Compass assembly

• US 7,191,530 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vernon J. Thibodeaux
• Original Assignee: Vernon J. Thibodeaux
• Inventors: Thibodeaux, Vernon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; G. Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, AMY COHEN
• Application Number:
  US11/207,028
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 33/270.32, 33/270.1, 33/270.2, 33/270.3, 33/270.31, 33/270.33, 33/270.6, 33/270.7, 337/59, 337/60, 337/61, 337/67, 337/68, 337/69, 337/70, 337/71, 336/68, 334/84, 334/85
• US Class Current: 33/27.032
• CPC Class Codes: B43L 9/045 Tape compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2003/1074 associated with the casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1071 Separate means for supporting or affixing measuring tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1084 Tapes combined with arrangements for functions other than measuring lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1089 for marking, drawing or cutting

Abstract

A compass assembly includes a tape measure apparatus that includes a housing and a tape measure removably extendable outwardly of the housing. A disc has a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral edge. The disc has a centrally located opening extending therethrough. A base is positioned in the opening. A spindle is attached to the base. A pointer is rotatably attached the spindle. A saddle configured to releasably hold the housing is rotatably coupled to the spindle. The housing is mounted on the saddle. A holder configured to releasably hold a writing utensil has an upper side, a lower side and a peripheral wall. A slit extends into the peripheral wall. A fastener releasably secures a free end of the tape to the holder. A writing utensil is removably secured to the peripheral wall with a securing member.

Claims

1. A compass assembly comprising:

a tape measure apparatus including a housing and a tape measure being removably extendable outwardly of said housing, a tape lock being mounted on said housing for selectively locking said tape measure with respect to said housing;

a disc having a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral edge, said disc having a circular shape, said disc having a centrally located opening extending therethrough;

a base being removably positioned in said opening;

a spindle being removably attached to said base and extending upwardly from said base, said spindle being vertically orientated and being aligned with an axis of said disc;

a pointer being rotatably attached to and extending away from said spindle, said pointer including a pair of arms attached together by a central member, said arms being vertically spaced from each other and extending in opposite directions with respect from each other, said spindle extending through a first of said arms such that a second of said arms is adjacent to said top side of said disc, a free end of said second arm being pointed;

a saddle configured to releasably hold said housing, said saddle being rotatably coupled to said spindle and extending away from said pointer, said housing being mounted on said saddle;

a holder configured to releasably hold a writing utensil, said holder having an upper side, a lower side and a peripheral wall being attached to and extending between said upper and lower sides, a slit extending into said peripheral wall, a fastener releasably securing a free end of said tape to said holder; and

a writing utensil being removably secured to said peripheral wall with a securing member.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further including measurement indicia being positioned on said top side.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, further including shape indicia being positioned on said top side.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base comprises a magnetic material.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said saddle includes a pair of legs and a middle portion extending between and attached to said legs, said legs being vertically spaced from each other and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, an upper leg of said legs being rotatably coupled to said spindle, said upper leg having an outer end having a pocket extending therein, said first arm being positioned in said pocket such that first arm and said upper leg are linearly aligned with each other, a lower leg of said legs having a depression therein for receiving said housing, said lower leg having a free end having an aperture therein extending into said depression, said tape being extendable through said aperture when said housing is in said depression.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said saddle includes a pair of legs and a middle portion extending between and attached to said legs, said legs being vertically spaced from each other and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, an upper leg of said legs being rotatably coupled to said spindle, a lower leg of said legs having a depression therein for receiving said housing, said lower leg having a free end having an aperture therein extending into said depression, said tape being extendable through said aperture when said housing is in said depression.

7. A compass assembly comprising:

a tape measure apparatus including a housing and a tape measure being removably extendable outwardly of said housing, a tape lock being mounted on said housing for selectively locking said tape measure with respect to said housing;

a disc having a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral edge, said disc having a circular shape, measurement indicia being positioned on said top side, shape indicia being positioned on said top side, said disc having a centrally located opening extending therethrough, said opening having a non-circular shape;

a base being removably positioned in said opening, said base having a same size and shape as said opening, said base comprising a magnetic material;

a spindle being removably attached to said base and extending upwardly from said base, said spindle being vertically orientated and being aligned with an axis of said disc;

a pointer being rotatably attached to and extending away from said spindle, said pointer including a pair of arms attached together by a central member, said arms being vertically spaced from each other and extending in opposite directions with respect from each other, said spindle extending through a first of said arms such that a second of said arms is adjacent to said top side of said disc, a free end of said second arm being pointed;

a saddle configured to releasably hold said housing, said saddle being rotatably coupled to said spindle and extending away from said pointer, said saddle including a pair of legs and a middle portion extending between and attached to said legs, said legs being vertically spaced from each other and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, an upper leg of said legs being rotatably coupled to said spindle, said upper leg having a pocket extending therein, said first arm being positioned in said pocket such that first arm and said upper leg are linearly aligned with each other, a lower leg of said legs having a depression therein for receiving said housing, said lower leg having a free end having an aperture therein extending into said depression, said tape being extendable through said aperture when said housing is in said depression;

a holder configured to releasably hold a writing utensil, said holder having an upper side, a lower side and a peripheral wall being attached to and extending between said upper and lower sides, a slit extending into said peripheral wall, a free end of said tape being extendable into said slit, a fastener releasably securing said tape in said slit; and

a writing utensil being removably secured to said peripheral wall with a securing member, said writing utensil extending through an aperture in said tape.

8. A compass assembly comprising:

a tape measure apparatus including a housing and a tape measure being removably extendable outwardly of said housing, a tape lock being mounted on said housing for selectively locking said tape measure with respect to said housing;

a disc having a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral edge, said disc having a circular shape, said disc having a centrally located opening extending therethrough;

a base being removably positioned in said opening;

a spindle being removably attached to said base and extending upwardly from said base, said spindle being vertically orientated and being aligned with an axis of said disc;

a pointer being rotatably attached to and extending away from said spindle;

a saddle configured to releasably hold said housing, said saddle being rotatably coupled to said spindle and extending away from said pointer, said housing being mounted on said saddle, said saddle including a pair of legs and a middle portion extending between and attached to said legs, said legs being vertically spaced from each other and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, an upper leg of said legs being rotatably coupled to said spindle, a lower leg of said legs having a depression therein for receiving said housing, said lower leg having a free end having an aperture therein extending into said depression, said tape being extendable through said aperture when said housing is in said depression;

a holder configured to releasably hold a writing utensil, said holder having an upper side, a lower side and a peripheral wall being attached to and extending between said upper and lower sides; and

a writing utensil being removably secured to said peripheral wall with a securing member.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, further including measurement indicia being positioned on said top side.

10. The assembly according to claim 8, further including shape indicia being positioned on said top side.

11. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said base comprises a magnetic material.

12. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said pointer includes a pair of arms attached together by a central member, said arms being vertically spaced from each other and extending in opposite directions with respect from each other, said spindle extending through a first of said arms such that a second of said arms is adjacent to said top side of said disc, a free end of said second arm being pointed.

13. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said peripheral wall of said holder has a slit extending therein, said free end of said tape being extendable into said slit, a fastener releasably securing said tape in said slit.