Abstract: A compass includes two legs having upper ends interconnected in a leg joint and lower ends with holders for refills or styluses. An adjusting spindle penetrates the legs, in particular, in vicinity of the leg joint. The legs have carrier zones in the form of widenings serving in a region between the leg joint and the free leg ends as a base of an information bearing surface surpassing the width of the legs in their spreading plane. The information bearing surfaces are disposed on both broad sides of the compass and constructed as undivided surfaces projecting from one leg into the region of the other leg. If the compass is closed, two mounting disks of the information bearing surfaces lie congruently above one another and only two outer information bearing surfaces and can be seen. All four information bearing surfaces can be seen in the open state of the compass.

Abstract: A compass includes a leg joint and two compass legs provided at lower ends with holders for refills or styluses and articulated with one another at upper ends. An adjusting spindle penetrates the compass legs, in particular in the vicinity of the leg joint. The compass legs are respectively provided with a carrier zone, in particular as a widening, that serves in the region between the leg joint and the free leg ends as a base of an information bearing surface surpassing the width of the compass legs in their spreading plane. The information bearing surface is disposed on at least one of the two broad sides of the compass and is constructed as an undivided surface that projects from one leg into the region of the other leg and permits the opening and closing of the legs without a gap or interspace being formed in the information bearing surface.