Compass including a hand-held grip plate

Abstract

The invention relates to a compass comprising a plate (1) equipped with a support structure (2) for holding on the user's hand, said plate having an opening (6) in which an orientation capsule (9) is rotatably mounted by means of a ring (10) having a central housing (22) in which the orientation capsule (9) is fixed and mounting elements (28) for said plate, the opening (6) having complementary geometric means on which the elements (28) are mounted, allowing axial retention of said ring on the plate (1) while permitting its rotation, the complementary geometric means comprising an upper track (29) and a lower track, each allowing reversible mounting of the ring (10) on one of the upper (7) or lower faces of the plate, respectively, depending on the user's handedness. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Compass comprising a hand-holding plate

[0001] The invention relates to a compass intended to be held manually by a user, particularly in the context of practicing a sporting and / or outdoor activity such as orienteering or hiking.

[0002] Compasses include an orientation capsule provided with a dial on which a magnetic needle is mounted to rotate to indicate to the user the direction of the Earth's magnetic north, said dial further comprising a peripheral ring graduated from 0° to 360°, in order to enable said user to measure the azimuth of a reference object, for example a characteristic geographical point represented on a map or visible to the user in the field, the azimuth being the angle extending horizontally between the direction of magnetic north or of the map and the relative direction of said reference object with respect to the current geographical position of said user.

[0003] For the practice of sporting and / or outdoor activities as described above, compasses are known which include a plate on which such an orientation capsule is mounted in rotation, in order to allow the user to measure the azimuth of a reference object, and therefore to determine the direction to take to reach said object, by turning the dial of said capsule.

[0004] Compasses are known in particular whose baseplate is equipped with a structure for holding the user's hand, which facilitates their use and prevents their loss by the user during fieldwork. Such a structure generally includes an indentation or notch formed in the baseplate to allow the user to place their thumb and / or at least one loop through which a strap passes to be tightened around said thumb, as described, for example, in document EP-3 608 631.

[0005] On such compasses, the retaining structure is formed on one side of the plate, the other side of said plate being provided with an orifice which extends between an upper face and an lower face of said plate, and in which the orientation capsule is mounted in rotation so as to be disposed on one of said faces.

[0006] In particular, the orientation capsule is rotationally mounted in the orifice by means of a ring having a central housing in which the orientation capsule is fixed, as well as mounting elements on the plate, said orifice having complementary geometric means on which said elements are mounted. allowing the axial retention of said ring on said plate while permitting its rotation.

[0007] Users generally carry their compass according to their hand laterality, in particular on their "weak" hand, so as to retain the use of their "strong" hand to be able to perform other actions, for example holding a geographical map, drawing measurements or inscriptions useful for their progress or removing obstacles, for example branches.

[0008] Thus, to allow the compass to be worn on a right hand - respectively left -, the retaining structure must be formed to the right - respectively left - of the mounting hole of the orientation capsule.

[0009] On known compasses, the ring carrying the orientation capsule is mounted to rotate within the hole in the plate so that it is worn on only one type of hand (left or right). Thus, to accommodate all users, compasses are manufactured and marketed in two different versions, one for each type of hand.

[0010] The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing a compass in which the orientation capsule can be easily mounted on a plate in order to allow the arrangement of said capsule according to the manual laterality of the user.

[0011] To this end, the invention proposes a compass comprising a plate equipped with a support structure for the user's hand, said plate being provided with an orifice extending between an upper face and an lower face of said plate, said compass comprising an orientation capsule rotatably mounted in said orifice by means of a ring allowing the positioning of said capsule on one of said faces, said ring having a central housing in which the orientation capsule is fixed and mounting elements on said plate, the orifice having complementary geometric means on which the elements are mounted allowing axial retention of said ring on the plate while permitting its rotation,The complementary geometric means include an upper track and a lower track, each allowing reversible mounting of the ring on either the upper or lower face, depending on the user's handedness.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] schematically represents, in exploded perspective, a compass according to a method of implementing the invention;

[0014] [Fig.2a] and

[0015] [Fig.2b] represent in perspective, respectively top view ([Fig.2a]) and top view from below (figures 2b), the compass ring of the [Fig.l];

[0016] [Fig.3a] partially represents, in front view, the compass of the preceding figures in a right-handed carrying configuration (left-handed configuration),

[0017] [Fig.3b] being a cross-sectional view along plane AA of [Fig.3a], and

[0018] [Fig.3c] being an enlargement of zone B surrounded on [Fig.3b];

[0019] [Fig.4a] partially represents, in top view, the compass of the figures previous ones in a left-handed carrying configuration ("right-handed" configuration),

[0020] [Fig.4b] being a cross-sectional view along plane CC of [Fig.4a],

[0021] [Fig.4c] being an enlargement of the area D circled on the [Fig.4b].

[0022] In relation to these figures, a compass is described below, in particular intended to be used in the context of practicing a sporting and / or outdoor activity such as orienteering or hiking.

[0023] The compass includes a plate 1, for example made of plastic material, which is equipped with a structure 2 for holding it on the user's hand. In particular, the structure 2 includes at least one loop 3 for attaching a compass strap around a part of the user's hand.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, the holding structure 2 includes a notch 4 arranged to allow the user to place the end of his thumb in it, and a recess 5 arranged in line with said notch and opposite which the user can position the base of said thumb when holding the compass, said recess comprising two through slots 3a each forming a loop 3 in which a strap can slide to be tightened around said thumb, in particular by adjusting the length of said strap.

[0025] The plate 1 is further provided with an orifice 6 extending between an upper face 7 and an lower face 8 of said plate, the compass comprising an orientation capsule 9 which is mounted in rotation in said orifice by means of a ring 10 allowing the arrangement of said capsule on one of said faces.

[0026] In relation to [Fig.1], the orientation capsule 9 includes a housing 11 in which a magnetic needle 12 is mounted for rotation, in order to automatically orient itself towards a magnetic source of opposite polarity, in particular the Earth's magnetic north.

[0027] The housing 11 comprises a circular base 13 in the center of which is fixed a vertical rod 14, around which the magnetic needle 12 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis R parallel to said rod. To this end, the base 13 comprises a central cavity in which a lower end of the rod 14 is fixed.

[0028] The housing 11 further includes a peripheral skirt 15 which extends axially above the bottom 13, presenting a cylindrical geometry of revolution around the axis R.

[0029] In the description, the terms for positioning in space are taken with reference to the axis of rotation of the capsule 9 in its mounting hole 6, which coincides with the axis R of rotation of the magnetic needle 12, as well as to the representation of the compass in the figures. Thus: - the terms "axial" and "radial" are related to an arrangement respectively along this axis R and moving away from or towards it; - the term "angular" relates to a direction following a rotation around this axis R; - the terms "interior" and "exterior" are relative to a disposition respectively close to and far from this axis R; - the terms "lower", "higher", "vertical" and "horizontal" are taken in reference to a relative position of the compass with respect to the user.

[0030] The orientation capsule 9 further includes a protective screen 16 made of transparent material through which the magnetic needle 12 is visible, in order to allow the user to read the direction pointed by said needle, and thus to locate the relative direction of his current geographical position with respect to the Earth's magnetic north.

[0031] Advantageously, the plate 1 and the base 13 of the housing 11 are made of a transparent material, in order to allow the user to see through the compass the elements of a geographical map covered by said compass when said user places it on such a map, for example to orient the north of said map with respect to the Earth's magnetic north and / or to carry out measurements or drawings on said map, for example of the azimuth of a characteristic point that the user wishes to reach and / or the direction that said user wishes to take to reach said point.

[0032] The base 13 of the housing 11 can also have inscriptions, for example in the form of a network of parallel lines, which the user can align with a meridian drawn on a geographical map, in particular by rotating the capsule 9 in its orifice 6 around the axis R.

[0033] In the embodiment shown, the plate 1 has a straight edge 17 which extends horizontally in a vertical median plane defined by the axis R of joint rotation of the magnetic needle 12 and the orientation capsule 9, said edge being able to serve as a visual reference which the user can assimilate to a direction to take when using the compass to orient himself outdoors.

[0034] In particular, this edge 17 can be provided with graduations equally distributed over its entire length, in order to allow the user to measure a distance on his geographical map and to deduce a distance to be travelled outdoors from said measurement and the scale of said map.

[0035] The protective screen 16 includes an upper plate 18 made of transparent material, through which the user observes in particular the direction indicated by the magnetic needle 12, as well as a peripheral skirt 19 which extends axially under said plate.

[0036] In relation to figures 3b and 4b, the upper plate 18 includes a central cavity in which the upper end of the rod 14 is mounted for rotation, and a peripheral groove 20 which extends annularily under said upper plate to allow the housing 11 to be fixed to the screen 16 by fitting the upper edge of the skirt 15 into said peripheral cavity.

[0037] Furthermore, the protective screen 16 includes an annular dial 21 which is associated with the periphery of the upper plate 18, said dial including graduations equidistant angularly to allow the user to measure an azimuth, in particular between the direction of a characteristic point indicated on a geographical map or visible to the user in the field and a reference direction, for example the north of said geographical map and / or the Earth's magnetic north indicated by the magnetic needle 12.

[0038] The capsule 9 mounting ring 10 has a central housing 22 in which said capsule is fixed, said central housing comprising an upper housing 22a and a lower housing 22b in which respectively the protective screen 16 and the housing 11 are mounted.

[0039] In particular, the mounting ring 10 includes a crown 23 in which the upper housing 22a is formed, said crown having an inner radial wall 24 and an outer peripheral axial wall 25 which together delimit said upper housing.

[0040] In relation to figures 1 and 2a, the upper housing 22a has an annular groove 26 in which the peripheral skirt 19 of the protective screen 16 is mounted. For this purpose, the upper housing 22a has tabs 27 which each extend axially and in an equally distributed angular manner on the inner radial wall 24 to allow the centering and angular locking of the annular dial 21, the annular groove 26 being delimited internally by said tabs and externally by the peripheral wall 25 of the crown 23.

[0041] Advantageously, the peripheral wall 25 of the crown 23 is crenellated to facilitate its manual grip by the user when he wishes to move the ring 10 in rotation in the orifice 6.

[0042] The ring 10 further has mounting elements 28 on the plate 1, the mounting orifice 6 having complementary geometric means 29, 30 on which said elements are mounted allowing axial retention of said ring on said plate while allowing its rotation.

[0043] In the embodiment shown, the mounting members 28 extend axially and in an equally distributed angular manner under the crown 23.

[0044] The ring 10 also includes fixing members 31 for the housing 11 of the capsule 9 in the lower housing 22b. In the figures, the fixing members 31 each have an inner wall 32, said walls defining between them the periphery of the lower housing 22b, on which the housing 11 is fixed by radial clamping of its peripheral skirt 15 against said inner walls.

[0045] In particular, each fastening member 31 is inclined inside the lower housing 22b, and has a free end on which is formed a lug 33 intended to cooperate with an annular rim 34 extending radially outside the housing 11, in order to immobilize said housing axially and in rotation in the lower housing 22b.

[0046] In the embodiment shown, the fixing members 31 are equidistributed angularly under the crown 23, in particular by each being intercalated between two adjacent mounting members 28.

[0047] The ring 10 further includes centering elements 35 for the housing 11 in the lower housing 22b, said centering elements extending axially and in an equally distributed angular manner under the crown 23, each being intercalated angularly between an adjacent mounting element 28 and a fixing element 31.

[0048] Advantageously, the ring 10 also includes centering elements 36 for said ring in the orifice 6, which also extend axially and in an equally distributed angular manner under the crown 23. In particular, each centering element 36 for the ring 10 is angularly intercalated between an adjacent fixing element 31 and a centering element 35 for the capsule 9.

[0049] The complementary geometric means of the orifice 6 include an upper track 29 and a lower track 30 each allowing reversible mounting of the ring 10 on respectively one of the upper face 7 or lower face 8 of the plate 1, depending on the manual laterality of the user.

[0050] This arrangement allows the user to use the same compass in two different laterality configurations, and in particular to lend said compass to another user regardless of their laterality. Thus, compasses can be manufactured and marketed with only one type of model, independent of the users' handedness.

[0051] In relation to figures 1, 3b, 3c, 4b and 4c, the orifice 6 comprises a peripheral wall 37 on which an annular collar 38 extends radially inwards, said collar having an upper wall 39 and a lower wall 40 which together with said peripheral wall define respectively the upper track 29 and the lower track 30.

[0052] In particular, the radial collar 38 is formed in the middle part of the peripheral wall 37 of the orifice 6.

[0053] Each of the mounting members 28 has a free end capable of reversibly snapping into one of the upper 29 or lower 30 tracks of the orifice 6 respectively.

[0054] To do this, each mounting member 28 includes a lower lug 41 which extends radially from an outer wall of said member, said lug being intended to bear axially on the upper wall 39 or lower wall 40 of the corresponding track 29, 30 when mounting the ring 10 in the orifice 6.

[0055] Furthermore, the mounting members 28 are arranged to deform slightly when they are placed against the radial collar 38 during the mounting of the ring 10 in the orifice 6, and then return to their initial shape by elastic return after passing through said collar, in order to allow the lug 41 to be positioned axially with the corresponding track 29, 30.

[0056] Advantageously, the ring 10 and the various components 28, 31, 35, 36 are formed in one piece, in particular by molding a polymer material, in order to facilitate their manufacture and to allow the elastic deformation of said components when fixing the capsule 9 in said ring and / or when mounting said ring in the orifice 6.

[0057] As shown in [Fig.1], the plate 1 further includes two impressions 42 respectively upper and lower formed each radially near respectively a track 29, 30 for mounting the ring 10, said impressions being arranged to facilitate the manual grasping of said ring by the user, in order to allow its removal from the orifice 6.

Claims

Claims

1. Compass comprising a plate (1) equipped with a structure (2) for holding on the hand of a user, said plate being provided with an orifice (6) extending between an upper face (7) and a lower face (8) of said plate, said compass comprising an orientation capsule (9) mounted in rotation in said orifice by means of a ring (10) allowing the arrangement of said capsule on one of said faces, said ring having a central housing (22) in which the orientation capsule (9) is fixed and members (28) for mounting on said plate, the orifice (6) having complementary geometric means on which the members (28) are mounted allowing the axial retention of said ring on the plate (1) while allowing its rotation,said compass being characterized in that the complementary geometric means comprise an upper track (29) and a lower track (30) each allowing the reversible mounting of the ring (10) on respectively one of the upper (7) or lower (8) faces depending on the manual laterality of the user.,

2. Compass according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (10) has a crown (23) under which the mounting members (28) are distributed angularly.

3. Compass according to claim 2, characterized in that the mounting members (28) extend axially under the crown (23).

4. Compass according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the mounting members (28) has a free end capable of reversibly snapping into one of the upper (29) or lower (30) tracks of the orifice (6) respectively.

5. Compass according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ring (10) also comprises members (31) for fixing the capsule (9) in the housing (22).

6. Compass according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing members (31) each have an inner wall (32), said walls defining between them the periphery of the housing (22) on which the capsule (9) is fixed by radial tightening.

7. Compass according to claim 6, characterized in that each fixing member (31) is inclined radially towards the inside of the housing (22).

8. Compass according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the fixing members (31) are distributed angularly under a crown (23) of the ring (10).

9. Compass according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the ring (10) also comprises members (35) for centering the capsule (9) in the housing (22).

10. Compass according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ring (10) also comprises members (36) for centering said ring in the orifice (6).

11. Compass according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the orifice (6) comprises a peripheral wall (37) on which an annular collar (38) extends radially inwards, said collar having an upper wall (39) and a lower wall (40) defining with the peripheral wall (37) respectively the upper track (29) and the lower track (30).

12. Compass according to claim 11, characterized in that the collar (38) is formed in the middle part of the peripheral wall (37) of the orifice (6).

13. Compass according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the orientation capsule (9) comprises a housing (11) in which a magnetic needle (12) is rotatably mounted, as well as a protective screen (16) made of transparent material through which said magnetic needle is visible, the ring (10) comprising an upper housing (22a) and a lower housing (22b) in which respectively the protective screen (16) and the housing (11) are mounted.

14. Compass according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the ring (10) has a crenellated outer peripheral wall (25) to facilitate its manual gripping to move said ring in rotation in the orifice (6).

15. Compass according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the plate (1) comprises at least one loop (3) for fixing a strap for holding said compass around a part of the user's hand.

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