Abstract:
Mount for an access point and an antenna includes a base for attachment to a support structure, the base for attaching thereto an access point; and a tray pivotably attached to the base, the tray for attaching thereto an antenna. The tray is disposed above the base and the tray is positionable at an angle relative to a reference plane.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part application, claiming the priority benefit of application Ser. No. 14/795,972, filed Jul. 10, 2015, which claims the priority benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/023,634, filed on Jul. 11, 2014, both of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to antennas and access points (radio transmitting devices) and the methods in which to locate them together such that they operate as a single apparatus instead of two distinct parts or components. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless communications are prevalent everywhere in today&#39;s society. Access points (radios) are used to provide wireless communication and antennas are used on the access points to transmit and receive data. The antennas used on access points are either internal or external antennas. Internal antennas are designed inside the access point and are inconspicuous to the users. External antennas are connected to the access port via coaxial cables and are seen by the users. When these access points are mounted to the ceiling or the wall, the antenna is mounted in as close proximity as possible to the access point. The cables and antenna can be bulky and not aesthetically pleasing to the owner of the structure (building) or users of the system. 
     The co-locating of antennas and access points has been accomplished in the past by mounting an enclosure on the wall or a pole/mast. The enclosure has the access point (radio) mounted to a back plate inside the enclosure and the antenna mounted onto the door of the enclosure. This type of design does not provide the articulation for the antenna and can be big, bulky and heavy. 
     Ceiling tile enclosures have been used to mount access points and external antennas but the antennas do not have a way for them to be articulated. 
     There have been other instances where the access point is mounted inside an enclosure that is mounted on the ceiling, replacing a ceiling tide grid. On the outside or in some case inside, the external antennas are mounted and connected to the access point. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a mount for an access point (radio) and an antenna, including a base for attachment to a support structure, the base for attaching thereto an access point; and a tray pivotably attached to the base, the tray for attaching thereto an antenna. The tray is disposed above the base and the tray is positionable at an angle relative to a reference plane. 
     The mount according to the present invention advantageously co-locates the antenna on top of the access point (radio) in a clamshell type of design. The antenna is attached in such a manner that it can swivel about ±25° such that it can be positioned to optimize its performance in conjunction with the radio. The mount is designed such that the cables from the antenna to the radio are hidden between the antenna and access point. There are clips that the cables are routed through that hold the cables in place. When the antenna and access point are attached to the mount, it looks as if there is only an antenna mounted for an aesthetic installation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mount showing a base for an access point and a tray for an antenna. 
         FIG. 2  as side elevational view of the mount of  FIG. 1 , showing an access point attached to the base and an antenna attached to the tray. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective of the base of the mount. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bottom side of the tray. 
         FIG. 5  is bottom plan view of the tray shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembly view of the mount of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the mount of  FIG. 2 , showing the range of adjustment of the tray. 
         FIG. 8  is a blank of the base of mount. 
         FIG. 9  is a blank of the tray. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view along lines  10 - 10  in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mount for an access point and an antenna. 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the mount of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a swivel base used with the mount of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevational view of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is a partial perspective view, showing an adjustment feature of the mount of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A mount  2  embodying the present invention for co-locating an antenna  4  and an access point (AP)  6  is disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The mount  2  includes a base  8  and a tray  10  pivotably attached to the base  8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the base  8  is preferably formed from sheet metal into a substantially U-shaped structure with a base portion  12  and leg portions  14  and  16  extending from the base portion  12 . Keyhole shaped openings  18  are provided on the base portion  12  for use in attaching the access point  6  to the base portion  12 . Holes  20  are used to attach the base  8  to a vertical or horizontal support structure, such as wall or ceiling of a building. Holes  22  and  23  are used to attach the base  8  to a ceiling tile grid using a standard clamp. A captured nut  25  is used to ground the access point  6 . 
     A locking tab  31  is used to padlock the access point  6  if desired. The locking tab  31  is preferably made from sheet metal. 
     The base portion  12  includes a main base portion  24 , attachment walls  21  and arms  26  and  28  extending from the intermediate portions  27  and  29  of the respective sides of the raised attachment walls  21 . The attachment walls  21  are offset from the main base portion  24 . Each of the arms  26  and  28  are bent preferably about 90° at intermediate portions  30  and  32  to form the legs  14  and  16  of the U-shaped base  8 . The main base portion  24  is preferably substantially rectangular in plan view and the arms  26  and  28  are preferably longer than they are wide. Adjusting screws  34  are attached to the end portions of the respective leg portions  14  and  16  for attaching the tray  10  to the base  8 . 
     The main base portion  24  is advantageously offset from the raised attachment walls  21  to provide clearance for the screws or other standard attachment hardware that is used to attach the base  8  to a support structure, such as the building wall or ceiling. The raised attachment walls  21  further provide for attaching the access point  6  to the base  8  after the base has been secured to the support structure. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the tray  10  includes a base wall  36  and side walls  38  and  40 . The side walls  38  and  40  are preferably 90° to the base wall  36 . The side walls  38  and  40  are advantageously pivotably attached to and angularly adjustable from the base  8  by means of the screws  34 . Cut-out corners  42  and  44  are provided at opposite corners of each of the side walls  38  and  40  to provide clearance when the position of the tray  10  is adjusted angularly about the screws  34  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the tray  10  is shown with the underside  45  visible. Holes  46  are disposed in the base wall  36  for screws to go through for attaching the antenna  4  to the tray  10 . Cable holders  48  of standard construction are attached to the underside  45  along the corner between the base wall  36  and the side walls  38  and  40 . The cable of the antenna  4  is routed underneath the tray  10  and held by the cable holders  48 . Captured nuts  50  are attached in corresponding openings in the side walls  38  and  40  for threadedly receiving the adjusting screws  34 . Holes  52  disposed in the side walls  38  and  40  are used for attaching the cable holders  48  to the tray  10 . 
     Side walls  53  and  55  disposed preferably 90° to the base wall  36  advantageously provide structural rigidity to the base wall  36 . A notch  57  advantageously provides space for cable routing between the antenna  4  and the access point  6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the mount  2  is shown in an assembly view. Adhesive backed foam washers  59  are disposed between the leg portion  16  and the side wall  38  and between the leg portion  14  and the side wall  40 . The foam washers  52  include an adhesive on one surface for attachment to either the leg portions  14  and  16  or the side walls  38  and  40 . The foam washers  52  advantageously provide friction between the confronting surfaces of the leg portion  16  and the side wall  38  and the leg portion  14  and the side wall  40  so that that tray  10  when pressed together with the adjusting screws  34  will be locked in the desired angular position and will tend to shift. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that metal to metal contact has less friction than metal to foam. 
     Raised dimples  76  are provided to securely hold the access point  6  in place. Each keyhole-shape opening  18  is associated with a raised dimple  76 , which is disposed outwardly of the respective raised dimple  76 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the base wall  36  of the tray  10  is angularly adjustable either clockwise or counterclockwise by about 25° relative to a reference plane  61 , which is preferably parallel with the main base portion  24 , from a base position  63  wherein the base wall  36  is preferably parallel with the reference plane  61 . Taking counterclockwise direction as positive and clockwise direction negative, the tray is adjustable about ±25°. The ability to provide antenna articulation of about ±25° provided by the mount  2  advantageously allows for optimization of system performance via positioning of the antenna  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the base  8  is preferably made from a sheet metal blank  54  with a central portion  54  and arms  58  and  60 . To make the base  8 , the central portion  56  is bent up preferably 90° along lines  62  to form the main base portion  24  and bent down preferably 90° along lines  64  to form the attachment walls  21 . The arms  58  and  60  are then bent up preferably 90° along lines  66  to form the leg portions  14  and  16 . A tab  67  is used to attach the locking tab  31  to the base  10  by regular means, such as by spot welding. Holes  69  are provided for the screws  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the tray  10  is preferably made from a sheet metal blank  68 . To make the tray  10 , the blank  66  is bent down preferably 90° along lines  70 ,  72  and  74  to form the side walls  38 ,  40 ,  53  and  55 . Holes  75  are provided for the captured nuts  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a partial cross-sectional view of the base  8  shows the manner of attaching the access point  6  to the base  8 . Raised dimples  76  support the bottom surface of the access point  6 . Attaching screws  78  includes flanges  80  substantially aligned with the top surface  82  of the attachment walls  23 . When the attachment walls  23  are pressed down in the direction  91  and flex about the offset walls  90 , the access point  6  moves down, allowing the screw flanges  80  to be positioned below the bottom surface  84  of the attachment walls  23 . This allows the access point  6  to be translated on the attachment walls  23  so that the flanges  80  are then positioned below the narrow slot of the keyhole shaped openings  18 . When the attachment walls  23  are released from the downward pressure generally indicated by the arrows  91 , the attachment walls  23  flex back to their original position, thereby capturing the screw flanges  80  under the bottom surface  82 . Thus, the access point  6  is securely attached to the attachment walls  23 . The space  86  below the raised attachment walls  21  allows for the downward flexing of the attachment walls  21 . The space  86  further provides clearance for the screw heads of the screws  80  from the surface of the support structure, such the building wall or ceiling. The offset  88  advantageously provides clearance for the screw heads or other standard hardware used to attach the base  8  to the support structure. 
     Once the base  8  is attached to the support structure and the access point  6  secured to the base  8 , all attaching screws or attachment hardware are advantageously hidden from view and inaccessible, thereby deterring theft. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , another embodiment of a mount  92  is disclosed. The mount  92  comprises the mount  2  with a swivel base  94  attached to the stationary base  96 , which is similar to the base  8  of the mount  2 . The swivel base  94  includes a plate  98  rotatably mounted to a fixed mounting base  100 , which is for securely attaching the mount  92  to a fixed structure, such a wall or ceiling of a building. The plate  98  is rotatably adjustable relative to the fixed mounting base  100 . The plate  98  is preferably flat defining a plane. 
     The plate  98  has circular arc slots  102  disposed opposite to each other. A screw  104  captured between the between the plate  98  and the fixed base  100  through is mounted in each slot  102  guides the plate  98  as it rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. The screw  104  is tightened at each slot  102  after the proper rotational adjustment is made. 
     The swivel base  94  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 13-15 . The base  100  is preferably further attached to the plate  98  with a pivot  104  disposed at the center of the circular arc slots  102  to advantageously aid in the rotation of the plate  98  during adjustment. The pivot  104  defines an axis of rotation  105 , which is preferably perpendicular to the reference plane  61 , which is preferably parallel to the plane of the plate  98 . The swivel base  94 , which can rotate about ±25°, advantageously provides further optimization of system performance via positioning of the antenna  4 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the leg portions  14  and  16  each includes a circular arc slot  106  with the screw  34  as the center. A locking screw  108  is provided in each slot  106  for locking the tray  10  at the desired angular adjustment (see  FIG. 7 ) relative to the reference plane  61 , which is preferably parallel to the plate  98 . The tray is adjustably rotatable about an axis  110  extending through the adjusting screws  34  (see  FIG. 3 ). The axis  110  is preferably parallel to the reference plane  61 , which is preferably parallel to the plane of the plate  98 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , each of the leg portions  14  and  16  (leg portion  16  is not visible) is provided with a projection  112  that is received in any one of a series of depressions  114  on the respective side wall  38  and  40  (side wall  38  not shown). The depressions  114  are arranged along a circular arc with the screw  34  as the center. The depressions are preferably spaced apart at 5° intervals to provide more defined articulation of the tray  10 . The projection  112  and the depressions  114  advantageously provide predefined angular positions for convenient adjustment. 
     The mount  2  or  92  advantageously co-locates the antenna  4  on top of the access point (radio)  6  in a manner that generally hides the access point  6  from view to make it look like there is only the antenna  4  that is mounted. This is accomplished by having the tray  10  overly the base  8  at all sides of the base  8  (see  FIGS. 2 and 7 ). The tray  10  also has downwardly disposed side walls  38 ,  40 ,  53  and  55 , which hide portions of the access point  6  from view. The base  8  or  96  together with the tray  10  is similar to a clamshell. The mount  2  is designed such that the cables from the antenna  4  to the access point  6  are hidden. 
     The ability to co-locate the access point  6  and the antenna  4  and have this configuration operate as a single apparatus gives a distinct advantage over the current methods of hanging, placing or securing an access point on a wall or ceiling. The mount  2  advantageously saves space and is aesthetically pleasing. 
     While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.