Attachment for a magnetic needle assembly for vehicles

Claim 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.