Abstract: A magnetic compass including a flexible bowl having a rim with an annular inwardly facing groove. The inwardly facing groove is adapted to engage a flange of a transparent cover in a tight sealing relationship, the combined assembly enclosing a compass rose.

Abstract: A recreational or sportman's compass is comprised of an inner vial including a compass needle which together with an azimuth ring is resiliently mounted within a housing so as to be rotatable together or independently of one another. The vial is assembled together with the outer azimuth ring and retainer in such a way as to permit assembly of the parts into snug-fitting concentric relation to the housing without the necessity of positively fastening or affixing the vial to the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structure of a telescope with compass which indicates the direction in which the telescope is pointed, at the periphery of the field of vision of the telescope. Referring to the compass used for the telescope: a magnet is provided in a compass direction indicating globe on whose outer circumference directions are indicated. This direction indicating globe is supported so as to float in a case containing a lubricating liquid such as oil, etc. This compass is attached to the body of the telescope (specifically, a pair of hand-held binoculars, etc.). Then, the compass direction indication of the direction indicating globe appears as an image at the same focal point as the focal point of the objective lens of the telescope. Referring to other forms of telescopes: the direction indication is especially applicable to a telescope attached to a stand. A gyrocompass fixed to the arms supporting the body tube is connected to a luminous diode or crystalline liquid indication means, etc.

Abstract: A spherical compass having a gravity operated support for automatically positioning its double axis gimbal system into a horizontal plane for selective mounting of the compass with its outer athwartships gimbal system axis mounted horizontally and its fore and aft compass mounting plane oriented at any angle between the horizontal and vertical. The support comprises a gimbal support unit mounted within the pair of hemispherical compass bowls for limited vertical movement from a normal lowered position in frictional damping contact with the inner surface of the lower of the hemispherical bowls to a raised position of reduced frictional contact to permit gravity adjustment of the gimbal system fore and aft axis and the fore and aft lubber lines and compass card into a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A compass hood construction is disclosed capable of closing entirely the face of a compass yet also providing higher viewing angles than is usually possible with available hood constructions. An outer stationary hood segment frictionally engages an annular flange in which the compass is mounted. Mounted within the hood segment are inner and outer hood sectors which are pivotally pinned to the stationary hood segment. The inner hood sector includes a tongue which engages a groove in the interior wall of the outer hood sector. When fully opened, the hood is defined essentially by the stationary hood segment. When fully extended, the inner and outer hood sectors form a hemispherical enclosure with the hood segment, completely enclosing the compass face.

Abstract: Compass apparatus includes a housing defining a liquid-filled sealed interior space and a compass card member disposed within the liquid-filled space for rotation therein. The housing comprises an upper transparent cover portion having an outwardly directed first flange extending around the perimeter thereof and a lower housing portion, preferably formed of elastic material, having an annular elastic flange extending around the periphery thereof, the upper surface of the latter flange abutting against the lower surface of the first flange in liquid sealing engagement therewith. A connecting ring having a U-shaped cross section maintains the abutting flanges in sealing engagement with each other thereby providing a housing which is simple to close and which may be reopened and reclosed as desired in a manner such that the integrity of the liquid seal is not impaired. A sealing ring member may be provided between the elastic flange of the lower housing portion and the lower flange of the connecting ring.

Abstract: A vessel for enclosing fluid, particularly a vessel adapting itself to the expansion and/or contraction of fluid for preventing the occurrence of air-bubbles in the fluid enclosed in the vessel.

Abstract: A compass includes a chamber, a card, needle or the like together with suspension means which suspend the card, needle or the like within the chamber. Magnet mounting means are engaged with the card, needle or the like and a magnet is engaged with the magnet mounting means in such a manner that in use the magnet may rotate at least in a plane normal to the plane containing the card, needle or the like, and such movement does not cause any substantial movement of the card, needle or the like.

Abstract: A terrestrial magnetic responsive device having a float carrying magnetic north-seeking means and responsive not only to magnetic north, but also to local magnetic force fields, said device having a liquid evaporation and liquid movement control means.

Abstract: A compass with means attached thereto for presenting a visual indication of the direction of the true wind. Such compass includes a compass dial divided into a plurality of equal parts, and it can be arranged to suit different viewing angles. To suit different types of boats, sailing conditions, etcetera, the indicating means may be adjustable. The device computes mechanically the direction of the true wind from the knowledge of the boat's course and the angle between such course and the direction of the true wind.

Abstract: A compass design particularly for wrist mounted and hand held compasses which includes a first exterior, fluid tight case having a pair of pivot members respectively on the upper and lower surfaces thereof for rotatably mounting a second interior case member which second case member is provided with a horizontally pivotal magnet body which magnet body is permitted to move a predetermined degree with respect to a normal horizontal position to accommodate for magnetic inclination and which outer case is filled with liquid to place the inner case in substantial equilibrium between the pivot members such that the inner magnet bearing case will be substantially frictionally free to rotate in the outer case.The mounting for the magnet body within the inner case allows the magnet body to oscillate and therefore provide free movement even though the magnet is not held in a horizontal position.

Abstract: A remote reading magnetic compass in which a coded compass disc is supported for rotation by a single upper pivot bearing which maintains the disc and associated compass magnet submerged in a damping liquid with positive buoyancy and which provides a selected range of tilt without gimbal mounting.

Abstract: A compass housing capable of withstanding high external pressure such as encountered in deep submergence applications. The housing includes a pair of hemispherical portions interconnected to form a sealed enclosure and at least one portion being formed of a resilient material capable of expansion and contraction in the presence of varying differential pressure conditions. The housing is completely filled with a damping liquid under pressure to provide an internal pressure higher than atmospheric pressure such that in the presence of higher external pressures, the inner and outer pressures tend to equalize, thereby minimizing the differential pressure on the housing itself.

Abstract: This invention relates to an attitude meter which measures the orientation of a plane surface with respect to the magnetic North direction and a horizontal plane. The meter includes a hollow transparent sphere containing liquid for supporting a compass and a vertical indicator, combined with a rotatable arcuate scale for facilitating visual reading of the compass and relative position of the vertical indicator. More particularly, the arcuate scale includes vertical orientation indicia and is mounted for rotational displacement to a position immediately adjacent the vertical indicator. By this arrangement the vertical angle of the surface being measured may be read directly from the arcuate scale and the direction of inclination relative to the magnetic North may be determined from the point of intersection of the arcuate scale and the liquid supported compass.

Abstract: Spatially adaptable support means for orienting the compass card immersed in damping fluid within a spherical housing of a magnetic compass to a horizontal plane during installation in any given mounting surface, comprising a movable compass card support unit and means for adjustably selectively positioning the support unit relative to the mounting plane and the sphere thereby positioning the card in its horizontal plane.