Geometrical instruments – Indicator of direction of force traversing natural media – With viewing aid
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-14
2001-09-04
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Indicator of direction of force traversing natural media
With viewing aid
C033S347000, C033S349000, C033S35500D
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282802
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to compasses, and more particularly relates to a novel and improved base member for a compass which is compact, versatile and of simplified, lightweight construction.
Various types of recreational compasses have been devised which are broadly characterized by having a transparent base member and compass vial or capsule with an azimuth ring which is mounted in the base member without the use of positive fastening elements so that the vial and azimuth ring can be jointly or individually rotated. For example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,568 assigned to The Brunton Company of Riverton, Wyoming, the assignee of this invention. This invention, however, is concerned more with the design and construction of a recreational compass which can be hand-held and is adapted for mounting of a bull's eye or needleless vial in association with a protractor ring at one end of the mounting base and a sight at the opposite end to facilitate ease of reading or taking bearings with the compass. In this connection, it is desirable to provide in a compass base member for a novel and improved manner and means for releasably securing the compass to one's person and to enable its use for determining locations on a topographic map.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved compass which is extremely versatile, of lightweight construction and is contoured to fit comfortably within the hand for the purpose of taking readings or bearings.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved compass base member specifically adaptable for use in combination with a fluid-filled compass vial which is frictionally mounted in the base and contains a magnetic bull's eye alignment system rather than a needle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved mounting base for a compass which can be detachably secured to one's person.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved mounting base for a compass which is characterized by having a housing for a compass capsule at one end of the base and a novel and improved sight at the opposite end.
Broadly, the present invention resides in a base member in the form of an elongated body having a flat undersurface with a compass vial mounted in an opening adjacent one end of the body and a lateral depression on one side of and adjacent to an opposite end of the body to facilitate grasping and use of the compass. In the preferred form, the lateral depression is of generally concave configuration and is provided with a lining of soft pliable material. A sighting device at the opposite end of the body to that of the compass vial is preferably made of up a pair of ridges in closely spaced parallel relation to one another extending lengthwise on an upper surface of the body intermediately between opposite sides, the ridges being of generally triangular cross-sectional configuration and each terminating in a sight edge which inclines downwardly from the opposite end of the body toward the vial.
A socket is formed in one end of the body, preferably at the opposite end, to receive a clip for securing to the waist or to a lanyard for releasably securing to one's person. The elongated body defining the mounting base for the compass is preferably in the form of a thin transparent plate with a magnifying lens formed out of its thickness which can be used for reading maps as well as for a fire starter; also, quadrantal or pie-shaped apertures are formed out of the thickness of the plate to define a protractor reading system. The base plate may incorporate other scales and indicia customarily associated with compasses.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of preferred and modified forms of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
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Gutierrez Diego
Reilly John E.
Smith R. Alexander
The Brunton Company
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