Adjustable security enclosure

• US 20050286028A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hard Steal Security Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hard Steal Security Corporation
• Inventors: Challis, Roger W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/22 Soundproof bodies

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for securing a projector. The apparatus is mountable to a ceiling drop pipe and comprises a cage and a drop pipe connector assembly. The cage has a plurality of interconnected members that together define an enclosure for housing a projector and impeding removal of the projector from the cage. At least some of the members are connected together by a member fastener that is fastenable only from inside the cage. The position of at least some of the members can be adjusted relative to other members so that the size of the enclosure can be adjusted to fit the projector snugly therein, thereby impeding access to the fastener.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a projector, the apparatus being mountable to a ceiling drop pipe and comprising

(a) a cage having a plurality of interconnected members that together define an enclosure for housing a projector and impeding removal of the projector from the cage, at least some of the members being connected together by at least one member fastener that is fastenable from inside the cage, such that the position of at least some of the members can be adjusted relative to other members so that the size of the enclosure can be adjusted to fit the projector snugly therein, thereby impeding access to the fastener;

and,

(b) a connector assembly connectable to a ceiling drop pipe, and having a cage mounting portion mounted to at least one of the members by at least one connector assembly fastener that is fastentable from inside the cage.

2. An apparatus as claimed claim 1 wherein two of the members are top plates connected to each other by at least one of the member fasteners, and laterally adjustable relative to each other such that the width of the cage can be adjusted

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cage mounting portion of the connector assembly is mounted to one of the top plates.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein some of the members are top plate members that extend downwardly from the top plates, and wherein some of the members are vertically extending members that extend generally vertically and are adjustably connected to the top plate members by at least one of the member fasteners such that the height of the cage can be adjusted.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein some of the members are lateral support members for supporting a projector and which extend laterally from the vertically-extending members and are adjustably connected to each other by at least one of the member fasteners such that the width of the cage can be adjusted.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein some of the members form a lock bar assembly comprising a top track mounted to at least one of the top plates and a pair of L-shaped wings having a downwardly-extending portion for impeding removal of the projector from the cage, and a laterally-extending portion connected to the top track by at least one of the member fasteners such that the depth of the cage can be adjusted.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the top track is removably mounted to the at least one of the top plates by a lock, wherein removal of the top track from the rest of the cage enables installation and removal of the projector from the cage.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drop pipe is threaded and the connector assembly has a threaded portion for connecting to the drop pipe.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connector assembly comprises a ball having the threaded portion in a recess of the ball, and a collar having the cage mounting portion at a base of the collar, a cavity for receiving the ball, and a drop pipe opening large enough to pass the drop pipe therethrough to fasten to the threaded portion.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the base of the collar has a rim that defines an opening large enough to pass the ball therethrough, and wherein the cage mounting portion is located at the rim.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connector assembly comprises a flange mounting assembly with a hollow cylinder having the threaded portion on an inside surface of the cylinder, and a disc portion extending from a base of the cylinder and having the cage mounting portion.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the connector assembly further includes a stopper assembly mounted to the cage and comprising a compressible cylinder that is slidable through the mounting assembly cylinder and into the drop pipe when uncompressed, and that can be expanded laterally inside the drop pipe when compressed, thereby impeding efforts to unscrew the apparatus from the drop pipe.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the threaded portion is right hand threaded, and the connector assembly further comprises a left hand threaded bolt extending through the compressible cylinder and a left hand threaded nut threadable onto the bolt to control the compression of the cylinder.