ENDLESS TAPE CASSETTE

A cartridge for an endless video recording tape includes a housing and a reel, upon which the endless tape is wound, rotatably mounted in the housing. The latter includes a peripheral side wall having at least one aperture therein through which a portion of the endless tape extends during use of the cartridge in a video tape player or recorder. A cover is slidably mounted in the cartridge for movement between first and second positions in which the cover respectively covers the aperture during storage of the cartridge and exposes the aperture during use thereof. In adition, the cartridge is provided with a latching mechanism which is responsive to the position of the cover thereby to prevent rotation of the reel when the cover closes the aperture and to permit free rotation of the reel when the aperture is exposed for use in a tape player. Moreover, a takeupmechanism is provided in the housing for taking up slack in the tape after the cartridge is removed from the tape player, thereby to facilitate storage of the tape and closing of the cover.