed at inner side of the case with respect to a front end portion of the first guide.

10. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the second guide has a bent portion at a front side in the loading direction thereof.

11. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the guide has a substantially circular arc configuration which is curved outward ofthe case.

12. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the guide has a bent portion at a front side in the loading direction thereof.

13. A recording tape cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein a first guide projection projected from an one end portion of the shielding member and a second guide projection projected from the other end portion of the shielding member are engaged with the guide.

14. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a substantially rectangular-shaped case in which a single reel around which a recording tape is wound is rotatably accommodated;

an opening which is formed by notching a corner, on a front side in a direction of loading the case into a drive apparatus, of the case and from which a leader member attached at an end of the recording tape is pulled out;

a shielding member having a flat plate shape, which is provided in the case and can be selectively positioned between a close position in which the shielding member is inclined from the loading direction to close the opening and an open position in which the shielding member is disposed substantially along a side wall parallel to the loading direction in the case to open the opening;

a compression coil spring disposed along the side wall and applying an urging force to the shielding member toward the close position;

an operation portion provided at the shielding member, which comes into engagement with an engagement member of the drive apparatus by an operation of loading of the case to the drive apparatus, thereby applying a moving force to the shielding member toward the open position;

a guide provided at the case, which guides the shielding member so that the shielding member travels between the close position and the open position while changing orientation thereof by the urging force or the moving force; and

a core member which is inserted into the compression coil spring to thereby prevent deformation of the compression coil spring in a direction intersecting an axial line of the compression coil spring;

wherein the core member is swingably coupled to a portion in the shielding member, on which the urging force of the compression coil spring acts.

15. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a substantially rectangular-shaped case in which a single reel around which a recording tape is wound is rotatably accommodated;

an opening which is formed by notching a corner, on a front side in a direction of loading the case into a drive apparatus, of the case and from which a leader member attached at an end of the recording tape is pulled out;

a shielding member having a flat plate shape, which is provided in the case and can be selectively positioned between a close position in which the shielding member is inclined from the loading direction to close the opening and an open position in which the shielding member is disposed substantially along a side wall parallel to the loading direction in the case to open the opening;

a compression coil spring disposed along the side wall and applying an urging force to the shielding member toward the close position;

an operation portion provided at the shielding member, which comes into engagement with an engagement member of the drive apparatus by an operation of loading of the case to the drive apparatus, thereby applying a moving force to the shielding member toward the open position;

a guide provided at the case, which guides the shielding member so that the shielding member travels between the close position and the open position while changing orientation thereof by the urging force or the moving force; and

a core member which is inserted into the compression coil spring to thereby prevent deformation of the compression coil spring in a direction intersecting an axial line of the compression coil spring;

wherein the core member is swingably coupled to a portion in the shielding member, on which the urging force of the compression coil spring acts, and a direction of the core member and a direction of the compression coil spring into which the core member is inserted, do not change while a direction of the shielding member is changed due to the shielding member moving.

16. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a substantially rectangular-shaped case in which a single reel around which a recording tape is wound is rotatably accommodated;

an opening which is formed by notching a corner, on a front side in a direction of loading the case into a drive apparatus, of the case and from which a leader member attached at an end of the recording tape is pulled out;

a shielding member having a flat plate shape, which is provided in the case and can be selectively positioned between a close position in which the shielding member is inclined from the loading direction to close the opening and an open position in which the shielding member is disposed substantially along a side wall parallel to the loading direction in the case to open the opening;

a compression coil spring disposed along the side wall and applying an urging force to the shielding member toward the close position;

an operation portion provided at the shielding member, which comes into engagement with an engagement member of the drive apparatus by an operation of loading of the case to the drive apparatus, thereby applying a moving force to the shielding member toward the open position; and

a guide provided at the case, which guides the shielding member so that the shielding member travels between the close position and the open position while changing orientation thereof by the urging force or the moving force;

wherein the operation portion is exposed from a window portion provided in the side wall so as to be engaged with the engagement member, and wherein the operation portion projects through the window portion.