Attachment for a magnetic needle assembly for vehicles

• US 4,309,828 A
• Filed: 09/06/1979
• Issued: 01/12/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shoji Sakamoto
• Original Assignee: Shoji Sakamoto
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, Jr., William D.
• Application Number:
  US06/072,637
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 33/333, 33/347, 33/355 R, 33/356, 33/357, 33/358, 116/284, 116/289, 224/311, 224/312, 224/273, 224/282
• US Class Current: 33/355.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/18 Supporting or suspending compasses, e.g. by gimbal, by flotation

Abstract

A device for attaching a compass assembly to a vehicle body comprising a support rod provided with a ball member on its end, said rod being disposed vertically on the upper surface of the housing of said magnetic needle assembly.

Claims

1. A compass assembly for use in vehicles, comprising a housing having an opening and containing:

a first shaft means attached to said housing,

a spherical gear, coaxially and rotatably supported by said first shaft means,

a magnet secured within said spherical gear, said magnet and said spherical gear forming a one-piece unit,

an indicator plate having an aperture therein, said plate being secured to an external portion of said housing,

a second shaft means one end of which is rotatably mounted in said housing and the other end of which projects through the opening in said housing and through the aperture in said indicator plate, said second shaft means disposed at approximately a right angle to the axis of said first shaft means,

a second gear coaxially secured to said second shaft means and engaging said spherical gear,

an indicating pointer affixed to the projecting end of said second shaft means;

a transparent cover member secured to said housing to permit viewing of said indicator plate and said indicating pointer.

2. The compass assembly of claim 1, wherein said first shaft means is coplanar with said second shaft means.

3. The compass assembly of claim 1, wherein said one-piece unit has two axial bearing supports and said first shaft means comprises a first shaft member and a second shaft member each having an end which is received by the two bearing supports, said first and second shaft members supporting said magnet from above and below, respectively.

4. The compass assembly of claim 1, wherein the second gear is a crown gear.

5. The compass assembly of claim 1, wherein an attaching means is affixed to said housing comprising a rod provided at the free end with a spherical member whereby said spherical member is received within a bracket secured to said vehicle and having an aperture commensurate in shape to said spherical member.