AU2001100148A4 - Map coordinate locator and identifier. - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Agent and Address Young Street 189 Pty Ltd Jeremy Cordeaux for Service: MADDERNS, 1 st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention Title: MAP COORDINATE LOCATOR AND IDENTIFIER Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PQ 8570 Date: 6 th July 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for simplifying the use of maps and in particular the ease of locating and clearly identifying a desired destination within a coordinate grid on a map.

BACKGROUND

Maps and atlases are available in a variety of formats.

One form is that of a sheet of paper which is folded so that it can be stored conveniently. This form of map is typically used to present large geographic areas such as a state, country or a number of countries. Travellers moving over large distances often use this type of map.

It is not typical for this type of map to contain details such as the street names in country towns but when they do so, there will be a separate area on the map page devoted to that requirement. The names of all the streets in the township are provided in an index and adjacent to the index there will be a scaled illustration of the streets of the township located within a grid. The index provides a reference to a location on the grid.

Maps of large townships and cities use a different form of map display scheme.

Numerous details need to be displayed accurately and clearly in maps associated with large cities. The many maps it takes to do so are arranged into a book format, commonly known as a "Street Directory".

Each street and often other landmarks or places of interest are listed in a large index often located at the front of the directory. Adjacent each entry in the index there is a map reference, typically comprising a map page number and a grid reference. Each map in the directory is numbered and overlaid with a grid. The vertical lines of the grid form columns each typically having a unique letter of the alphabet at the top and bottom of the column. The horizontal lines of the grid form rows each typically having a unique numeral at each side of the row. Sometimes the row and column nomenclature is the opposite to that described. Thus for example, Logan Street (assuming there is only one Logan Street in that city) has an index entry of the form 109 The user of the map thus opens the directory to map page numbered 109 and moves their finger down column D until it meets row 5. Somewhere in the square defined by that grid reference would be found Logan Street.

The previous example is but one of a number of variants used in Street Directories and used as an example herein as it is one of the more common variants.

Although there appear no problems for the user in the process described above, the contrary is actually the case.

Users of maps are not always able to readily repeat the process as they approach their intended destination, as their attention cannot be fully devoted to the task.

They are driving or have other distractions and the particular grid square is crowded with names that run in many directions. In use while driving, the grid square and the street depicted on the map page become less distinct. As the pressures of driving to the destination become greater, reading the map page can become a driving hazard. Furthermore, driving at night time may add to the pressure on the driver and compromise driver or occupant safety.

The safest option is for the driver to stop the vehicle and repeat the above-described process.

At this stage, it is difficult for the driver to remember the page number and map coordinates and therefore they need to be looked up again.

Once the street location is identified again, the route to get to the desired location can be reassessed based on the driver's current location if known. Adding to the frustration of the driver, it may be discovered that a wrong turn had previously been taken due to the difficulty in reading maps whilst driving.

The invention described herein will reduce or eliminate some or all of the above problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one broad aspect the invention is a reusable map coordinate identifier for use with a map displayed on a sheet, the map having coordinates wherein the map coordinate identifier consists of a sheet of transparent material wherein said material is releasably positionable on said sheet and sized to identify a location within a said map coordinate that is locatable by a user over or near a desired map location that lies within coordinates so as to identify where on said map a desired location map lies.

In another broad aspect of the invention a reusable map coordinate identifier for use with a map displayed on a sheet, the map having coordinates wherein the map coordinate identifier consists of a strip of material adapted to allow the map to be seen and to be slidable along an edge of said sheet and releasably held onto said sheet on which said map is displayed and a cursor adapted to allow the map to be seen and to be slidably mounted on said strip for movement along said strip for positioning over a desired location within a said map coordinate.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in some further detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. These embodiments are illustrative, and are not meant to be restrictive of the scope of the invention.

Suggestions and descriptions of other embodiments may be included but they may not be illustrated in the accompanying figures or alternatively features of the invention may be shown in the figures but not described in the specification.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Fig. 1 depicts two versions of a map coordinate identifier being used on two separate sheets of a Street Directory; Fig. 2 depicts a top view of a map coordinate identifier annotated with grid identifiers suitable for a specific map; Fig. 3 depicts a side view of the map coordinate identifier of Fig. 2 facing downwards; Fig. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the map coordinate identifier at a-a; and Fig. 5 depicts an electro-static version of a map coordinate identifier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 depicts a booklet form of a Street Directory and shows in particular map pages and 12.

Map pages are also for the purposes of description sheets.

As an example Logan Street having an index reference of 109 5D is the location that the user of the map coordinate identifier is desirous of readily identifying.

Map page 12 in Fig 1 is map number 109 upon which is located a map coordinate identifier 14 consisting of a transparent strip of material extending across the page.

The strip is releasably held to the page on one side. The strip can be slid along that one side of the page, namely along, untill it overlies row 5 and is adapted to be releasably held in that position. A transparent cursor 16 can then be slid along the length of the strip 14 until it reaches column D. Below cursor 16 will be found Logan Street as desired.

While the cursor and strip are temporarily fixed in position, the user of the map can easily sight the desired map reference and hence with the assistance of markings on the cursor the desired destination street with a glance through the cursor on the relevant map page.

In Fig. 1 a cross-hair 18 is shown on the cursor 16, which can be used to more accurately sight and indicate the desired street. The cross-hair 18 can be positioned exactly over the street by adjusting the positions of the strip and the cursor. Since there will likely be a number of streets that share that same grid reference the cursor assists the user by directing their eye to the relevant street.

On map sheet page 10, the map coordinate identifier is shown operating vertically on the page. The strip 14 of the identifier is located extending from the top of the page to the bottom of the page and the cursor 16 slides along the length of the strip 14. In this example, the exact coordinate for that page has not yet been reached, as the strip is located between the D and E of the columns while the cursor 16 is located beside the 4th row. The cursor has a cross-hair 18, which has been placed, in this example, over the most convenient access street for the desired destination. Both the strip and the cursor are transparent so that the streets below are still clearly visible. It may also be advantageous to make the cursor so that it can magnify the map shown below it.

Alternatively, a magnifying element could be added to the cursor element (not shown). In this example the strip may be annotated to assist in the location of the relevant row rather than the column as shown in Fig 1.

Once the map coordinate identifier is in position, the position of the cursor not only clearly identifies the destination, but the whole map coordinate identifier also acts as a book mark. Thus, if the Street Directory accidentally closes, the relevant map page can be accessed quickly again by opening the Street Directory at the map pages containing the map coordinate identifier. This minimises the concentration required by the driver to refer to the map, thereby minimising the potential of accidents.

Fig. 2 depicts one example of a map coordinate identifier that consists a strip 14 sized to extend across the full width of a sheet of a Street Directory. This arrangement is merely an example of a map coordinate identifier using the principles disclosed herein.

In the example depicted in Fig. 2, the strip has annotations consisting of the letters of the alphabet arrayed along the top edge of the strip. Thus, it is not necessary to look to the top or bottom of the map page to determine the column reference when being used on a map of the type depicted on sheet 12 of Fig. 1. It will be noted that the same letters are arrayed upside down and in reverse order along the bottom of the strip. For different sized street directories the distance between the letters of the alphabet will be at the required separations. This arrangement allows this map coordinate identifier to be used on an adjacent map page (such as on sheet 10 of Fig. in an orientation that correctly shows the columns when clamped to the left hand side of the map page In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2, the strip is partially transparent along the portion of the strip carrying the alphabet. There is in this example, an aperture located between the portions of the strip carrying the alphabet, so that there is an unobstructed view of the map. The cursor 16 is arranged to slide along the strip but not so easily that it can slide without being pushed by the user, until the cross-hair 18 is positioned in the vicinity of the relevant location on the map.

The stiffness of the cursor sliding along the strip can be a function of the material the strip is made of and/ or its shape. In this example the strip is made of a heavy duty plastic and the cursor, in this example, is made of a similar plastic which is deformable but which retains its shape once in its final shape. Alternatively, the sides of the strip could be notched and a tab or tang on the cursor could lightly engage the notch that allows the cursor to be substantially captured at the location of the desired column reference. A side cross-sectional view of the cursor is depicted in Fig. 4 showing how the top and bottom of the cursor is folded across the lateral side of the strip. The strip can be made of a suitable material such as plastic so that its clamping mechanism is able to engage and be retained along the side of the map page. A preferable feature may be the stiffness of the material. The cursor is preferably transparent except for the cross-hair 18 used to more readily identify the destination location. As described previously the cursor could include a magnification function so as to make the underlying map easier to read.

The strip is depicted upside down in Fig. 3 in a side view.In this example, the strip has a fold at one end forming a releasable clamp means in the form of a fold-back region 22 that overlies the edge of the sheet to which it is to be applied. The fold in the strip is further adapted to clamp to the page by use of a separate C-shaped extrusion 24 fitted over the fold. The C-shaped extrusion forces the inner surfaces of the fold against the map page or sheet to which the map coordinate identifier is to be applied. The C-shaped extrusion is a preferable element when certain strip materials are used and may not be required with others.

The free end of the fold-back region 22 has an upturned end 26 that assists in the process of easily sliding the strip over the edge of the map page.

The above described embodiment is but one example of a map coordinate identifier made according to the principle of the invention.

Another example of a map coordinate identifier using the principles of the invention is in the form of an electrostatically chargeable sheet of material that adheres to the map page without the need for the clamping arrangement as described above. The static charge difference between the strip and the page is sufficient for the strip and an associated cursor to be located on the map page that is not moveable unless moved by the user.

In a yet further example, depicted in Fig. 5, there can be a single, preferably square shaped (also preferably sized to the same dimensions as a grid but not necessarily so as it could be larger or smaller and still function to more readily identify the desired location) electrostatically charged sheet of transparent plastic 28. Once the location of the street or other desired location has been determined, the preferably small transparent sheet can be located over the desired location with its coordinate grid on the map page. So that the location of the street can be easily determined once identified, the sheet may have a colour that contrasts with the information that makes up the map. The grid-sized square may have a cross-hair or similar marking to assist the positioning and subsequent re-identification of the desired location on the map.

The pages of the Street Directory or sheet map may also be capable of being electrostatically charged to encourage the attraction and removable adhesion of the plastic sheet to the map.

The square shaped electrostatically charged sheet may also have an extended portion that is at least greater than half the length of the longest map page so that it will extend beyond the sides of the page when and if the map book should close. This then facilitates easy relocation of the relevant map page.

A yet further embodiment (not depicted in the figures) consists of the use of a metallic sheet having the approximate height and width dimensions of a map page, positioned behind the relevant map page; and a magnetic marker locatable near or encircling (if transparent or otherwise provided with a suitably sized viewing aperture) the desired location on the map. The metallic sheet would act as a map page finder and the magnetic marker would be releasably positionable on the map.

The marker would be sized so as to avoid obscuring relevant portions of the map.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/ or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

Claims (5)

1. A reusable map coordinate identifier for use with a map displayed on a sheet, the map having coordinates wherein the map coordinate identifier consists of a sheet of transparent material wherein said material is releasably positionable on said sheet and sized to identify a location within a said map coordinate that is locatable by a user over or near a desired map location that lies within a map coordinate so as to identify where on said map a desired location lies.

2. A reusable map coordinate identifier according to claim 1 wherein said material extends in at least one direction more than half the length of the longest side of said map page.

3. A reusable map coordinate identifier for use with a map displayed on a sheet, the map having coordinates wherein the map coordinate identifier consists of a strip of material adapted to allow the map to be seen and to be slidable along an edge of said sheet and releasably held onto said sheet on which said map is displayed and a cursor adapted to allow the map to be seen and to be slidably mounted on said strip for movement along said strip for positioning over a desired location within a said map coordinate.

4. A reusable map coordinate identifier according to claim 3 wherein said strip and cursor are sized to identify a location within a said map coordinate.

5. A reusable map coordinate identifier according to claim 3 wherein said cursor is adapted to magnify said map coordinate. Dated this 6th day of July, 2001 Young Street 189 Pty Ltd By its Patent Attorneys MADDERNS