Abstract:
A handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus and related method of installation are disclosed. The apparatus/method includes a shell having two parts, a wireless components housing and a lid; and a chassis for the fixedly but detachable mounting within the shell of the wireless electronic components necessary to provide a WiFi signal, as for example a router and an antenna, the chassis equipped with two sets of brackets. One set of brackets provides the anchoring means for the fastening of the lid onto the housing. The second set of brackets allows the enclosure to be mounted on the handrail. Optionally, the chassis is provided with a mounting plate for the mounting of a router and an opening capable of accommodating an antenna without impeding the flow of the antenna signal. Optionally, the weather resistant handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus also comprises a gasket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application 60/920,474, filed Dec. 24, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for the mounting and installation of wireless components on handrails. More particularly, the disclosed principles relates to a wireless components enclosure or housing capable of being mounted on handrails in sports stadiums. Specifically it relates to a weather resistant shell, mountable on a handrail, as for example handrails in stadiums, which weather resistant shell supports, houses, and protects wireless components necessary to provide a WiFi signal to all of the fans and their wireless devices in the stadium. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The demand for wireless network capacity to provide connectivity for mobile devices including smartphones, tablet computers, and other mobile devices is growing exponentially across the planet. An important aspect of meeting that demand is expanding the footprint of wireless coverage, and in areas where large numbers of people congregate, providing very dense deployments. Here, density refers to installing more access points in a specific, confined physical space than is required to provide a signal to potential clients in that space. The demand for density is driven by the fact that a single access point (the device which bridges communications from a wireless device onto a wired network—for example the Internet) has finite capacity. By increasing density (increasing the number of access points in a space), network capacity is increased, enabling more devices to operate concurrently in a given space. 
     Increasing density brings specific challenges. Unlike communications over a wired network, communications over a wireless network are not constrained to a finite path. Data traveling over a wireless network is spread over the air and may collide with traffic from another device or access point. As density increases, the opportunity for collisions increases. As the number of access points increases, the need for physical space to mount the access points and any accessories (antennas, protective enclosures, mounting structures) increases. Distributing load across access points (balancing the number of devices connected to all access points) is best achieved when access points are distributed evenly throughout a deployment rather than consolidated in a single mounting location. Localizing the access point&#39;s coverage area (the space around an access point in which communications between an access point and a client device is viable) achieves better distribution, but also requires locating mounting structures that move access points closer to the connected wireless devices. In many installations, finding mounting locations closer to these devices is challenging. 
     In public venues, such as football stadiums where attendance can exceed 100,000 people, current industry best practices can call for the installation of 1,000 or more access points. These structures often lack sufficient walls, ceilings, or overhangs close enough to fans and the devices they want to wirelessly connect to the network to address the challenges outlined above. Getting the access point closer to the fan, while addressing venue operator concerns including security, public safety, and the visual impact of the equipment, has become one of the most significant challenges in developing an implementation that will develop enough distributed capacity to meet the demands of the potential end users. 
     Implementation experience and regulatory concerns have shown that some obvious opportunities to bring the equipment closer to the end user are not viable. For example, mounting equipment under the concrete below seating creates specific technical problems that drive poor network performance as network utilization is increased. Alternatively, mounting equipment directly under seats (above the concrete) makes protecting the equipment challenging, is potentially in violation of specific FCC exposure regulations, and does not allow the equipment to effectively radiate. Also, mounting directly behind seats quickly creates an unfavorable path for the wireless communications through human bodies that quickly de tune the signal and in many cases blocks site lines (and perhaps even leg room) for fans seated behind the installation. 
     On the other hand, these large public venues have hand rails installed on the stairways between seating sections. Installing and mounting equipment on handrails would be esthetically pleasing, provide better opportunities for the signal to effectively propagate through the crowd, meet the need to provide separation between the radiating antenna and the fan, and provide a logical structure for installing and cabling to the access point. Handrails have been used as mounting locations in a handful of stadiums to develop effective high density wireless networks. However, these installations have been very crude. Thus, in most cases the hand rail mounting strategy has been relegated to a strategy of last resort, particularly because each of these installations has failed to address key building codes and other functional requirements. Because the antenna transmits and receives radio signals, they are susceptible to RF obstructions and common sources of interference that can reduce throughput and range of the device to which they are connected. Mounting the antenna to utilize its propagation characteristics is an important aspect to increasing range and throughput. One way to do this is to orient the antenna vertically and mount it as high as possible but without interfering with holding the handrails. However, even such mounting technique has its drawbacks, as discussed below. Accordingly, the principles disclosed herein provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus, which is simple to install and easy to attach, and which overcomes the deficiencies of conventional approaches. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus, which is inexpensive to install and attach. 
     It is still another object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus, which automatically places the wireless components in the correct position and orientation on the hand rail, ensures that the installation can be reliably performed by a person with minimal familiarity with the apparatus and/or the manner of its installation, and increases the network quality by reducing the opportunity for installation errors. 
     It is yet another object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus, which is resistant to physical abuse ranging from unintentional bumps to deliberate strikes by individuals. 
     It is a further object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus which is modular and able to accommodate replacement equipment as part of a technology upgrade. 
     It is still a further object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus which can be mounted on any type of handrail, irrespective of the handrails&#39; geometry. 
     It is yet another object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus, which properly protects the wireless, electronic components. 
     It is a further object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus, which is visually pleasing and has minimal negative aesthetic impact. 
     It is still a further object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus which does not obstruct walk ways, prevents snags, and, in accordance with building code requirements, does not prevent a person from grasping the hand rail. 
     It is still another object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus which leverages the handrail as a conduit for protecting the low voltage (Cat 5/6) cabling connecting the access point to a network. The network may be wired such as Ethernet or Wireless such as 3G, 4G, and/or LTE. 
     It is yet another object of the disclosed principles to provide a handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus which is designed to reliably hold the enclosure in place, by using the handrail as part of the structure of the enclosure. 
     In accordance with the disclosed principles, there is provided a weather resistant handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus comprising a shell having two parts, a wireless components housing and a lid; and a chassis for the fixedly but detachable mounting within the shell of the wireless electronic components necessary to provide a WiFi signal, as for example a router and an antenna, said chassis equipped with two sets of brackets. One set of brackets provides the anchoring means for the fastening of the lid onto the housing. The second set of brackets allows the enclosure to be mounted on the handrail. Optionally, the chassis is provided with a mounting plate for the mounting of a router and an opening capable of accommodating an antenna without impeding the flow of the antenna signal. Optionally, the weather resistant handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus also comprises a gasket. 
     These and other objects, advantages, features, and characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It is believed that the presently disclosed principles will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the numerals represent identical elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a three dimensional perspective of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus as it is actually installed on a handrail. 
         FIG. 2  is a three dimensional perspective of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus as it is actually installed on a handrail with the lid removed and showing the wireless components mounted within the housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a close up of the three dimensional perspective of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a three dimensional perspective of one of the component, i.e. the chassis of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a back plan view of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is another side plan view of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus of  FIG. 1 , from the other side of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is cross-section view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 6 , and provides a side plan view of  FIG. 7  with the lid removed and showing the wireless components mounted within the housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a side plan view of the circled section in  FIG. 10  showing the self-tapping screw holding the chassis onto the transversal pipe of the handrail. 
         FIG. 10  is a close up of the side plan of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is another side plan of the  FIG. 5  with the line J-J through it. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the cross-section take along the line J-J of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a close up of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  shows an exemplary flowchart illustrating steps to install a wireless apparatus onto a handrail according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosed principles. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF ELEMENTS AND THEIR IDENTIFYING NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               10  Handrail Mountable Wireless Components Installation Apparatus 
               20  Shell 
               20 A Shell upper edge 
               20 B Shell lower edge 
               20 C Shell proximate end 
               20 D Shell Distal end 
               21  Wireless Components Housing 
               21 A Wireless Components Housing Proximate End 
               21 B Wireless Components Housing Distal End 
               21 C Housing collinear arcuate section 
               22  Lid 
               22 A Lid Proximate End 
               22 B Lid Distal End 
               22 C Lid collinear arcuate section 
               25  Shell Proximate End Through Bore 
               26  Short Bore 
               30  Chassis 
               30 A Chassis top edge 
               30 B Chassis Bottom Edge 
               30 C Chassis proximate edge 
               30 D Chassis Distal edge 
               32  Hand Rail Brackets 
               33  Hand Rail Bracket fastening hole 
               34  Lid Fastening Brackets 
               40  Gasket 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring more specifically to  FIGS. 1, 5 and 7 , they generally depict one embodiment of the Handrail Mountable Wireless Components Installation Apparatus in accordance with the disclosed principles at  10 . The handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  comprises a shell  20 , a chassis  30  and a gasket  40 . The shell  20  consists of two parts, i.e., a wireless components housing  21  (“housing  21 ”) and a lid  22 . Said housing  21  has a proximate edge  21 A and a distal edge  21 B, similarly lid  22  has a proximate edge and a distal edge, such that when the wireless components housing  21  and the lid  22  are snapped closed together they form the shell  20  with a shell proximate end  20 C and a shell distal end  20 D. 
     Each of the proximate edges of the housing  21  and lid  22  respectively, are semi-circularly shaped, i.e., C-shaped and complementary to each other, such that when the housing  21  and the lid  22  of shell  20  are snapped closed they form a bore  25 , which runs along the entire length of the proximate end  20 C of the shell  20 , perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  20 A and  20 B of the shell  20 , respectively. When the housing  21  and the lid  22  of shell  20  are snapped closed around the vertical pipe of the handrail, upon which the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  is fixedly but removably anchored, the bore  25  completely encircles and becomes mated to the vertical pipe of the handrail, said vertical pipe running right through the bore  25  from the bottom opening of the bore  25  and through its top, perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  20 A and  20 B of the shell  20 , respectively. 
     Likewise, each of the distal edges  21 B and  22 B of the housing  21  and the lid  22  of shell  20 , respectively, is provided with a collinear, arcuate section  21 C and  22 C, respectively, both arcuate sections  21 C and  22 C being correspondingly complementary to each other such that when the housing  21  and the lid  22  are snapped closed they form a very short bore  26 , which runs perpendicular to the distal end  20 D of the shell  20  and provides an opening through which the transverse pipe in the hand rail can exit the shell  20 . In other words, when the housing  21  and the lid  22  of shell  20  are snapped closed around the transverse pipe of the handrail, upon which the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  is fixedly but removably anchored, the short bore  26  completely encircles and becomes mated to the transverse pipe of the handrail, said transverse pipe running right through the short bore  26 , perpendicular to the distal end  20 D of the shell  20  to simultaneously and properly position the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  on the handrail. 
     The shell  20  of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  is made of ABS plastic that is thermo-formed to cost effectively develop the desired/designed shape. The thermo-forming process employs hot air to heat sheets of ABS until they become soft and then the soft plastic is drawn over a mold using a vacuum. The mold was developed using a mill to build the reverse or negative of the desired shape. To develop a complete shell  20 , two molds were required, a left and a right side mold. 
     The shape of shell  20  corresponds to the space between the pipes on the handrail and its dimensions are such that when it is anchored onto the handrail, it is uniformly spaced from both the top and the bottom of the handrail and the steps (see  FIGS. 6 and 12 ). The top, bottom, and trailing edges of each of the housing  21  and lid  22  taper towards the interior of the handrail so that the housing  21  and the lid  22  mate in the center of the handrail to form a single handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10 . 
     The handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  further comprises a chassis  30  fixedly but detachably mounted with screws on the wireless components housing  21  with captive fasteners which are aligned with 4 holes provided on the housing  21 . The chassis  30  supports the wireless electronic components within said housing  21 . In one embodiment of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10 , the wireless electronic components comprise a router and an antenna. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 4 , the chassis  30  comprises a top edge  30 A, a bottom edge  30 B, a proximate edge  30 C, and a distal edge  30 D. It further comprises two sets of brackets. One set of brackets comprises two handrail anchoring brackets  32  located in the interior section of the chassis  30 . The other set of brackets comprises five lid fastening brackets  34  located at the exterior edges of the chassis  30 , around its outer perimeter. 
     The top half of the chassis  30  above the handrail anchoring brackets  32  features four holes with pressed in nuts designed to mount a patch antenna. The chassis  30  could be cut through to form an opening behind the antenna mounting location to allow the antenna to propagate RF energy out both sides of the enclosure. A patch antenna, in its simplest form, is just a single rectangular (or circular) conductive plate that is spaced above a ground plane. Patch antennas are attractive due to their low profile and ease of fabrication. A patch antenna is a wafer-like directional antenna suitable for covering single-floor small offices, small stores and other indoor locations where access points cannot be placed centrally. Patch antennas produce hemispherical coverage, spreading away from the mount point at a width of 30 to 180 degrees. Patch antennas are also known as panel, flat panel or microstrip antennas. They are formed by overlaying two metallic plates, one larger than the other, with a dielectric sheet in the middle. This type of antenna is usually encased in white or black plastic, not only to protect the antenna, but also to make it easy to mount. Because they are flat, thin and lightweight, patch antennas are often hung on walls or ceilings where they remain visually unobtrusive and blend easily into the background. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the chassis may be cut to conform to the shape of the patch antenna such that maximum coverage is achieved in all directions. If the plate were solid, the aluminum would attenuate the back lobe (energy projected from the back of the antenna). If back lobe attenuation is desired, the antenna can be backed with RF absorbing foam that more effectively manages RF energy than a solid plate of aluminum. The bottom half of the frame, below the handrail anchoring brackets  32  features four holes that allow a standard access point mounting bracket to be affixed to the plate. 
     The two handrail anchoring brackets  32  are bent and positioned on the chassis  30  to engage a transverse handrail pipe either from its top or to support it from the bottom in a shelf-like manner. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the two handrail anchoring brackets  32 , engage the transverse handrail from the top. Each hand rail anchoring bracket  32  is optionally provided with a handrail bracket fastening hole  33 . The fastening hole  33  is where the chassis  30  is fastened to the transverse handrail pipe using a self-taping screw. In the preferred embodiment there are at least two fastening holes  33 , one for each hand rail anchoring bracket  32 . The placement of the handrail anchoring brackets  32  automatically locates the chassis  30  and therefore the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  in the correct vertical (top to bottom) position of the handrail. 
     Of the five lid fastening brackets  34 , two of them are located on the proximate edge  30 C of the chassis  30 . The two lid fastening brackets  34  on the proximate edge  30 C of the chassis  30  rest against the vertical handrail pipe. Each lid fastening bracket  34  is optionally provided with a hole for the purpose of securing the chassis  30  to the vertical handrail pipe using a self-tapping screw. The location of the two lid fastening brackets  34  on the proximate edge of the chassis  30  automatically locates the frame in the correct horizontal (front to back) position of the handrail. Each of these lid fastening brackets  34  are also provided with a second hole that is fitted with a pressed-in nut. These holes capture the external screws that fasten the lid  22  of the shell  20  to the chassis  30 . The two lid fastening brackets  34  on the distal edge  30 D of the chassis  30  are used exclusively to attach the lid  22  to the chassis  30 . To this end, each is provided with a hole which is fitted with a pressed in nut. 
     A weep hole is drilled into the forward bottom edge of the left side of the shell  20  to allow any moisture that enters the enclosure to exit the enclosure preventing water from pooling in the enclosure. The chassis  30  is designed to leave a small gap between the transverse handrail pipe and the housing  21  of the shell  20 . This space provides the space required to allow antenna cables to pass from access point to the antenna. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly and mounting of the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10  comprises the following steps:
         a. Removing the lid  22  from the housing  21  (Step  1401 );   b. Setting the chassis  30  into the space defined by the intersecting vertical handrail pipe and transverse handrail pipe of the handrail, and using the handrail brackets  32  to self-locate the chassis  30  therein (Step  1402 );   c. Securing the chassis to the handrail with at least two self-tapping screws, one for each handrail bracket hole  33 . The brackets on the chassis actually carry the load of the electronics that will be installed inside the handrail mountable wireless components installation apparatus  10 . The screws are used to prevent the frame from rotating or sliding off of the handrail (Step  1403 );   d. Mounting the electronics by attaching the access point below the transverse handrail pipe and cabled to an antenna that is mounted above the transverse handrail pipe. Mounting the antenna above the transverse handrail pipe is important as the goal of the design is to get the antenna as high above the ground as possible without affecting the ability to grab the handrail above the enclosure (Step  1404 );   e. Snapping the lid  22  around the handrail (Step  1405 );   f. Fastening the lid  22  to the chassis using four screws on each side. It is recommended that the screws employed are stainless steel to prevent corrosion and employ a safety or tamper proof design for security (Step  1406 );   g. Sealing the lid  21  and the housing  22  with a gasket  40 , such that no moisture can enter the shell  20  of the handrail mountable Wireless Components Installation Apparatus  10  (Step  1407 ).       

     There is no question that the inventive mountable handrail wireless components enclosure described herein above, accomplishes all of its objectives. To with: provide a handrail mountable wireless components enclosure, which automatically places the wireless components in the correct position and orientation on the hand rail, ensures that the installation can be reliably performed by a person with minimal familiarity with the application and increases the network quality by reducing the opportunity for installation errors. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, they are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Since certain changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed principles, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a literal sense. Practitioners of the art will realize that the sequence of steps and the embodiments depicted in the figures can be altered without departing from the scope of the disclosed principles and that the illustrations contained herein are singular examples of a multitude of possible depictions of the disclosed principles. 
     Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 C.F.R. 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called field. Further, a description of a technology as background information is not to be construed as an admission that certain technology is prior art to any embodiment(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to be considered as a characterization of the embodiment(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple embodiments may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the embodiment(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.