Devices, assemblies, and methods for mounting a wireless access point to a post

• US 10,103,421 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alexander, Michael, Anderson, Robert, Clark, Alvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alkassim, Jr., Ab Salam
• Application Number:
  US14/488,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 343702, 343872, 343891, 343892
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/02 Arrangement of mountings or supports for radiators
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1264 Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/06 over a restricted angle
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

An assembly for mounting a wireless access point includes a base panel configured to be mounted to a post and to support the access point. The assembly includes a shroud configured to at least partially surround the base panel, the access point, and the post. The assembly can also include an antenna support configured to support an antenna coupled to the access point and configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. A method of mounting the access point to the post includes mounting, to the post, the base panel supporting the access point. The method also includes, after mounting the base panel to the post, coupling the shroud to the base panel such that the shroud at least partially surrounds the base panel, the access point, and the post.

Claims

1. An assembly for mounting a wireless access point and an antenna to a post having a longitudinal axis, the assembly comprising:

a base panel configured to be mounted to the post and to support the wireless access point; and

a shroud configured to at least partially surround the base panel and the post, the wireless access point supported by the base panel,

wherein;

the shroud is formed from a single sheet and has an open cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post;

the base panel and the wireless access point are positioned within an interior volume defined by the shroud;

the interior volume is bounded by an opening spanning a first side and a second side of the assembly;

the opening is exposed to an atmosphere surrounding the shroud; and

the post extends through the opening and into the atmosphere on the first side and the second side of the assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base panel and the wireless access point are positioned entirely within the interior volume.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud is configured to at least partially surround the antenna.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape is U-shaped.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an antenna support configured to support the antenna and configured to rotate relative to the base panel about an axis and between a first position and a second position.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the antenna support is substantially parallel to the base panel at the first position;

and wherein a non-zero angle between the base panel and the antenna support is formed at the second position.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the angle between the base panel and the antenna support is about 30 degrees at the second position.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the axis about which the antenna support rotates is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post.

9. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the shroud does not intersect at least one direction of the wireless signal from the antenna.

10. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising a wireless access point mounting bracket comprising a bracket arm coupled to the base panel, the bracket arm being configured to secure a wireless access point to the base panel, the bracket arm comprising a panel extending from the bracket arm;

and

wherein the antenna support comprises a base panel that supports the antenna and a panel extending from the base panel that is rotatably coupled to the panel of the bracket arm by a pivot pin.

11. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the antenna support is configured to support more than one antenna.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a wireless access point mounting bracket coupled to the base panel and configured to secure the wireless access point to the base panel.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the shroud is coupled at a first end of the shroud to the wireless access point mounting bracket, extends around the post, and is coupled at a second end of the shroud to the wireless access point mounting bracket.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the shroud is releasably coupled at the first end of the shroud to the wireless access point mounting bracket and is releasably coupled at the second end of the shroud to the wireless access point mounting bracket.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the post is substantially vertical.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the post is an outdoor lamp post.

17. A device for enclosing a wireless access point mounted to a post having a longitudinal axis, the device comprising:

a shroud defining an interior volume configured to at least partially receive the wireless access point and a portion of the post such that the shroud at least partially surrounds the wireless access point and the post,

wherein;

the shroud is formed from a single sheet and has an open cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post;

the wireless access point is positioned within an interior volume defined by the shroud;

the interior volume is bounded by an opening spanning a first side and a second side of the device;

the opening is exposed to an atmosphere surrounding the shroud; and

the post extends through the opening and into the atmosphere on the first side and the second side of the device.

18. A method of mounting a wireless access point to a post having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

mounting, to the post, a base panel supporting the wireless access point;

after mounting the base panel to the post, coupling a shroud to the base panel such that the shroud at least partially surrounds the base panel, the wireless access point supported by the base panel, and the post, wherein coupling the shroud to the base panel comprises moving the shroud relative to the post in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the shroud is formed from a single sheet and has an open cross-sectional shape.

19. The method of claim 18, the shroud has an open cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post.