Device for a compass

• US 10,209,067 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Palin, Henrik, Nousiainen, Tuomo, Muhonen, Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): Guadalupe, Yaritza
• Application Number:
  US15/993,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20180356224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 33355 R
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/06 Suspending magnetic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/10 Comparing observed direction with north indication

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for a compass, the device comprising a support comprising a magnetic field detection means being mounted via a conical pivot bearing on a tip of a shaft, wherein the detection means is capable of rotating in at least a plane which is perpendicular to the direction of the shaft, a direction indicator device connected to the magnetic field detection means, and wherein the support comprises an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, the direction indicator device comprises an elongate plate with a direction indicator, wherein the middle portion of said support extends through an opening in the plate, the upper portion of said support comprises opposite first members extending over the top surface of said plate, and the lower portion of said support comprises opposite second members extending under the bottom surface of said plate, and said first and second members are vertically and pairwise aligned to form a first fork and a second fork for supporting the plate.

Claims

1. A device for a compass, the device comprising:

a support comprising a magnetic field detector being mounted via a conical pivot bearing on a tip of a shaft, wherein the magnetic field detector is capable of rotating in at least a plane which is perpendicular to the direction of the shaft, and

a direction indicator device connected to the magnetic field detector,

wherein

the support comprises an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, and

the direction indicator device comprises an elongate plate with a direction indicator, wherein;

the middle portion of said support extends through an opening in the plate,

the upper portion of said support comprises opposite first members extending over the top surface of said plate,

and the lower portion of said support comprises opposite second members extending under the bottom surface of said plate, and

said first and second members are vertically and pairwise aligned to form a first fork and a second fork supporting the plate.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the opening is arranged in the center of said plate.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said opposite first members are arranged colinearly.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said opposite second members are arranged colinearly.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said direction indicator extends in the elongate direction of said plate and said members are oriented crosswise to said elongate direction and extend along the width of said plate.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a first surface of the first member and a second surface of the second member of each fork are configured to allow pivoting of the plate about an axis.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least a part of the first surface and at least a part of the second surface are in the form of at least a part of a lateral area of a cylinder or in the form of at least a part of a lateral area of an elliptic cylinder or in the form of at least a part of a lateral area of a triangle.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least a part of a cross-section of the first member and the second member is in the form of at least a part of a circle, at least a part of an ellipse, at least a part of a triangle, or at least partially annular.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the first surface of the first member of the first fork faces the second surface of the second member of the first fork and the first surface of the first member of the second fork faces the second surface of the second member of the second fork.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the axis of pivoting is orientated perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plate.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of the plate is greater than 1.5.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be accommodated in a housing of the compass.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the shaft is arranged substantially perpendicular to a bottom of the housing.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field detector comprises a permanent magnet.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field detector comprises a neodymium magnet.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator device includes at least one spacer element.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator device includes two spacer elements which project from the plate of the indicator device at opposite ends of the plate.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of at least one of the indicator device, the plate, the support, the first fork, and the second fork is made of a plastic material.

19. A compass comprising a device for a compass, the device comprising:

a support comprising a magnetic field detector being mounted via a conical pivot bearing on a tip of a shaft, wherein the magnetic field detector is capable of rotating in at least a plane which is perpendicular to the direction of the shaft, and

a direction indicator device connected to the magnetic field detector,

wherein

the support comprises an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, and

the direction indicator device comprises an elongate plate with a direction indicator, wherein;

the middle portion of said support extends through an opening in the plate,

the upper portion of said support comprises opposite first members extending over the top surface of said plate,

and the lower portion of said support comprises opposite second members extending under the bottom surface of said plate, and

said first and second members are vertically and pairwise aligned to form a first fork and a second fork for supporting the plate.