Abstract:
An improved antenna ball joint mount is provided that includes a hollow socket mechanically coupled to a spherical member with a locking part. The hollow socket and the spherical member are fully detachable to simplify the installation of an antenna. A user is able to set a position of the antenna to any point on a spherical sector surface within a range of motion allowed by a shape of joint components and rotate the antenna around own axis to adjust a polarization plane and then lock the mount in a predetermined position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/816,558, filed Apr. 26, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to ball joint mounts that can hold wireless customer-premises equipment or customer-provided equipment (CPE) terminals, antenna or wireless device in place. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Communication systems such as wireless customer-premises equipment or customer-provided equipment (CPE) terminals, antenna or wireless devices need to be mounted and properly positioned in order to send and receive signals in an efficient manner. Some prior art solutions require the user to know the probable best position azimuth/elevation angles to a station with high precision prior making a fine adjustment due to a limited range of the fine adjustment. 
         [0006]    Some prior art solutions require one to use tools and make several steps (e.g. tighten multiple fasteners) in order to lock the antenna or equipment in the proper position. When such antenna or radio equipment is being installed, some prior art solutions require one to do several operations/procedures in order to mount the antenna to the fixed structures and then adjust its position, often requiring assembly in multiple parts and using tools. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, it has been determined by the present disclosure that there is a need for ball joint mounts that overcome, alleviate, and/or mitigate one or more of the aforementioned and other deleterious effects of prior art mounts. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    An improved antenna ball joint mount comprising a hollow socket mechanically coupled to a spherical member with a locking part. The hollow socket and the spherical member are fully detachable to simplify the installation of an antenna. A user is able to set a position of the antenna to any point on a spherical sector surface within a range of motion allowed by a shape of joint components and rotate the antenna around own axis to adjust a polarization plane and then lock the mount in a predetermined position. 
         [0009]    The improved antenna ball joint mount comprises a hollow socket mechanically coupled to a spherical member with a locking part. A typical ball joint consists of a bearing stud and socket enclosed in a casing, the difficulty with that construction, is that the bearing stud retains freedom to move within the socket, but it cannot readily be held in place, the present invention solves that problem by threading the locking part with male threads and the hollow socket with female threads, enabling the user to screw the locking part onto the hollow socket holding the spherical member in place. 
         [0010]    Turning to these components in more detail, the locking part can come in form of a nut typically, but not limited to, with inner thread with a hole in center, to accommodate the spherical member with wide range of allowed movement relative to the hollow socket part. The nut can be equipped with surface easing the grip necessary when the improved antenna ball joint is operated by hand such as ribs or other grating. The hollow socket and spherical member can be made with a coarse finish or other way to increase the friction, so when the locking part is tightened even by hand, it can create a strong friction forces sufficient to fix the position of the spherical member. 
         [0011]    The spherical member is mechanically coupled to an antenna which is communicatively coupled to a receiver, transceiver, or wireless device in a manner that is well known in the art. The socket can be mechanically coupled to a surface when the user so desires. This ball joint provides many advantages over the prior art including being able to move the antenna in the horizontal, vertical and spin/rotation directions. 
         [0012]    There are three stages of mounting. First the user attaches the antenna into target place by mounting one part of the ball joint onto a structure first. Next, the user attaches antenna by screwing the locking part lightly, allowing the user to find proper direction where signal level is greatest by movement of the antenna with a controlled level of friction. In some embodiments this can be done by observing signal level e.g. using a target device&#39;s light emitting diodes (LEDs), utilizing earphones, a voltmeter or observing the signal level using a laptop and then pinpointing the proper direction were signal level is greatest by movement with controlled level of friction in the ball joint where the level of friction adjustable is by screwing the locking part. Third to fix the ball joint again by tightening the locking part so that friction in the ball joint is high enough to keep the antenna in a proper direction, under normal loads such as wind, snow, birds and so on approaching the antenna. 
         [0013]    A ball joint mount is provided that includes a ball joint, a mounting member, and a mounted member. The ball joint has a spherical member, a socket member, and a locking member. The spherical member and the locking member form a first portion of the ball joint. The socket member forms a second portion of the ball joint. One of the first and second portions of the ball joint depend from the mounting member and the other of the first and second portions of the ball joint depend from the mounted member. The socket member has a first thread and the locking member has a second thread. The first and second threadably engage one another so as to secure the spherical member between the socket and locking members to prevent relative movement between mounting and mounted members. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the first thread is an internally facing female thread and the second thread is an externally facing male thread. Here, the locking member can include an outer rim and an internal rim and the socket member includes an outer rim and an inner rim. The outer rim of the locking member can have a larger inner diameter than an outer diameter of at least the outer rim of the socket member. The inner rim of the locking member can include the externally facing male second thread thereon and the outer rim of the socket member can include the internally facing female first thread thereon. 
         [0015]    A method of mounting an antenna or wireless device is provided. The method includes the steps of securing the antenna or wireless device and a first portion of a ball joint to one another; securing a mounting device with a second portion of the ball joint to one another; securing the mounting device in a desired location; connecting first and second portions of the ball joint to one another by loosely forming a threaded connection between first and second threads; adjusting a position of the antenna or wireless device to a desired position; and tightening the locking member so as to lock the ball joint in the desired position. Here, one of the first and second portions of the ball joint includes a spherical member and a locking member as a unitary subassembly and the other of the first and second portions of the ball joint includes a socket member. The socket member has a first thread and the locking member has a second thread. The first and second threads threadably engage one another so as to secure the spherical member between the socket and locking members to prevent relative movement between mounting and mounted members. 
         [0016]    The above-described and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a ball joint mount according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view of the ball joint mount of  FIG. 1   
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a ball joint mount device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the ball joint mount of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a ball joint mount device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view of the ball joint mount of  FIG. 5  taken along line  6 - 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a ball joint mount device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an exploded or disassembled view of the ball joint mount of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view of the ball joint mount of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of a ball joint mount device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is an exploded or disassembled view of the ball joint mount of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a partial sectional view of the ball joint mount of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1-6 , exemplary embodiments of ball joint mounts are shown and are generally referred to by reference numeral  10 . Mounts  10  each include a mounting member  12 , a ball joint  14 , and a mounted member  16 . 
         [0030]    Mounting member  12  is illustrated by way of example in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-2  and  FIGS. 5-6  as a bracket, which can be secured to a structure such as, but not limited to, a pole, a building, a sign, a wall, a tree, and others. However, mounting member  12  is illustrated by way of example in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-4  as an extension device, which can be secured to any device in any desired manner. 
         [0031]    Mounted member  16  is illustrated by way of example in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-2  and  3 - 4  as a dish shaped antenna, but is illustrated by way of example in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-6  as a cylindrical antenna. Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for mounted member to include any (CPE) terminal, antenna or wireless device such as, but not limited to, any type of active, passive, or combined active-passive device. 
         [0032]    In each embodiment, ball joint  14  includes a spherical member  20 , a socket member  22 , and a locking member  24 . 
         [0033]    In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-2  and  FIGS. 5-6 , ball joint  14  is configured so that spherical member  20  depends from mounting member  12  and socket member  22  depends from mounted member  16 . 
         [0034]    However in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-4 , ball joint  14  is configured so that spherical member  20  depends from mounted member  16  and socket member  22  depends from mounting member  12 . 
         [0035]    Accordingly, it should be recognized that mount  10  can be configured having ball joint  14  in any desired orientation with respect to the mounting and mounted members  12 ,  16 , respectively. 
         [0036]    Socket member  22  has a first thread  30 , while locking member  24  has a second thread  32 . First and second threads  30 ,  32  are configured to threadably engage one another so as to secure the spherical member  20  between socket and locking members  22 ,  24 . In this position, ball joint  14  prevents relative movement between mounting and mounted members  12 ,  16 . 
         [0037]    In the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 1-6 , first thread  30  is shown as a male thread and second thread  32  is shown as a female thread. Of course, it should be recognized that the present disclosure is not so limited. Rather, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for first thread  30  to be a female thread and second thread  32  to be a male thread. 
         [0038]    Additionally and in the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 1-6 , first thread  30  is shown as an internally facing thread (i.e., facing towards a central axis of ball joint  14 ), while second thread  32  is shown as an externally facing thread (i.e., facing away from the central axis of ball joint  14 ). Of course, it should be recognized that the present disclosure is not so limited. Rather, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for first thread  30  to be externally facing and for second thread  32  to be internally facing. 
         [0039]    Turning now to simultaneous reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 , locking member  24  is received over and retained on spherical member  20  such that the combination of the spherical and locking members  20 ,  24  forms a first portion  34  of ball joint  14 . Socket member  22  forms a second portion  36  of ball joint  14 . 
         [0040]    Regardless of the orientation of ball joint  14 , the use of mount  10  includes essentially the same assembly steps. First, mounting member  12  is secured to the desired structure or location with one of the portions of ball joint  14  secured thereto. Then, mounted member  16  is secured to mounting member  12  by threadably connecting the remaining portion of ball joint  14 . The threaded connection of the first and second portions  34 ,  36  of ball joint  14  can be loosely formed at first—which connects the mounting and mounted members  12 ,  16  to one another but allows adjustment of the position of the mounted member  16  in three axes. Once mounted member  16  is in the desired position about the three axes, locking member  24  can be tightened to lock ball joint  14  in the desired position. 
         [0041]    Advantageously, first portion  34  of ball joint  14 , regardless whether it is present on mounting member  12  as in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-2  and  FIGS. 5-6  or present on the mounted member  16  as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-4 , is preassembled and includes both spherical and locking members  20 ,  24  as a unitary subassembly. Accordingly, ball joint  14  permits one operator to easily assemble, adjust, and lock mounted member  16  in the desired position with respect to mounting member  12 . 
         [0042]    As can be seen in the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 , locking member  24  enshrouds socket member  22 . Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the easy of assembly of ball joint  14  is, at least partially, provided by the locking member  24  enshrouding socket member  22 . As used herein, the term “enshrouding” shall mean that locking member  24  has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of at least the threaded portion of socket member  22 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , another exemplary embodiment of a ball joint mount according to the present disclosure is shown. Here, component parts performing similar or analogous functions are labeled in multiples of one hundred to those in the embodiments in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         [0044]    Mount  110  includes a mounting member  112 , a ball joint  114 , and a mounted member  116 . 
         [0045]    Mounting member  112  is again illustrated as a bracket, while mounted member  116  is illustrated as second bracket that can be secured to any desired (CPE) terminal, antenna or wireless device such as, but not limited to, any type of active, passive, or combined active-passive device. 
         [0046]    Ball joint  114  again includes a spherical member  120 , a socket member  122 , and a locking member  124 . Similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 3-4  and  FIGS. 5-6  discussed above, ball joint  114  is configured so that spherical member  120  depends from mounting member  112  and socket member  122  depends from mounted member  116 . Of course, it should be recognized that mount  110  can be configured having ball joint  114  in any desired orientation with respect to the mounting and mounted members  112 ,  116 , respectively. 
         [0047]    Spherical member  120  is secured to mounting member  112  by a bolt  140  and a nut  142 . Preferably, locking member  124  is secured between mounting and spherical members  112 ,  120  so as to be rotatable for threaded connection with socket member  122  in the manner described in more detail below. 
         [0048]    In some embodiments, ball joint  114  includes a cover  144 , which covers a head of bolt  140 . Cover  144  can be formed of a rigid material or of an elastomeric material. When formed of an elastomeric material, cover  144  can protrude from an outer surface of spherical member  120  so that it is compressed by the threaded connection of ball joint  114  and can provide an increased coefficient of friction between spherical and socket members  120 ,  122 . 
         [0049]    In some embodiments, ball joint  114  includes a bearing  146  positioned between spherical and locking members  120 ,  124 . Bearing  146  can assist rotation of locking member  124  with respect to spherical member  120  during the tightening of the locking member. Bearing  146  can include one or more slots  148  defined therein, which generally extend parallel to the central axis of the ball joint. When ball joint  114  is in use, slots  148  allow bearing  146  to compress or deform under the action of the spherical, socket, and locking members  120 ,  122 , and  124 —which can assist in distributing the compressive forces across a greater surface area of the spherical and socket members. Preferably, bearing  146  is formed of a material having sufficient resiliency to return to a normal, undeformed state when ball joint  114  is loosened. 
         [0050]    Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, bearing  146  is believed to provide enhanced fine tune adjustment when locking member  124  is partially tightened. For example, it has been determined that proper directional adjustment of mounted member  116  requires smooth movement of ball joint  114  in a region of between where the ball joint is completely fixed in one location and where it is completely loose with the mounted member not remaining in a particular location. It has been determined by the present disclosure that the addition of bearing  146  to ball joint  116  enhances or increases the smooth movement in this state of partially secured. Simply stated, it is believed that bearing  146  allows fine positional movement of spherical and socket members  120 ,  122  with respect to one another when locking member  124  has been partially tightened. 
         [0051]    Socket member  122  has a first thread  130 , while locking member  124  has a second thread  132 . First and second threads  130 ,  132  are configured to threadably engage one another so as to secure the spherical member  120  between socket and locking members  122 ,  124 . In this position, ball joint  114  prevents relative movement between mounting and mounted members  112 ,  116 . 
         [0052]    Here, first thread  130  is shown as an internally facing female thread and second thread  132  is shown as an externally facing male thread. 
         [0053]    More specifically and with reference to  FIG. 9 , locking member  124  includes an outer rim  150  and an internal rim  152  and socket member  122  similarly includes an outer rim  154  and an inner rim  156 . 
         [0054]    Outer rim  150  of locking member  124  enshrouds socket member  122 —namely forms the portion of locking member  124  has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of at least the outer rim  154  of socket member  122 . Inner rim  152  of locking member  124  includes the externally facing male second thread  132  thereon. 
         [0055]    Outer rim  154  of socket member  122  includes the internally facing female first thread  130  thereon. Inner rim  156  of socket member  122  forms a part of the wall of the socket in which cylindrical member  120  is received. 
         [0056]    Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for first thread  130  to be a female thread and/or internally facing, and second thread  132  to be a male thread and/or externally facing. 
         [0057]    Locking member  124  is received over and retained on spherical member  120  such that the combination of the spherical and locking members  120 ,  124  forms a first portion  134  of ball joint  114 . When present, cover  144  and bearing  146  are similarly part of first portion  134  of ball joint  114 . Socket member  122  forms a second portion  136  of ball joint  114 . 
         [0058]    Again, the use of mount  110  includes essentially the same assembly steps as those discussed above. First, mounting member  112  is secured to the desired structure or location with one of the portions of ball joint  114  secured thereto. Then, mounted member  116  is secured to mounting member  112  by threadably connecting the remaining portion of ball joint  114 . 
         [0059]    Advantageously, first portion  134  of ball joint  114 , regardless whether it is present on mounting member  112  or present on the mounted member  116  is preassembled and includes both spherical and locking members  120 ,  124  as a unitary subassembly. Accordingly, ball joint  114  permits one operator to easily assemble, adjust, and lock mounted member  116  in the desired position with respect to mounting member  112 . The threaded connection of the first and second portions  134 ,  136  of ball joint  114  can be loosely formed at first—which connects the mounting and mounted members  112 ,  116  to one another but allows adjustment of the position of the mounted member  116  in three axes. Once mounted member  116  is in the desired position about the three axes, locking member  124  can be tightened to lock ball joint  114  in the desired position. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , another exemplary embodiment of a ball joint mount according to the present disclosure is shown. Here, component parts performing similar or analogous functions are labeled in multiples of one hundred to those in the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9 . 
         [0061]    Mount  210  includes a mounting member  212 , a ball joint  214 , and a mounted member  216 . Mounting member  212  is again illustrated as a bracket, while mounted member  216  is illustrated as second bracket that can be secured to any desired (CPE) terminal, antenna or wireless device such as, but not limited to, any type of active, passive, or combined active-passive device. 
         [0062]    Ball joint  214  again includes a spherical member  220 , a socket member  222 , and a locking member  224 . Similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 3-4  and  FIGS. 5-6  discussed above, ball joint  214  is configured so that spherical member  220  depends from mounting member  212  and socket member  222  depends from mounted member  216 . 
         [0063]    Spherical member  220  is formed in multiple parts that are secured to mounting member  212  by a bolt  240 . Preferably, locking member  224  is secured between mounting and spherical members  212 ,  220  so as to be rotatable for threaded connection with socket member  222  in the manner described in more detail below. 
         [0064]    In some embodiments, ball joint  214  includes a bearing  246  positioned between spherical and locking members  220 ,  224 . As discussed in detail above, bearing  246  can assist rotation of locking member  224  with respect to spherical member  220  during the tightening of the locking member and allows for smooth movement of ball joint  214  in a region of between where the ball joint is completely fixed in one location and where it is completely loose with the mounted member not remaining in a particular location. 
         [0065]    Socket member  222  has a first thread  230 , while locking member  224  has a second thread  232 . First and second threads  230 ,  232  are configured to threadably engage one another so as to secure the spherical member  220  between socket and locking members  222 ,  224 . In this position, ball joint  214  prevents relative movement between mounting and mounted members  212 ,  216 . 
         [0066]    Ball joint  214  is shown having a cover  244 , similar to cover  144  discussed above, but cover  224  is positioned in socket member  222  and, not, in spherical member  220 . As discussed above, cover  244  can be formed of an elastomeric material that protrudes from an inner surface of socket member  222  so that it is compressed by the threaded connection of ball joint  214  and can provide an increased coefficient of friction between spherical and socket members  220 ,  222 . 
         [0067]    While not shown, it is also contemplated by the present disclosure for ball joint  214  to have covers or elastomeric members on both spherical and socket members  220 ,  222  to increase the friction therebetween. 
         [0068]    In this embodiment, first thread  230  is shown as an externally facing male thread and second thread  232  is shown as an internally facing female thread. 
         [0069]    More specifically and with reference to  FIG. 12 , locking member  224  includes an outer rim  250  and an internal rim  252  and socket member  222  similarly includes an outer rim  254  and an inner rim  256 . 
         [0070]    Outer rim  250  of locking member  224  enshrouds socket member  222 —namely forms the portion of locking member  224  that has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of at least the outer rim  254  of socket member  222 . Inner rim  252  of locking member  224  includes the internally facing female second thread  232  thereon. 
         [0071]    Outer rim  254  of socket member  222  includes the externally facing male first thread  230  thereon. Inner rim  256  of socket member  222  forms a part of the wall of the socket in which cylindrical member  220  is received. 
         [0072]    Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for first thread  230  to be a female thread and/or internally facing, and second thread  232  to be a male thread and/or externally facing. 
         [0073]    Locking member  224  is received over and retained on spherical member  220  such that the combination of the spherical and locking members  220 ,  224  forms a first portion  234  of ball joint  214 . When present, bearing  246  is similarly part of first portion  234  of ball joint  214 . Socket member  222  and cover  244 , when present, form a second portion  236  of ball joint  214 . 
         [0074]    Again, the use of mount  210  includes essentially the same assembly steps as those discussed above. First, mounting member  212  is secured to the desired structure or location with one of the portions of ball joint  214  secured thereto. Then, mounted member  216  is secured to mounting member  212  by threadably connecting the remaining portion of ball joint  214 . 
         [0075]    Advantageously, first portion  234  of ball joint  214 , regardless whether it is present on mounting member  212  or present on the mounted member  216  is preassembled and includes both spherical and locking members  220 ,  224  as a unitary subassembly. Accordingly, ball joint  214  permits one operator to easily assemble, adjust, and lock mounted member  216  in the desired position with respect to mounting member  212 . The threaded connection of the first and second portions  234 ,  236  of ball joint  214  can be loosely formed at first—which connects the mounting and mounted members  212 ,  216  to one another but allows adjustment of the position of the mounted member  216  in three axes. Once mounted member  216  is in the desired position about the three axes, locking member  224  can be tightened to lock ball joint  214  in the desired position. 
         [0076]    It should also be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
         [0077]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.