Improvements in and relating to Ground Compasses.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ground Compasses.
WILLIAM Low Head Gardener to the Duke of Grafton K.G. Euston Hall
Thetford Norfolk do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The legs of the compasses are of wood 4 feet long, shod with iron, in the inner
side of one leg is a slit 2 feet in length, commencing at about 16 inches from the
top, this is of an inch deep and a little more than th of an inch wide, in which
rests a thin straight piece of wood of about the same dimensions, secured at the
top by an iron pin round which it moves, when the compasses are about to be.
used, this is removed from its place at the lower end, passed through another slit
in the opposite leg and there secured by a thumb screw at the required distance,
thus answering the purpose of the segment in the ordinary compasses, but taking
up less space when not in use. To prevent the stationary leg sinking in soft
ground, an instrument is provided consisting of a piece of wood about 4 inches
square and 1 inch thick, fitted on the underside with an iron spike about 3 inches
long for thrusting into the ground, on its upper side and level with it, is screwed a
small iron plate about 14 inch square having a hole in the centre in which the leg.
of the compasses turn, this instrument is also provided with sights at right angles
to each other for use as a cross in erecting perpendiculars, the iron spike fitting
into a hole at the top of the compasses which when closed are secured by a leather
strap and can be thrust into the ground serving the purpose of a staff.
Dated this 11th day of January 1893.
WILLIAM LOW.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ground Compasses.
I WILLIAM Low of Euston Gardens Thetford in the County of Norfolk Head
Gardener to the Duke of Grafton, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The legs of the compasses are of wood 4 feet long shod with iron, in the inner
side of one leg is a slit 2 feet in length commencing at about 16 inches from the
top, this is of an inch deep and a little more than an th of an inch wide in which
rests a thin straight piece of wood of about the same dimensions secured at the top
by an iron pin round which it moves, when the compasses are about to be used
this is removed from its place at the lower end passed through another slit in the
opposite leg and there secured by a thumb screw at the required distance, thus
answering the purpose of the segment in the ordinary compasses but taking up less
space when not in use. To prevent the stationary leg from sinking, in soft ground,
an instrument is provided consisting of a piece of wood about 4 inches square and
1 inch thick fitted on the under side with an iron spike about 3 inches long for
thrusting into the ground, on its upper side and level with it is screwed a small
iron plate about 1 inch square having a hole in the centre in which the leg of the
compasses turn, this instrument is also provided with sights at right angles to each
other for use as a cross in erecting perpendiculars, the iron spike fitting into a
hole at the top of the compasses which when closed are secured by a leather strap
and can be thrust into the ground serving the purpose of a staff.
The use of the straight piece of wood, instead of the segment in general use in
ground compasses and the position of the thumb screw by being placed on the outer
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page_text: side of the leg instead of the centre as in the ordinary ground compasses, enables
the straight piece of wood to be secured at any part of its length. The above in
combination with the square piece of wood fixed in the ground as a rest or base
for the compasses keeps the same firm, and enables truer and more accurate
designs for garden purposes to be made than with the ordinary ground compasses.
The use of the same square piece of wood when fixed at the top of the compasses
enables perpendiculars to be erected as described in the Specification in a novel
and improved manner.
Further by reason of the slit in the inner side of the leg of the compasses to
which the straight piece of wood is attached, and in which it is inserted when not
the compasses when secured by a leather strap or band can be used for the
purposes of a staff and are rendered more easily portable than the ground
compasses now in use.
in
use,
In the drawings A and B represent the legs of compasses.
C and D represent the slots or grooves in the legs.
E represents the pin or hinge.
F represents the screw for securing the straight cross piece.
G represents the straight cross piece.
H¹ and H represent the plate and spike.
H represents the plate in position at foot of compass.
H' represents the instrument or plate inserted in top of compasses.
I represents the orifice in top of compasses for inserting pin of plate.
J and J represents the compasses closed for use as a staff.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. Ground compasses constructed with grooves or slots in the legs substantially
as described and shown.
2. Ground compasses having a straight cross piece hinged to one leg on a pin
fixed in position for use by means of a screw substantially as described and shewn.
3. An instrument consisting of a plate bearing an iron spike or centre pin
projecting from one side and having a hole in the other side for inserting the leg of
the compass substantially as described and shown.
4. An instrument consisting of flat plate bearing a pin on one side for inserting
in an orifice at top of compasses and provided with sights substantially as
described and shown."
Dated this 17th day of August 1893.
WILLIAM LOW.