GB2216265A

GB2216265A - Map reading aid

Info

Publication number: GB2216265A
Application number: GB8903849A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred John Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-23
Filing date: 1989-02-21
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-21
Also published as: GB2216265B; GB8903849D0; GB8804092D0

Abstract

A map reading aid for use in walking or other outdoor pursuits having a scale calibrated in a personal mobility parameter, such as travel time based on a predetermined walking speed, to enable the user to read off the value of the parameter between any two points on a map of a specified scale. Typically the aid will include a set of scales, each corresponding to a different walking speed, so that the walker can use the scale most closely corresponding to his estimated walking speed to measure his travel time between any two points on the map. Thus a succession of simple measurements will allow the walker to estimate his travel time over a route across variable terrain. In another form of the invention the personal mobility parameter is the numbers of strides based on a predetermined number of strides per unit of length. A walker can then use such an aid to assist him to determine distance travelled over the ground from a known starting point towards some other geographic feature which he wishes to walk towards. <IMAGE>

Description

MAP READING AID This invention relates to a map reading aid.

A walker uses a map to find his way and to assess the distance that he has to travel to reach his destination. A length measurement taken from the map is converted into a distance measurement using the appropiate map scale. A rule can be used to make this measurement and it is known to facilitate this by incorporating a rule in the base plate of a compass that is used in conjunction with a map to give direction bearings.

A walker can also estimate his journey time from an assessment of the distance to be travelled and an assessment of his walking speed. The map gives information about the gradient and the nature of the terrain over which the route passes and the walker uses this, and a knowledge of his own physical abilities, to estimate his walking speed over successive sections of the route. However, this process is relatively complicated in that it involves a series of individual measurements, distance conversions and time conversions based on speed assessments and a final summation to produce an overall journey time; and sometimes this has to be done under adverse weather conditions when the walker is tired.

Also it is often difficult, particularly in conditions of bad visibility, for a walker to relate approximate distances measure on a map to actual distances to be covered over the ground. For example, if a walker sets off from a known point on a map walking along a footpath and knows he must make a turn to the left along another footpath in say half a mile, it may be difficult for the walker to know with any real degree of accuracy when he is in the vicinity of the turn.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a map reading aid which assists in overcoming one or both of the above difficulties.

Thus according to the present invention there is provided a map reading aid having a scale calibrated in a personal mobility parameter which is adapted to read off the value of the mobility parameter between points on a map of a specified scale.

In one form of the invention the personal mobility parameter may be travel time, based on a predetermined mobility speed.

Preferably, a set of scales, each corresponding to a different walking speed, is provided on a single map reading aid so that the walker can use that scale which most closely cbrresponds to his estimated walking speed to measure the travel time between any two points on the map. A succession of simple measurements therefore allows him to make an estimate of his travel time over a route across variable terrain.

In another form of the invention the personal mobility parameter may be numbers of strides based on a predetermined number of walking strides per unit of length. A walker can then use such an aid to assist him to determine distance travelled over the ground from a known starting point towards some other geographic feature which he wishes to walk towards.

The map reading aid may comprise a multi-edged planar member with a different scale marked along each edge, so that the edge can be lined up with a route on a map. For example, a rectangular or square planar member can be marked with four different scales along the edges on one side and, if required, can be marked with another four scales along the edges on the opposite side. The plate may be composed of opaque or transparent material.

If the map reading aid employs, for example, travel time scales, different scales of the same length will represent different travel times. Thus, typically, the scales on the edges of a square planar member corresponding to walking speeds ranging from one to four miles per hour, will measure maximum travel times ranging from one hour to fifteen minutes. However, if preferred, the lengths of the scales can be different so as to vary the maximum travel time that each can measure. For example, the maximum travel time can be made equal for all scales, say one hour, so the planar member has edges with lengths proportional to the corresponding walking speeds. Thus, a planar member with four scales corresponding to walking speeds ranging from one to four miles per hour will take the form of a trapezium with sides having lengths of the same proportion.

It will be appreciated that a map reading aid according to the invention is a simple device that is easy to use and can be manufactured at low cost. It can be produced as a single-purpose device, or may also incorporate conventional scales for reading distances off a map, or incorporated in known map reading aids or devices such as compasses for use with maps to give direction bearings.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates one side of a map reading aid according to the invention suitable for use with a 1:50,000 map, Figure 2 illustrates the opposite side of the map reading aid of Figure 1, Figure 3 illustrates how the map reading aid of Figures 1 and 2 might be used on a 1:50,000 map, Figure 4 illustrates a further form of map reading aid suitable for use with a 1:25,000 map and having scales marked in numbers of strides, and Figure 5 illustrates a still further form of map reading aid with a generally central aperture whose edges are marked with further parameter scales.

The map reading aid illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a trapezoidally-shaped planar member in the form of a plate of opaque material which is marked with different scales along each of its four edges on both sides. Each scale corresponds to a different walking speed, quoted along the edge in miles per hour, and the scale shows the travel time in minutes for this speed when used on a map with a scale of 1:50,000. Each scale is sufficiently long to measure G travel time in excess of one hour. The scales chosen range from 0.5 miles per hour to 4 miles per hour in steps of 0.5 miles per hour, this being a convenient range of the personal mobility parameter "walking speed" for assessment purposes.

Figure 3 illustrates how the map reading aid of Figures 1 and 2 could be used on a map of scale 1:50,000 to estimate the time to complete a walk on the Fells starting at Mosedale and finishing at Mungrisdale. The aid is positioned on the map in four consecutive positions I, II, III, and IV, with an edge corresponding to the estimated speed orientated along a respective part of the route as follows: From Mosedale to left-turn before the mine estimated speed of travel 2.5 miles per hour - Aid in position I - reading 45 minutes.

An easy climb to left-turn up the Fell estimated speed of travel 2 miles per hour - Aid in position II - reading 39 minutes.

Climb path up the side of the Fell estimated speed of travel 1.5 miles per hour - Aid in position III - reading 57 minutes.

Downhill to Mungrisdale by steep path estimate speed of travel 2 miles per hour - Aid in position IV - reading 56 minutes.

Total estimated time for the walk equals 3 hours 17 minutes.

This map reading aid can therefore be easily used to estimate the travel time over any selected route or section of a route, for example, the travel time to a navigation point. Accuracy depends only upon the walkers ability to estimate his own travel speed, and thus, this aid also allows the walker to check his own ability in different conditions of terrain and weather and at different levels of fitness.

Figure 4 shows one side of a further form of map reading aid in accordance with the present invention which is again generally trapezoidal in form with the edges of each side marked in different scales representative of numbers of double strides based on different stride lengths measured in double strides per unit length.

In the example shown, the scales chosen represent the number of double strides between any two points on a map of a scale 1:25,000 when walking with a stride length of 50,60,70 or 80 double strides per 100 metres. The stride length correspond to large, medium, short and very short strides for a typical walker.

If required additional stride scales could be marked on the edges of the other side of the map reading aid or the other side of the the aid could be marked in travel time scales of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A map reading aid with stride length scales is extremely useful to give an approximate location of a geographic or navigational feature on a map from a known starting position. Such an aid is particulatly useful in measuring distances between landmarks in conditions of bad visibility.

For example, if a walker is at a given location on a map and knows that he must make a left turn off his current path along another footpath some distance away, having chosen the personal stride length scale most appropiate for the terrain (his stride length will shorten when going up or down hills or with fatigue etc), he can then measure from his map the appropiate number of double strides from the given location to the point where the left turn is to be made. He can then set out with confidence counting, for example each time he puts his left foot down until he has taken the estimated number of double strides and is thus in the approximate locality of the turn.

With a little practice a walker can soon acquire the necessary ability to estimate his stride pattern over different types of terrain and can thus achieve a surprising level of accuracy in estimate distances with the aid of the stride scales.

In a still further form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the map reading aid is provided with a generally central aperture X with edges marked in, for example, stride scales. Such an arrangement enables, for example, a map reading aid to be provided with travel time scales in accordance with Figures 1 and 2 around outside edges Y and stride scales on the edges of aperture X.

It will be appreciated that as well as being easy to use, a map reading aid in accordance with the present invention is lightweight, convenient in size and inexpensive to produce.

Further, it can be used in many different outdoor pursuits including cycling, running, orienteering, cross-country and skiing using scales calibrated in the appropriate personal mobility parameter.

Claims

1) A map reading aid having a scale calibrated in a personal mobility parameter which is adapted to read off the value of the mobility parameter between points on a map of a specified scale.

2) A map reading aid according to claim 1 in which the personal mobility parameter is travel time based on a predetermined mobility speed of movement over the ground.

3) A map reading aid according to claim 2 including a set of scales each corresponding to a different speed of movement over the ground so that a user can use that scale which most closely corresponds to his estimated speed of movement, to measure the estimated travel time between any two points on the map.

4) A map reading aid according to claim 3 in which the personal mobility parameter is travel time based on a predetermined walking speed.

5) A map reading aid according to claim 1 in which the personal mobility parameter is numbers of strides based on a predetermined number of walking strides per unit of length.

6) A map reading aid according to claim 5 including a set of scales each corresponding to a different predetermined number of strides per unit length so that a walker can use the scale which must closely corresponds to his estimated personal stride length to measure the estimated number of strides between any two points on the map.

7) A map reading aid according to claim 3 or claim 6 comprising a multi-edged planar member with a different scale marked along different edges.

8) A map reading aid according to claim 7 in which scales are marked along the edges on both sides of the planar member.

9) A map reading aid according to claim 7 or 8 provided with a generally central aperture with edges along which additional parameter scales are marked.

10) A map reading aid according to any one of claim 1 to 9 which carries scales of more than one personal walking parameter.

11) A map reading aid according to claim 10 which carries scales of travel time based on a predetermined walking speed and numbers of strides based on a predetermined number of strides per unit of length.

12) A map reading aid constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and/or 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13) A map reading aid constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 or 5 of the accompanying drawings.