Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE FOR DETERM[NING DlRECTION
AND MEASURING DISTANCE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the art of orienteering.
More particularly, the invention relates to a device for determining direction that
includes a measuring arrangement for rotatably mP~ ring distance between fixed
points on a scaled surface.
Devices for determining direction and measuring point-to-point
distances on a scaled surface, such as a map, are presently known. For example,
such a device is embodied in an assembly comprising a compass mounted to a
baseplate having a ruler or scale inscribed or painted along a straight perimeter
edge. Point-to-point distances are measured by ~ligning the straight ruler edge
with the desired route, such as a trail or a stream, on the map. However, because
the route is often circuitous, a user must continuously lift and realign the straight
ruler edge with the surface. Thus, such a device is unwieldy to use and may not
always accurately measure point-to-point distances that are not straight routes on
the map.
Devices which can be rolled along a scaled surface, such as a map,
to measure the distance between fixed points also are presently known. However,
many such devices include intermeshing gears, thus adding complexity and cost tothe design. Moreover, most known devices serve only the purpose of mç~uring
distance and thus constitute an additional object that must be packed and carried
when taken along on hiking excursions. As a further drawback, such devices may
be bulky or delicate, thus adding undesirable weight to a pack or requiring extra
care when storing or handling.
There is a need, therefore, for an uncomplicated, sturdy, light-
weight, low-cost device to accurately measure distance between fixed points on a
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scaled surface that may be combined in an assembly with another device, such as
a compass, that typically would be essential to and carried along on a hiking
excursion. Such a device would not add extra weight to the overall assembly and
would not require additional care in packing or storing.
SUMMARY OF THE I~VENTION
The present invention provides an innovative device for a user to
determine directions and measure distances along a scaled surface, such as a map.
The device features a compass assembly for inrlic~ting direction and a distance
ring or wheel that may be rolled along the scaled surface to measure distance
between fixed points.
Thus, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a device
for a user to determine directions and measure distances along a scaled surface
comprises a compass assembly and a distance ring. The compass assembly
int~ de~ a housing and a compass disposed within the housing. The distance ring
is rotatably mounted to the housing and includes a first indicia that moves withrespect to the housing when the user grasps the device and rolls the ~ t~nse ring
along the scaled surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a device for a
user to determine directions and measure distances along a scaled surface
comprises a baseplate, a housing, a compass, and a distance ring. The compass isdisposed within the housing, which is mounted to the baseplate. The distance ring
is rotatably mounted to the housing. An outer periphery of the distance ring
extends beyond an outer perimeter edge of the baseplate. The distance ring
further includes a first indicia that moves with respect to the housing when theuser grasps the device and rolls the distance ring along the scaled surface.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a device for a
user to determine directions and measure distances along a scaled surface
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comprises a baseplate, a compass assembly, and a distance wheel. The compass
assembly, which is mounted to the baseplate, includes a housing and a compass
disposed within the housing. The ~li.ct~n~e wheel is rotatably mounted to the
baseplate and includes an outer periphery that extends beyond a perimet~r edge of
the baseplate. The distance wheel further includes a first indicia that moves with
respect to the baseplate when the user grasps the device and rolls the ~lict~ncewheel along the scaled surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPrION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary device in
accordance with one aspect of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a partial plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment of
FIGURE 3 taken along line 4-4;
FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an ~It~rn~tive embodiment of a device
for determining direction and finding ~1ict~nees; and
FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a further alternative embodiment of a
device for deter.,-ining direction and finding distances.
DESCRIPTION OF T~IE ~REFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to the drawings and referring to FIGURES 1 through
4, a device 10 for dele~ ing directions and mç~cllnng distances includes a
housing 12, a compass needle 14, a distance ring 16, and a baseplate 18.
Compass needle 14 is constructed according to principles well known in the art
and is disposed on a spindle (not shown) for free rotation, within housing 12.
Housing 12 is generally circular in shape and includes a disc-shaped back plate 20
on which the spindle supporting compass needle 14 is mounted. Housing 12
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further includes a recessed face cover 22 which fits over compass needle 14 and
mates with back plate 20. Housing 12, including back plate 20 and face cover 22,is preferably molded from transparent plastic.
S Device 10 further includes an azimuth ring 24 having colored
azimuth indicia 26 for delellnilling directions, such as toward known l~n~lm~rk~ or
reference points. Colored azimuth indicia 26 preferably are etched or scribed into
azimu~h ring 24, or alternatively, may be painted or printed onto azimuth ring 24.
Azimuth ring 24 is mounted with sliding clearance about housing 12 such that
azimuth indicia 26 may rotate with respect to compass needle 14 to orient the user
or to indicate a ple~lled direction of travel. In the preferred embodiment,
azimuth ring 24 is an integral part of and constructed from the same m~tçn~l as
face cover 22. Alternatively, azimuth ring 24 may be a separate component and
may be constructed from an opaque m~t-ori~l, such as colored plastic. Azimuth
ring 24 preferaDly forms a lip for ret~ining other elements of device 10, as
described below, and further includes a textured outer periphery 28, such as a
pluMlity of raised portions integMlly molded to ring 24, to facilitate gMsping and
rotation of ring 24 about compass needle 14. Alternatively, the outer periphery
28 may be knurled.
In the ~lerelled embodiment of FIGURE 2, device 10 further
includes a contrast ring 30 interfaced with azimuth ring 24 to provide a
background against which a user may more clearly view azimuth indicia 26.
Contrast ring 30 preferably is made of an opaque m~t~n~l, such as colored plastic,
having a color which substantially contrasts with colored azimuth indicia 26. For
example, if azimuth indicia 26 are white, contrast ring 30 may be black. Contrast
ring 30 is retained in a fixed position relative to azimuth ring 24 and includes a
stationary indicia 32, such as a colored hatch mark. Thus, as azimuth ring 24
rotates about compass needle 14, stationary indicia 32 provides a fixed reference
point for the user to read his bearing.
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Referring still to FIGURES 1 through 4, distance ring 16 is
rotatably mounted to housing 12 and extends beyond the outer edge of azimuth
ring 24 such that distance ring 16 can be rolled along a scaled surface 34, such as
a land map, to measure point-to-point distances. Distance ring 16 preferably is an
annular ring, having an inner periphery 36 and an outer periphery 38, and is made
of a subst~nti~lly rigid m~teri~l, such as molded plastic. As shown in FIGURES 1and 2, housing 12 is disposed within the inner periphery 36 of distance ring 16.The outer edge of azimuth ring 24 overlaps the inner periphery 36 of tlict~n~e ring
16, thus forming a lip on housing 12 to retain distance ring 16 while allowing
rotation about housing 12.
Distance ring 16 includes indicia 40 for indicating distance, which
move with respect to housing 12 when a user grasps device 10 and rolls distance
ring 16 along scaled surface 34. Indicia 40 preferably are a plurality of calibrated
indicia disposed on ring 16, such as by etching, seribing, printing, or painting,
which provide the user with a mark to zero distanee ring 16 at a starting point on
scaled surfaee 34. After zeroing distance ring 16, the user rolls distanee ring 16
along surfaee 34 until re~c~ing a destin~tion point. The user then notes the
~lignmtont of indieia 40, sueh as with a referenee hateh mark or a known
nriPnt~tion, to determine the point-to-point distanee. In a prefell~d embo-lim~nt
indieia 40 are ~ se~ /e of the outer cireumferenee of distanee ring 16 in
either inches or centimeters. The user converts the reading from indicia 40 to adistance measurement by applying the surface 34 scaling factor (typically in~iratell
in a key portion of the map). Altern~tively, indieia 40 can be scaled for various
maps. In other embodiments, and as more fully explained below, indieia 40 may
consist of a single mark or a plurality of marks which indicate distance in
cooperation with other indicia disposed on various elements of device 10.
By way of example only, indicia 40 may cooperate with stationary
indicia 32 (e.g., a single hatch mark) on contrast ring 30. In one embodiment,
indicia 40 comprise a plurality of calibrated marks. To measure distance, the user
zeroes indicia 40 by aligning one of indicia 40 with stationary indicia 32. As the
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user rolls distance ring 16 along scaled surface 34 from the starting point to the
destin~tion point, indicia 40 move with respect to stationary indicia 32. Upon
reaching the destin~tion point, the user can determine the point-to-point distance
by reading the indicia 40 that is aligned with stationary indicia 32 and applying the
~propliate scale factor.
To facilitate rolling of distance ring 16 along scaled surface 34, the
outer periphery 38 of distance ring 16 preferably includes a notch 41 to receive an
elastomeric ring 42, such as a rubber o-ring, as most clearly illustrated in
FIGURE 4. Alternatively, an elastomeric m~teri~l may be disposed about the
outer periphery 34 of distance ring 16, such as by an adhesive or by dipping. Asa further alternative, the outer periphery 38 of distance ring 16 may be textured,
such as by knurling.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4, housing 12,
azimuth ring 24, contrast ring 30 and distance ring 16 are appropliately
assembled, mounted and secured by a clip 44, such as a metal spring clip, to
baseplate 18. Referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, housing 12 extends through a
generally circular aperture 46 in baseplate 18. Azimuth ring 24, contrast ring 30
and distance ring 16 interface with a support structure 48 in the form of an
annular, stepped ridge surrounding aperture 46. Clip 44 cooperates with housing
12 and support structure 48 to secure the assembled elements to baseplate 18.
Baseplate 18 preferably is generally rectangular in shape, having
four perimetPr edges 50, 52, 54 and 56. Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3, a
portion of elastomeric ring 42 disposed about outer periphery 38 of distance ring
16 extends beyond perimeter edges 50 and 54. Alternatively, a portion of outer
periphery 38 may extend beyond edges 50 and 54. Thus, the user can grasp a
portion of device 10, such as baseplate 18 or housing 12, and bring either
elastomeric ring 42 or outer periphery 38 of distance ring 16 in contact with
scaled surface 34. In alternative embodiments, baseplate 18 can have a variety of
shapes and any number of perimeter edges, provided that a portion of elastomeric
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ring 42 or outer periphery 38 of distance ring 16 extends beyond at least one ofthe perimeter edges.
In a prefe~red embodiment, baseplate 18 is constructed of a
S transparent m~t~ri~l, such as clear plastic. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, baseplate
18 inchldes an indicia 58 that cooperates with indicia 40 on distance ring 16 tomeasure point-to-point distances on scaled surface 34 in a manner subst~nti~lly as
described above with respect to stationary indicia 32 on contrast ring 30.
Referring now to FIGURE 5, an ~lt~ tive embodiment of device
10 includes a compass assembly 60, baseplate 18, and a distance wheel 62.
Compass assembly 60 includes housing 12, compass needle 14, azimuth ring 24
having azimuth indicia 26, and contrast ring 30 having stationary indicia 32. The
elements comprising compass assembly 60 function and are assembled together
and mounted to baseplate 18 subst~nti~lly as described above with respect to theembodiment of FIGURES 1 through 4.
Distance wheel 62 preferably is disc-shaped and made of a
subst~nti~lly rigid material, such as plastic. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, ~ict~nce
wheel 62 is mounted to baseplate 18 in a conventional manner such that a portionof an outer periphery 64 extends beyond perimeter edges 54 and 56 and distance
wheel 62 rotates freely. In alternative embodiments, distance wheel 62 may be anannular ring and may be mounted at different locations on baseplate 18, provided,
however, that a portion of outer periphery 64 extends beyond at least one of
perimeter edges 50, 52, 54 and 56.
As discussed above with respect to distance ring 16, the outer
periphery 64 of distance wheel 62 preferably includes a notch to receive an
elastomeric ring, such as a rubber o-ring, to facilitate rolling along scaled surface
34. Alternatively and as discussed above, an elastomeric m~teri~l may be
disposed about the outer periphery 64 of distance wheel 62, such as by an
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adhesive or by dipping. As a further alternative, the outer periphery 64 of
distance wheel 62 may be textured, such as by knurling.
Distance wheel 62 includes indicia 66 for indicating distance
measurements between fixed points on scaled surface 34. In the preferred
embodiment, indicia 66 include a plurality of calibrated marks disposed on
dist~nce wheel 62, such as by etching, scribing, printing or painting. In use, the
user aligns one of the indicia 66 (indicating a zero reference) with a starting point
on scaled surface 34. The user then rolls distance wheel 62 along scaled surface34 until reaching a destin~tion point. The user can determine the point-to-pointdistance by noting the alignment of indicia 66, such as with a reference hatch
mark or a known orientation. As discussed above with respect to distance ring
16, indicia 66 may represent the outer circumference of distance wheel 62, in
either inches or centimeters, or may be scaled for a particular surface 34.
lS Alternatively, baseplate 18 may include an indicia 68, such as a scribed or printed
hatch mark, that cooperates with indicia 66 on distance wheel 62 to measure
point-to-point distances.
Referring now to FIGURE 6, a further ~ltefn~tive embodiment of
device 10 is illustrated. In this embodiment, device 10 includes all of the
elem~nt~ having the same functions and assembly as shown in FIGURES 1
through 4 and as discussed above, except without baseplate 18. The user
measures point-to-point distances by grasping housing 12, rolling distance ring 16
along scaled surface 34, and noting the alignment of indicia 40 with respect to the
starting and destination points.
While the embodiments illustrated in the FIGURES and described
above are presently preferred, it should be understood that these embo-lim~nt~ are
offered by way of example only. The invention is not intended to be limited to
any particular embodiment, but is intended to extend to various modifications that
nevertheless fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the
compass housing may be mounted to the baseplate at various locations.
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Furthermore, the baseplate may include a variety of other features, such as a
m~gnifier or a calibrated scale disposed along a perimeter edge. As an additional
example, the indicia on the distance ring may cooperate with indicia disposed onthe compass housing to measure point-to-point distances on a scaled surface.
