Patent Application
20180076600
The invention relates to a mount for attaching a device to a surface. More particularly, the invention relates to a mount for attaching a wireless access point device to a ceiling or wall.
An access point (“AP”) is a networking hardware device for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from one or more wireless devices and a wired network, e.g., the Internet or a local area network. APs are often included as components of routers and provide wireless signals such as Wi-Fi used to connect wireless devices to a wired network. These hardware devices ideally are located in a position within a room or area space in such a way that signals transmitted to and from the AP are not blocked, interrupted, or otherwise attenuated. Walls, heavy furniture, and other objects may weaken, disrupt, or block such signals. Therefore, positioning of the AP in a central location within a room or other area is desirable; however, such locations leave the AP visible, which may be undesirable for aesthetic purposes. Alternatively, the AP may be concealed inside a closet, for example, a media closet, or within a cabinet; however, for the aforementioned reasons related to signal attenuation caused by transmission through walls or furniture, such positioning may also be undesirable.
The AP may also be attached to a wall or ceiling of a room or other area to provide uninterrupted coverage of the room or other area for purposes of transmitting and receiving signals between wireless devices and the wired network. Again, however, such positioning may be undesirable for aesthetic reasons because the AP will remain visible when installed on a wall or ceiling.
What is needed is a mount for installing an AP in a concealed manner in a ceiling or wall while maximizing signal strength within a room or other area by avoiding installation behind walls and objects that can block or impede signal access in certain areas or throughout an entire room or other area. What is also needed is a mount that enables quick and easy access to and removal of the AP in the event that a new AP must be installed. A further need exists for a universal mount, which may be used to secure and conceal in or to a ceiling or wall, APs in the many shapes and sizes created by manufacturers.
The invention relates to a mount for attaching an access point device (“AP”), also referred to herein as a wireless access point device or AP device, to or in a ceiling or wall. The mount includes a housing, a tension member (e.g., a cable, band, or strap) for securing the AP within a compartment of the housing, a retention device for securing the tension member to or about the housing with sufficient but adjustable tension, and attachment means for securing the mount to or in the ceiling or wall. In exemplary embodiments, the tension member can be a cable and the retention device can be a cable retention device. The cable can include first and second ends attached to first and second ends of a spring that maintains an appropriate tension on the cable even if the cable begins to relax over time while securing the AP within the compartment. The housing can include a utility aperture to permit an Ethernet cable, USB cable, telephone line, coaxial cable, power cord, or other data or power connection to be inserted therethrough to be attached to the AP so as to supply power and a communicative connection to a wired network. The mount can also include a cover for concealing the AP within the housing. The cover can be a solid plate or a screen or mesh that is similar in appearance to the screens and meshes used with in-ceiling-mounted and in-wall-mounted audio speakers so as to be aesthetically acceptable within a room of a home or other room or area. Both the cover and housing can be painted to match the decor of the room or area. The mount may also include one or more spacers or other means can be used to offset the AP closer to the room interior or space, thereby minimizing signal attenuation caused by surrounding walls or objects.
The mount described herein provides an advantage by allowing installation of an AP in a concealed manner in a ceiling or wall while maximizing signal strength within a room or other area by avoiding installation behind walls and objects that can block or impede signal access in certain areas or throughout an entire room or other area.
The mount described herein also provides an advantage by enabling quick and easy access to and removal of the AP in the event that maintenance is required or a new AP must be installed.
The mount described herein provides a further advantage by allowing for the AP to be mounted generally flush to and in a ceiling or wall so that both the mount and AP installed within it are concealed behind a cover that is constructed to have an appearance that is aesthetically acceptable and that can be similar or identical to an in-ceiling-mounted or in-wall-mounted audio speaker, which users are accustomed to seeing and which are not generally considered aesthetically objectionable or displeasing when visible.
The mount described herein provides yet another advantage in that its usage allows in-ceiling installation of the AP to maximize signal coverage and strength throughout a room or area while avoiding installation at lower locations around the peripheral walls of a room or other area or within a closet, media closet, or media cabinet that might attenuate the signals being transmitted to and from the AP. Equivalent signal coverage of the room or other area can potentially be provided with fewer APs.
Accordingly, the invention features a mount for attaching a wireless access point (AP) device to a surface. The mount includes a housing having a bottom wall and at least one side wall defining a compartment, a tension member for securing the AP device within the compartment of the housing; a retention device for securing the tension member to or about the housing with adjustable tension, and attachment means for securing the mount to the ceiling.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the tension member including one or more cables, bands, straps, other suitable tension members, or combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the tension member being a cable and the retention device being a cable retention device.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the bottom wall of the housing including at least one aperture through which the cable is insertable to retain the AP device in position within the compartment of the housing.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the mount further including a securement apparatus for securing the tension member to the housing.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the securement apparatus including a spring to maintain tension on the tension member and the tension member being a cable. The spring includes a first end and a second end and is located adjacent to the top surface of the housing. A first end of the cable is attached to a first end of the spring and a second end of the cable is attached to the second end of the spring.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the cable retention device including a cable winding device that has a knob for winding and unwinding the cable to create more or less tension for adjustably positioning the AP device between the cable and the bottom wall of the housing and for releasing and removing the AP device from the compartment of the housing by lessening the tension of the cable.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the bottom wall of the housing including a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture, and a fourth aperture. The second end of the cable is inserted through a top surface of the housing through the first aperture and into the compartment so that the second end of the cable runs generally horizontally across the bottom wall in a first direction to the second aperture located on a second side of the compartment that is opposite to a first side of the compartment on which the first aperture is located. The second end of the cable passes through the second aperture and out of the compartment to emerge from the second aperture at the top surface of the housing. The second end of the cable is engaged by the cable retention device at the top surface of the housing so that the cable may be tightened or loosened as desired for installation, positional adjustment, and removal of the AP device within the compartment. The second end of the cable passes through the third aperture at the top surface back into the compartment so that the cable runs generally horizontally across the bottom wall in a second direction to the fourth aperture located on a fourth side of the compartment that is opposite to a third side of the compartment on which the third aperture is located. The second end of the cable is insertable through the fourth aperture where it exits the compartment and emerges at the top surface of the housing to connect to the second end of the spring.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the mount further including a cover for attaching over an opening of the housing and for concealing the AP device within the housing.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the housing including one or more magnets on or near a lip of the housing for holding in place the cover when the cover is constructed from a ferromagnetic material.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the cover being constructed from a material other than a ferromagnetic material. The cover can include one or more ferromagnetic pieces on or near an interior surface of the cover for holding the cover in place.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the housing being constructed from a ferromagnetic metal and further including one or more magnets on or near an interior surface of the cover for holding the cover in place.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the housing being constructed from a material other than a ferromagnetic metal. The housing can include one or more magnets on or near an interior surface of the cover and one or more ferromagnetic pieces for holding the cover in place.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the mount further including a spacer placed between a bottom surface of the AP device and the bottom wall inside the compartment to raise the AP device within the compartment.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the attachment means including one or more clamps, swing clamps, clips, hooks, screws, nails, nuts and bolts, other suitable attachment means, or combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the surface being a ceiling or a wall.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the housing including a lip that is flush or substantially flush against the surface when the mount is installed.
A method of the invention can be used for securing a wireless access point (AP) device to a surface. The method includes the steps of: (a) cutting an aperture into a surface on which an AP device is to be installed; and (b) installing a mount over the aperture on the surface using attachment means for securing the mount to the surface. The mount includes a housing having a bottom wall and at least one side wall defining a compartment, wherein the compartment remains accessible once the mount is installed. The mount also includes a tension member for securing the AP device within the compartment of the housing, a retention device for securing the tension member to or about the housing with adjustable tension, and the attachment means for securing the mount to the surface. The attachment means connect the housing to one or more edges of the surface defining the aperture. The method also includes the step of: (c) securing the AP device within the compartment using the tension member and the retention device.
Another method of the invention can include the step of: (d) placing a cover over the compartment of the housing to conceal the compartment and the AP device secured within the compartment.
Another method of the invention can feature the surface being a ceiling or a wall.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions will control.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed drawings and description set forth herein. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the drawings; however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, in light of the teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, numerous modifications and variations of the invention may exist that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
The present invention should not be limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. The terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” may be a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means.
All conjunctions used herein are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein.
Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term “including” should be read to mean “including, without limitation,” “including but not limited to,” or the like; the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to”; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and use of terms like “preferably,” “preferred,” “desired,” “desirable,” or “exemplary” and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the invention, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the invention.
Those skilled in the art will also understand that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations; however, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C” is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).
All numbers expressing dimensions, quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” unless expressly stated otherwise. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained.
As shown in
The AP can be any networking hardware device that sends and receives wireless signals from wireless devices to connect them to a wired network. The AP can be constructed in any shape but is typically rectangular or circular in horizontal cross-sectional shape. The AP can receive power over Ethernet, from a USB cable, from an electrical cord, or from connection to a separate or integrated battery.
The mount includes a housing, a tension member (e.g., a cable, band, or strap), a retention device, and attachment means for securing the mount to the ceiling. Optionally, the mount may also include a cover for concealing the AP within the housing.
For purposes of convenience and without limiting the breadth of the disclosure contained herein, a cable will be referred to hereafter as the tension member, with the understanding that the tension member may be one or more cables, bands, straps, or other suitable tension members in various embodiments of the mount. Similarly, because the cable will be referred to hereafter as an exemplary tension member, for purposes of convenience and without limiting the breadth of the disclosure contained herein, a cable retention device will be referred to hereafter as an exemplary retention device with the understanding that the retention device may be one or more other suitable types of retention devices capable of adjusting tension on other types of tension members (e.g., cables, bands, straps, or a combination of the foregoing) in various embodiments of the mount. It is to be understood that where the cable and cable retention device are referred to hereafter, other tension members as described above and other retention devices could be used in place thereof.
The mount's housing is shaped and sized for receiving an AP that is installed within a compartment of the housing. In exemplary embodiments, the housing may be generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section. In other embodiments, the housing can be circular in horizontal cross-section. In shape, APs from most manufacturers will generally be either rectangular or circular in horizontal cross-section. In usage, an AP can be installed within a mount having a similar or identical cross-sectional shape, e.g., a rectangular AP can be installed within a mount having a housing that is also rectangular in cross-section. In another example, a circular AP can be installed within a mount having a housing that is also circular in cross-section. In other embodiments, an AP that is circular in cross-sectional shape may be installed within a mount having a housing that is rectangular in cross-sectional shape, or vice versa.
To attach the mount to the ceiling, the housing includes one or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more) attachment means that can be clamps, clips, hooks, screws, nails, nuts and bolts, or other suitable attachment means or combinations of two or more of the foregoing that are used to secure the housing to the ceiling. In one exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the housing may include four swing clamps that may be used to connect the housing to the ceiling. The attachment means may be attached to side walls of the housing or to the lip of the housing. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, swing clamps are used as the attachment means and the swing clamps are installed in recesses formed in outer surfaces of the side walls of the housing.
In other embodiments, the mount may be attached to the ceiling via epoxy or other adhesive.
In an exemplary embodiment, the housing can be constructed in the shape of a tray having an open compartment. The tray can have a lip that surrounds or partially surrounds an opening at a top of the housing's compartment. A bottom of the housing can include a bottom wall surrounded by side walls. For example, in an embodiment having a housing that is rectangularly shaped in cross-section, the bottom wall can be surrounded by four attached side walls. In an embodiment having a housing that is circularly shaped in cross-section, the bottom wall can be surrounded by a single circular or annular side wall. In other embodiments, depending on the shape of the bottom wall or on design considerations, the bottom wall may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more attached side walls. In other embodiments, the side walls may be attached to the bottom wall so as to form an oval, elliptical, oblong, triangular, quadrilateral, polygonal, or irregular shapes in cross-section. In such embodiments, the bottom wall and the compartment and opening may have a cross-sectional shape that matches that of the arrangement of the side walls, or the bottom wall may be larger than and extend beyond the boundary formed by the side walls.
The housing can be constructed in any size that is necessary to receive the AP that is selected for installation within the compartment of the housing. The housing can be constructed from metal, plastic, wood, foam, or any other suitable material.
The housing can include one or more utility apertures passing through one or more of its side walls or through the bottom wall to permit an Ethernet cable, USB cable, telephone line, coaxial cable, or power cord to be inserted therethrough to be connected to the AP so as to supply power and a communicative connection to a wired network.
The bottom wall of the housing can include apertures through which the cable can be inserted to retain the AP in position within the compartment of the housing. The housing can include a securement apparatus for securing the cable to the housing. In an exemplary embodiment, the cable is constructed from steel although cables constructed from other materials may also be used, and the securement apparatus can be a spring (e.g., a steel spring). A first end of the cable is attached to a spring that is located adjacent to the top surface of the housing. The spring can be a steel spring having a first end and a second end. The cable can be looped through the apertures of the housing so that the first end of the cable attaches to the first end of the spring and the second end of the cable attaches to the second end of the spring, or vice versa. The spring can be installed within a separate casing attached or adjacent to the top surface of the bottom wall to conceal and protect it, or the spring may be exposed. The spring maintains tension in the cable to keep the cable appropriately taut, even as the cable itself may relax over time, so as to retain the AP in a fixed position inside the compartment of the housing. The spring will also maintain tension if the AP is moved to another position while the cables are taut, such as when moving the AP from a position that is off-center to center.
A second end of the cable is attached to a cable retention device. The cable retention device can be a cable winding device that includes a knob for winding and unwinding the cable to create more or less tension as needed to hold the AP in position between the cable and the bottom wall of the housing (or to release and remove the AP by lessening the tension of the cable) as shown in the drawings. In other embodiments, the cable retention device can be a ratcheting or holding mechanism to create more or less tension in the cable to hold and release the AP in and from the compartment of the housing in a controlled manner. In the described embodiment, both the winding and ratcheting can be performed with one hand so as to allow simultaneous handling of the AP by the user's other hand.
A multiplicity of guides or apertures may be integrated into the housing or assembled as separate components in order to control the path of the retention member. In one embodiment, the housing contains four apertures: a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture, and a fourth aperture. In an exemplary embodiment shown in
In another embodiment, a first end of the cable can be attached to a connection point that is fixed in position, for example, at the top surface of the housing or on or adjacent to an exterior or interior surface of a side wall of the housing, or on the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the housing inside the compartment. The connection point can be an anchor, a bar, a bolt, a rivet, or other connection apparatus to which the first end of the cable is tied or otherwise connected. In another embodiment, the two horizontal lengths of cable can be combined into a single horizontal length of cable connected to the cable retention device and run through the apertures but not connected to a spring.
When the selected AP is lower in profile (i.e., in height) than the depth of the compartment of the housing, a spacer may be placed between a bottom surface of the AP and the bottom wall inside the compartment to raise the AP within the compartment so that a top surface of the AP is or is substantially coplanar with top edges of the side walls of the housing. The spacer may be constructed in any height that is necessary or desirable for raising the AP away from the bottom wall within the compartment. The spacer may be constructed from metal, plastic, foam, or any other suitable material.
The mount can also include the aforementioned cover for concealing the AP within the compartment of the housing. The cover can be a screen or mesh similar in appearance to the screens and meshes used as components of in-ceiling-mounted and in-wall-mounted audio speakers so as to be aesthetically acceptable within a room of a home or other room or area. The cover can be constructed and sized to fit within the compartment so as to be flush with the lip of the housing when installed or to be slightly recessed into the compartment in relation to the lip of the housing when installed. In another embodiment, the cover can be constructed and sized to partially overlap and cover a portion of the lip of the housing when installed. In still another embodiment, the cover can be constructed and sized to entirely cover and conceal the housing, including its lip, when installed.
Because the bottom of the housing and compartment face downward into the room, the cover may use magnets, clips, or any other suitable attachment means to removably connect the cover to the housing. For example, in one embodiment, the housing may include one or more magnets on or near its lip for attracting and holding in place the cover when the cover is constructed from a ferromagnetic material. In another embodiment in which the cover is not constructed from a ferromagnetic material, the cover may include one or more ferromagnetic pieces on or near an interior surface of the cover for attracting and holding the cover in place. In still another embodiment, the housing can be constructed from a ferromagnetic metal and the magnets may be included on or near an interior surface of the cover. In yet another embodiment in which the housing is not constructed from a ferromagnetic metal, the magnets may be included on or near an interior surface of the cover and the housing may include one or more ferromagnetic pieces (for example, near its corners where adjacent side walls are adjoined or on its lip) for attracting and holding the cover in place. In the exemplary embodiments described above, the mount may include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more magnets or ferromagnetic pieces.
The mount can be installed flush or substantially flush with the ceiling in preferred embodiments. In other embodiments, the mount may protrude or slightly protrude from the room-facing surface of the ceiling. A hole can be cut into the ceiling (e.g., through the drywall) that approximately corresponds to the dimensions of the outer surface of the walls of the housing. Installation in the center of the ceiling is generally preferred although the mount may be installed anywhere on the ceiling of the room or other area. The connection means (e.g., swing clamps) can be used to connect the housing to the edges of the ceiling surrounding the hole. The lip of the housing can rest flush or substantially flush against the room-facing (i.e., exterior) surface of the ceiling. The compartment of the housing, which faces downward into the room after installation of the housing, remains accessible for installation, service, and removal of the AP, which can be secured within the compartment using the cable and cable retention device according to methods described herein above. When the AP is securely installed within the compartment in a desired position, the cover can be placed over the compartment of the housing to conceal the compartment and the AP within it. In one embodiment, the cover may be large enough to also cover and conceal the lip of the housing so that no part of the mount or AP except the cover is visible to persons looking at the mount.
In exemplary embodiments, one side (e.g., a bottom side) of the AP contacts and rests against the bottom wall of the housing when the AP is installed within the compartment using the cable and cable retention device. However, in other embodiments in which a low profile AP is installed that is shorter in height than the depth of the compartment, a spacer may be placed between the AP and the bottom wall inside the compartment so that one side of the spacer contacts the bottom wall while the other side of the spacer contacts the bottom side of the AP once the AP is secured within the compartment using the cable and cable retention device. In still other embodiments, the AP may be suspended by the cable, the first and second horizontal lengths of cable allowing the AP to be suspended inside the compartment rather than being secured against and in contact with the bottom wall of the housing. This latter embodiment is not preferred, however, since it would produce a less secure installation of the AP within the compartment.
If the mount is to be installed on or in a wall, installation high on the wall, rather than in the middle or lower portions of the wall, is preferred so as to ensure maximum unimpeded signal strength throughout as much of the room or other area as possible.
It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.
This application is a nonprovisional application of and claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/394,498 filed on Sep. 14, 2016. The foregoing applications are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62394498 | Sep 2016 | US |
