Compass

In a spherical compass having a compass card positioned in a horizontal plane within a pair of hemispherical bowls filled with damping fluid and joined together parallel to a compass mounting plane,

• support means for adjustably positioning said compass card into its horizontal plane within said bowls thereby enabling selective mounting of said compass with its mounting plane oriented at an angle between the horizontal and vertical comprising:
• a movable compass card support unit mounted within said bowls;
• means defining an opening in one of said bowls;
• a pliable boot sealed to the exterior of said one bowl and;
• securing means mounted on said support unit and extending outwardly therefrom through said opening within said boot for securing said support unit in an adjustably fixed position.

Spatially adaptable support means for orienting to a horizontal plane the compass card of magnetic compasses of the class having a spherical housing filled with damping fluid, comprising:

• a hemispherical bowl having an adjustment slit extending at least 90.degree. along an arc perpendicular to the equator of said bowl, the plane of said equator being parallel to a compass mounting plane;
• a unit fitting within said bowl for supporting said card;
• a pliable boot sealed to the exterior of said bowl and;
• securing means extending from said unit through said slit within said boot;
• whereby said card may be slidably adjusted and rigidly held at any angle up to 90.degree. to said mounting plane.

Spatially adaptable support means for orienting to a horizontal plane the card of magnetic compasses of the class having a spherical housing filled with damping fluid, comprising:

• a hemispherical bowl having a bore lying in an arc perpendicular to the equator of said bowl, 75.degree. from said equator, and first cooperating detent means lying in said arc spaced less than 45.degree. from said bore, said equator being parallel to a compass mounting plane;
• a pliable boot sealed to the exterior of said bowl and enclosing said bore and;
• a unit fitting within said bowl for supporting said card comprising a semicircular band rotatable about a pin projecting 45.degree. from the midpoint of said band through said bore and having second cooperating detent means spaced on opposite sides of said pin on said arc bisecting said band at a distance equal to that between said hole and said first cooperating detent means,
• whereby, by rotating said unit by means of said pin, said card support structure may be adjusted and rigidly detented either in a plane parallel to said compass mounting plane or in a plane 90.degree. therefrom.

In a spherical compass having a compass card positioned in a horizontal plane within a pair of hemispherical bowls joined together parallel to a compass mounting plane,

• support means for adjustably positioning said compass card into its horizontal plane within said bowls for selective mounting of said compass card with its mounting plane oriented at an angle between the horizontal and vertical, comprising:
• a movable compass card support unit mounted within said bowls and,
• adjustment means for adjustably, selectively positioning said support unit relative to said bowls thereby orienting said compass card to its horizontal plane, including
• means defining an opening in one of said bowls and
• securing means mounted on said support unit and extending outwardly therefrom through said opening for securing said support unit in an adjustably fixed position.