Abstract:
A safe, stable compass for making circles and ellipses, having a stable rotating platform with a variably adjustable arm that allows the device to be self-supporting upon a surface and to be easily rotated in any one of a variety of directions around a single rotating point. The invention allows persons of limited manual dexterity to apply force in one location and then to rotate the entire device around this one point.

Description:
PRIORITY 
   This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled All In One Compass filed by Roy O. Solum on May 13, 2003, with application Ser. No. 60/469,888, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to tools for making circles, and more particularly relates to compasses and ellipsographs for persons with manual limitations. 
   2. Background Information 
   In order to form circles or ellipses, a variety of tools have been developed. One of the most common types of tools is a pointed compass, which includes a first arm that extends from a point to a pivot. At this pivot, the first arm is connected to a second arm, which is typically connected to a scribing device such as a pencil or other marking device. These tools are typically utilized by placing the point at a pre-selected location, adjusting the scribing device a desired distance from the central pivot point, and twisting the scribing device about the central point so as to establish a circular shape. Ellipses can also be formed by bringing the scribing portion closer to the central point as the device is turned. 
   These types of devices have several significant shortcomings. As a first matter, these devices typically require a certain level of manual dexterity in order to twist the compass around the pivot point. This level of manual dexterity is simply not available to many individuals who, because of age, physical or mental condition are simply not able to steadily twist the device in a desired position and orientation. As a result, these tools are oftentimes not effective for forming a circle or ellipse because of the inherent instability of the compass itself. As a second matter, many times these devices are made of metal or plastic and include a sharp point, which can provide a danger to the user as well as to other persons. 
   Other types of circle forming devices have also been developed, but these devices typically include a base that is placed upon or around a surface to be marked and that is held in a fixed position while a marking devices is rotated around a portion of the fixed base. These devices are typically bulky and expensive and thus not well suited for portable use or for access by a wide variety of persons. 
   Therefore, what is needed is a compass for making and marking circles and ellipses that provides increased stability and safety, can be utilized by persons with manual limitations, and which can be easily transported from one location to another. What is also needed is a device that performs all of the above features and which is also cost effective to produce and which can thus be made commercially available to a wide variety of persons. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safe, stable compass to persons of limited manual capability. It is a further object of the invention to provide a safe stable compass that can be easily transported from one location to another and can be manufactured in a cost effective manner so as to provide for access to said product by a variety of individuals. 
   Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a safe, stable compass for making circles and ellipses. The present invention is specifically adapted and configured so as to provide a stable rotating platform with a variably adjustable arm that allows the device to be self-supporting upon a surface and to be easily rotated in any one of a variety of directions around a single rotating point. The invention allows persons of limited manual dexterity to apply force in one location and then to rotate the entire device around this one point. The use of a large stable base with an arm that is selectively pivotally connected thereto allows the device to form circles having various desired configurations. 
   The connection between the arm and the base allows for selective pivotal orientation and allows the arm to be folded back on to the base of the device so as to be easily transported from one location to another. In the preferred embodiment, the device is also made from a plastic material. The rotating point is covered and configured to allow the device to be made in a manner that is less expensive than other devices that are found in the prior art. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the arm of the device is adapted to hold either a marking or a cutting device, thus allowing the present invention to not only be able to mark circles, but also to be able to cut circles, ellipses, and other desired shapes. 
   The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
   Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–3 , the present invention is a compass that is shaped and designed to allow a party to draw circles and elliptical figures having a desired shape and configuration. The compass of the present invention provides several advantages over the prior art in that it provides a party with a more definite and stable base from which the circle can be drawn. This allows for increased ease of use without the dangers, instabilities, and marring of underlying surface material that exists with many of the prior art devices. The present invention in its preferred embodiment also lacks any sharp protruding portions that are seen in the prior art and thus is a comparably safer device that can be utilized. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a compass that provides all of the aforementioned advantages and that can be easily stored for later use, as well as a compass that can be easily transported from one location to another. The simple design of the present invention also lends the invention to increased ability of the device to be utilized by a variety of individuals with various limitations to their manual dexterity. The design and features of the present invention also allow the device to be manufactured by simple manufacturing techniques and thus to be available to a wide variety of persons at a relatively low cost. 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1  of the present invention, a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The invention is a compass  10  having a base plate  12 , with marking indicia  30 , having a body. The body of the base plate  12  defines a first pointer  14  and extends to an arm connecting portion  16 . In some embodiments of the invention, the first pointer  14  may be a portion of the base that is simply shaped as a pointer and is utilized to maintain and hold the device  10  in a desired position and orientation. In other embodiments, the first pointer  14  may be a device such as a finger or a writing instrument such as a pen, pencil, marker or other device that is configured to pass through an aperture  34  within the base plate  12  and provide a post about which the base plate  12  will rotate. In the preferred embodiment, the pointer  14  is a small rod  38  having rubber circles  36  on each end. This rod  38  is configured to fit within an aperture  34  in the base plate  12  and to allow the base plate  12  to rotate freely around the post  38  when pressure is applied to the rubber circles  36  so as to hold the post  38  in a desired location. 
   The base plate  12  is selectively adjustably connected to an arm  22  through an adjustable connection device  18 . The adjustable connection device  18  allows the orientation of the arm  22  in relation to the base plate  12  to be selectively varied and locked, thus allowing the diameters of the various circles and the radiuses of the various arcs to be varied. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustable connection device  18  is a nut and bolt combination (most preferably a wing nut and bolt combination). This configuration allows for nearly infinite adjustment of the arm in relation to the base plate  12 . While this type of connection device  18  is shown as the preferred embodiment, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to bring about the desired ends of a connector that allows the position of the arm  22  to be adjusted and locked in a desired position and orientation. This includes various devices including pawls, ratchets, and gaps as long as these devices allow the position and orientation of the arm  22  to be selectively turned and locked in relation to the position and orientation of the base plate  12 . 
   The arm  22  of the present of the invention is selectively rotatably positioned upon the base plate  12  through the adjustable connection device  18 . This allows the arm  22  to be positioned and held in any one of a variety of preselected positions. The arm  22  has a first end  24  designed for placement against the base plate  12  through the selectively adjustable connection device  18  and extends along a length to a second end  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the first end of the arm  24  has a hole configured to receive a bolt  40 , which extends through the base plate  12  and the first end of the arm  24  and connects with a compatibly configured nut  42 . The arm  24  extends along a length to a second end  26 , which is configured to receive and hold a scribing device  28  therein. The scribing device  28  may be either a marking device or a cutting device, depending upon the necessities of the user and the material with which the device is being utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the second end of the arm  26  provides an adjustably sized aperture, which allows scribing devices  28  of various widths and dimensions to be utilized in the various embodiments of the invention. Among the items that may be utilized as scribing devices  28  in the present embodiment of the invention are pens, pencils, markers, cutting razors, and other similar items. The aforementioned list is intended to be merely illustrative and in no way should be deemed as an exclusive list of accessories that may be utilized as scribing devices within the present invention. 
   In use, a party utilizing the device  10  places a scribing device  28  within the second end  26  of said arm and adjusts the position of the scribing device  28  within the second end of the arm  22  so that the desired portion of the scribing device  28  is in contact with a portion of a surface that is to be scribed. The first pointer  14  is placed in a desired center location and the arm  22  is moved into a desired position. In order to assist a user of the device, various positions for the arm  22  are marked along the base plate  12 . These positions approximate the diameters of the circles that can be drawn utilizing the device  10 . The base plate  12  and the arm  22  are thereafter rotated about the first pointer  14  so as to cause the scribing device  28  to scribe an arc of a desired size and shape about the first pointer  14 . This system is significantly more stable than other devices that exist in the prior art and allow persons with limited manual dexterity to be able to utilize the present invention. 
   In addition to the features shown in the preferred embodiment, it is to be distinctly understood that a variety of other features may also be utilized. These features include embodiments where the first pointer  14  is simply a point positioned upon the base plate  12 , rather than the rotating type embodiments that exist in the preferred embodiment. In addition to these features, it is to be distinctly understood that a variety of other types of pieces, handles, and accessibility features may be added to the existing invention all without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the following claims. 
   While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.