Patent Application
20060022107
In a typical wireless networking environment, the range of communication between devices is usually limited to at most several hundred feet. Obstructions and interferences such as walls and unwanted radio waves further diminish that range. As a result, wireless mobile units (“MUs”, e.g., PDAs, bar code readers, laptops, two-way pagers, etc.) must be within predetermined operating distances of communication devices (e.g., access points, routers, repeaters, etc.) before communication with the network may be established.
In order to ensure signal strength wherever the MU may be, businesses employing wireless networks often position communication devices on walls or ceilings throughout the entire desired operating area. Currently, the attachment of communication devices to ceilings is an extremely difficult and time consuming process involving the removal of tiles, the drilling of holes, and the use of equipment such as screwdrivers, screws, mounting clips, nuts, washers and spacers. As the size of a wireless network grows, the costs and time associated with this process increase exponentially.
If a mounted wireless communication device ever needed to be removed, the uninstallation process may be just as problematic. Moreover, unsightly scratches, cuts, holes and other permanent property damage may be left behind where the device once was, adding additional repair or replacement costs. Therefore, there is a great need to expedite and make more cost-efficient the cumbersome installation and uninstallation processes while at the same time avoiding permanent damage to property.
The present invention relates to a ceiling mount (e.g., for a wireless communication device) which may include a first channel member, a second channel member and a ramp. The first channel member may include a first side surface extending upward a first predetermined distance from a top surface of a housing of the device and a first horizontal surface extending away from the first side surface in a first direction substantially parallel to the top surface for a second predetermined distance to define a first ceiling member receiving channel between the first horizontal surface and the top surface.
The second channel member may include a second side surface extending upward a third predetermined distance from the top surface and a second horizontal surface extending away from the second side surface in a second direction substantially parallel to the top surface and opposite the first direction for a fourth predetermined distance to define a second ceiling member receiving channel between the second horizontal surface and the top surface. The second channel member is separated from the first channel member along the top surface by a fifth predetermined distance in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions. The ramp extends upward from the top surface at an angle and has an inclined surface separated from the second side surface by a distance greater than the fourth predetermined distance and separated from the first channel member by a sixth predetermined distance greater than the fifth predetermined distance.
The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The present invention relates to a ceiling mount/attachment (e.g., for a wireless communication device) to a suspended T-bar ceiling. No tools or mounting hardware may be required, nor is there a need to drill holes, or otherwise make major alterations to property. The primary components facilitating attachment are either fully integrated into or detachable from the mounting surface. The device according to the present invention is simply rotated and snap-locked onto a suspended T-bar ceiling frame. To uninstall, the user of a wireless device only needs to depress a latch and rotate the device in the opposite direction. No scratches, holes, glue, screws, or other residue of any kind are left behind on the ceiling after the device is removed.
Throughout the description that follows a wireless network access point (“AP”) is utilized as an exemplary device that is to be mounted onto the suspended T-bar ceiling. However, the present invention may be utilized in any type of wireless communication devices (e.g., wireless routers, repeaters, etc.). In addition, the components of the present invention facilitating attachment to the suspended T-bar ceiling may be incorporated into any device that may be mounted onto suspended T-bar ceilings (e.g., a smoke detector, a motion sensor, a security device, etc.).
The WLAN 40 may use a version of the IEEE 802.11 or a similar protocol. One benefit of using a version of the IEEE 802.11 standard is that existing infrastructures using that standard may be adapted to support the system with minimal modifications. With only a simple software upgrade, most MUs supporting that standard may operate according to the present invention. In other exemplary embodiments, a different wireless protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, WPAN, WWAN, infrared, etc.) may be utilized.
Referring back to the wireless network 100, the AP 10 may be, for example, a router, switch or bridge that forms the connection between the WLAN 40 and the communications network 50. Coupled to the WLAN 40 are the MUs 20 and coupled to the communications network 50 are the server 60 and the client computer 70. The communications network 50 can be any network usable to transmit data between the various components of the wireless network 100, such as between microprocessors, and may be, for example, a local area network (“LAN”), a wide are network (“WAN”) or an intranet. The AP 10 does not have to physically be in the vicinity of the server 60 or the client computer 70 so long as it is within range of the MUs 20, as the AP 10 may be remotely located by extending network cabling.
The MUs 20 may be any type of computer or processor based mobile device capable of connecting to a wireless network (e.g., a bar code reader, a PDA, a laptop, a two-way pager, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a mobile optical reader, etc.). Since the MUs 20 are portable, they are sufficiently small to be easily carried. The MUs 20 may be designed for specific purposes, such as reading barcodes, or may be handheld devices with different purposes, to which various functionalities have been added through separate software modules. In one embodiment, the MUs 20 may be based on a multi-purpose personal digital assistant (“PDA”) such as those running the Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 operating system, or similar.
The foregoing embodiments of the wireless network 100 are not to be construed so as to limit the present invention in any way. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, different types of MUs may be used to communicate over the same data network, as long as they work under compatible protocols. Other configurations with different numbers of MUs, APs, or client and server computers may also be used to implement the system.
The clip 110 includes a first side surface extending upward substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface for a first predetermined distance at least equal to the thickness T of the T-bars 32. The first side surface then bends for a second predetermined distance less than half of the width W toward the opposing clip 120 in a first direction substantially parallel to the mounting surface to form a first horizontal surface. Similarly, the clip 120 includes a second side surface that extends upward substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface for a third predetermined distance at least equal to the thickness T. The second side surface then bends for a fourth predetermined distance less than half the of width W toward the opposing clip 110 in a second direction opposite the first direction and substantially parallel to the mounting surface to form a second horizontal surface. The area between the first and second horizontal surfaces and the mounting surface defines a first and second ceiling member receiving channel, respectively. The clips 110, 120 are positioned opposite one another so that, when the AP 10 is mounted, opposite sides of the T-bar 32 tile flange may be captured in their respective receiving channels. Therefore, the edges of the first and second side surfaces facing the receiving channels are at least a distance W apart. A fifth predetermined distance perpendicular to the first and second directions separate the clips 110, 120.
Depending on its position relative to the clips 110, 120, the latch 130 may be a ramp inclining upward at an angle toward either the front or rear of the AP 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the latch 130 is positioned across from the clip 120 such that the latch 130's side surface facing the second ceiling member receiving channel is aligned with the first side surface of the clip 110. The latch 130 is also offset from the clip 120 such that the distance between the latch 130 and the clip 110 is a sixth predetermined distance greater than the fifth predetermined distance. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the latch 130 may also be positioned at an offset across from the rear clip 110, in which case the latch 130 will incline toward the rear of the AP 10. A spring or similar mechanism allows the latch 130 to return to its normal position after being depressed substantially flush with the mounting surface. When fully depressed (e.g., a first position), the latch 130 is, e.g., less than ten degrees incline from the mounting surface. At its rest position (e.g., a second position), the latch 130 is inclined at an angle, e.g., between ten and ninety degrees.
The clips 110, 120 and the latch 130 may extend from any surface of the AP 10 so long as they may be entirely enclosed on an even plane within that surface, thus making it the mounting surface.
The LAN port 150 provides the AP 10 with connectivity to the communications network 50 through, for example, an ethernet cable extending from the LAN port 150 to a network device in the wired environment. Unlike the stabilizing members 140, which protrude from the mounting surface of the AP 10, the LAN port 150 may be integrated into any part of the AP 10 so long as the network wiring does not interfere with the mounting of the device. In this embodiment, the LAN port 150 protrudes from the bottom surface and may serve as an additional stabilizing component.
In alternative exemplary embodiments, the mounting plate 160 may be attached to the AP 10 via any other attachment mechanism (e.g., glue, velcro, snap-on buttons, latches, etc.). One advantage of using detachable mounting components is that one mounting plate 160 may be interchanged with many suspended T-bar ceiling 30 mountable devices. Moreover, the AP 10 may be detached from the ceiling 30 without the need to uninstall the mounting plate 160. This feature may be useful, for example, if the device needs only to be removed temporarily for servicing or if a different device is desired at the same location.
Removal of the mounted AP 10 according to the present invention is as quick and simple as its installation. Because in the mounted position the AP 10's mounting surface face the suspended ceiling 30's room side surface, the ceiling tile 34 directly above the latch 130 must first be lifted aside to provide user access to the mounting components. Next, the latch 130 needs to be fully depressed so that the T-bar 32 may be rotated away from the clips 110, 120. Once the edges of the tile flange are separated from both of the clips 110, 120, the AP 10 may be pulled away without damaging any part of the suspending T-bar ceiling 30.
In order to prevent the AP 10 from rotating around the T-bar 32 tile flange, the stabilizing members 140 may be added.
The present invention has been described with the reference to the above exemplary embodiments. One skilled in the art would understand that the present invention may also be successfully implemented if modified. Accordingly, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broadest spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings, accordingly, should be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
