Abstract The invention is a viewing device suitable as a novelty item or for such other purposes as a teaching or navigational aid. It comprises a compass and in its preferred form has a 360° panoramic photograph wrapped into drum form and affixed to the compass. A viewing device is also provided, so that when the person observing the photograph is facing a given compass direction, he will see essentially the same view that would be seen by another observer facing in the same compass direction at the point at which the photograph was taken. An essential part of the invention is the way the photograph is represented. If the viewing device is arranged to see the outside surface of the drum-shaped photograph, the photograph must be a mirror-image representation. If the viewing means is arranged to see the inside surface of the drum-shaped photograph, a normal representation must be used. In other versions of the invention, the photographs need not have edge-to-edge continuity. In any case, a person observing the photographs will see different representations as he or she faces in different compass directions.
Inventors
👤 Richard B. Crossman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-08 21:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C17/00; G01C17/02; G01C17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A viewing device which comprises: a. magnetic compass means comprising a bearing means and at least one magnet mounted in conjunction therewith so that the compass means is free to seek the magnetic pole; b. a case having supporting means for the compass means; c. a photograph formed into a drum attached to the compass means so that the vertical axis of the drum is coincident with the axis of rotation of the compass, said photograph being a mirror-image representation shown on the outside of the drum; and d. viewing means for the photograph, said means comprising a mirror and magnifying lens, so that a person observing the photograph and facing in a given compass direction will see essentially the same view that would be seen by an observer standing at the point at which the photograph was taken and facing the given compass direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A viewing device which comprises: a. magnetic compass means comprising a bearing means and at least one magnet mounted in conjunction therewith so that the compass means is free to seek the magnetic pole; b. a case having supporting means for the compass means; c. a photograph formed into a drum attached to the compass means so that the vertical axis of the drum is coincident with the axis of rotation of the compass, said photograph being a mirror-image representation shown on the outside of the drum; and d. viewing means for the photograph, said means comprising a mirror and magnifying lens, so that a person observing the photograph and facing in a given compass direction will see essentially the same view that would be seen by an observer standing at the point at which the photograph was taken and facing the given compass direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The viewing device of claim 1 in which the photograph is a transparency presenting a mirror-image representation when viewed from the outside of the drum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The viewing device of claim 2 in which the transparency is illuminated from inside the drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The viewing device of claim 3 further including a battery-powered lamp to provide illumination of the photograph.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The viewing device of claim 1 in which the photograph is a panoramic representation comprising a 360 view taken from a given point in space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The viewing device of claim 5 in which the panoramic photograph is a continuous photograph.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The viewing device of claim 1 in which the panoramic photograph comprises a series of individual photographs.