Aesthetic enclosure for a wireless network access point

• US 6,249,671 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Touchpoint Medical, Inc. (Touchpoint, Inc. (Pennsylvania))
• Original Assignee: LXE Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Roeder, William H., Tucker, John W., Clark, Richard A., Flemig, Steven B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/092,621
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 361/687, 361/696, 361/700, 361/725, 361/726, 361/728, 361/683, 361/688, 361/694, 361/707, 361/695, 114/211, 312/223, 312/107.5, 220/4.33, 220/3.7, 220/4, 455/90, 455/575, 343/707, 343/795
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A wireless network access point enclosure sized to fit in place of a panel in a standard hanging acoustical-panel ceiling. The enclosure includes a sealed pan that houses the network access point outside the room space, typically in the building space above the ceiling. The enclosure is designed to meet fire code regulations that apply to devices placed within a building'"'"'s air-handling space. The enclosure includes a ventilated cover that mounts to the pan. The cover is substantially flush with the ceiling when attached to the pan. Only a small antenna, which mounts to a receptacle in the cover, extends into the room space. Power and communications cables for the network access point may be routed above the ceiling and through a cable receptacle in the pan. The enclosure also includes a plate within the enclosure for mounting the network access point and maintaining a ventilation space between the device and the enclosure pan. The ventilated cover and the mounting plate keep the network access point from overheating while the sealed pan forms a substantially sealed smoke barrier that meets fire code regulations.

Claims

1. An enclosure for a computer device, comprising:

a substantially sealed pan configured for placement within a structural member defining a substantially planar surface adjacent a room space and a building space, the pan defining an enclosure space for housing the computer device inside the building space, such that the pan does not extend substantially into the room space when the pan is received within the structural member, the pan further defining a smoke barrier between the room space and the building space, the pan comprising;

a cable receptacle for receiving one or more cables for connecting the computer device to a computer network;

a plate attachable to the pan for mounting the computer device within the enclosure space for maintaining a ventilation space between the computer device and the pan; and

a ventilated cover for ventilation of the computer device attachable to the pan and comprising an outer surface that is substantially flush with the planar surface when the cover is attached to the pan such that the outer surface of the cover does not extend substantially into the room space when the cover is attached to the pan.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising an antenna receptacle for receiving an antenna cable for connection to the computer device from an antenna operable for wireless communications with the computer device and located exterior to the enclosure space.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein:

the structural member is an acoustical-panel ceiling comprising a grid of rails supporting a plurality of panels; and

the pan is configure d for receipt on top of a portion of the rails configured to support one of the panels.

4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the antenna receptacle is configured to support the antenna within the room space.

5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cable receptacle includes a first hole for a power cable and a second hole for a network communications cable.

6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the computer device is a wireless network access point.

7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the pan comprises impressed screw holes defining channels for receiving self-tapping screws for removably attaching the cover to the pan such that a technician may attach and remove the cover from the pan while the technician is substantially located within the room space.

8. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the pan comprises impressed screw holes defining channels for receiving self-tapping screws for removably attaching the plate to the pan such that a technician may attach and remove the plate from the pan while the technician is substantially located within the room space.

9. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the plate comprises keyhole-shaped mounting holes for receiving mounting pins attached to the computer device such that a technician may attach and remove the computer device from the enclosure while the technician is substantially located within the room space.

10. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein building space is an air-handling space for a building and the pan is desired to meet fire code regulations governing locating the enclosure within the air-handling space of the building.

11. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein:

the cover is configured to attach to the pan in a plurality of positions; and

the pan further includes a plurality of corner brackets, each corner bracket including an antenna receptacle configured to align with the antenna receptacle of the cover when the cover is attached to the pan in a particular one of the positions.

12. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the structural member is a ceiling.

13. The enclosure of claim 1, where in the structural member is wall.

14. An enclosure for a wireless network access point configured for placement within a ceiling structure comprising a grid of rails supporting a plurality of panels defining a substantially planar ceiling surface between a room space and a building space, comprising:

a pan configured for receipt on top of a portion of the rails configured to support one of the panels, the pan defining a rear surface, the pan defining an enclosure space for housing the network access point outside the room space such that the pan does not extend substantially into the room space when the pan is received within the ceiling structure, the pan substantially sealed to create a smoke barrier between the enclosure space and the building space, the pan comprising a cable receptacle for receiving a power cable and a network communications cable for connecting the network access point to a computer network;

a ventilated cover attachable to the pan and comprising an outer surface that is substantially flush with the planar ceiling surface when the cover is attached to the pan such that the outer surface of the cover does not extend substantially into the room space when the cover is attached to the pan;

a plate attachable to the pan for mounting the network access point within the enclosure space and maintaining a ventilation space between the network access point and the rear surface of the pan; and

an antenna receptacle configured to support an antenna operable for wireless communications with the network access point and located within the room space.

15. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein:

the cover is configured to attach to the pan in a plurality of positions; and

the pan further includes a plurality of corner brackets, each corner bracket including an antenna receptacle configured to align with the antenna receptacle of the cover when the cover is attached to the pan in a particular one of the positions.

16. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein:

the pan comprises impressed screw holes defining channels for receiving self-tapping screws for removably attaching the cover to the pan such that a technician may attach and remove the cover from the pan while the technician is substantially located within the room space;

the pan comprises impressed screw holes defining channels for receiving self-tapping screws for removably attaching the plate to the pan such that a technician may attach and remove the plate from the pan while the technician is substantially located within the room space; and

the plate comprises keyhole-shaped mounting holes for receiving mounting pins attached to the network access point such that a technician may attach and remove the network access point from the enclosure while the technician is substantially located within the room space.

17. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein:

the building space is an air-handling space for a public building and the pan is designed to meet fire code regulations governing locating the enclosure within the air-handling space of the public building.

18. A method for positioning a network access point to communicate with a wireless terminal located with a room space, comprising the steps of:

placing a substantially sealed pan within a structural member within a building space defining a substantially planar surface adjacent the room space, the pan defining an enclosure space for housing the network access point outside the room space such that the pan does not extend substantially into the room space when the pan is received within the structural member and creates a smoke barrier between the room space and the building space;

attaching the network access point to the enclosure within the enclosure space;

extending a network communications cable from a computer network through the cable receptacle in the pan and connecting the network communications cable to the network access point;

attaching a ventilated cover to the pan, the cover comprising an outer surface that is substantially flush with the planar surface when the cover is attached to the pan such that the outer surface of the cover does not extend substantially into the room space when the cover is attached to the pan; and

extending an antenna cable connected to the network access point through the enclosure; and

connecting an antenna within the room space to the antenna cable, the antenna operable for wireless communications between the wireless terminal and the network access point.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

attaching the network access point to a plate and attaching the plate to the enclosure and maintaining a ventilation space between the plate and the pan.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

providing the pan with impressed screw holes defining channels for receiving self-tapping screws for removably attaching the cover to the pan such that a technician may attach and remove the cover from the pan while the technician is substantially located within the room space;

providing the pan with impressed screw holes defining channels for receiving self-tapping screws for removably attaching the plate to the pan such that a technician may attach and remove the plate from the pan while the technician is substantially located within the room space; and

providing the plate with keyhole-shaped mounting holes for receiving mounting pins attached to the network access point such that a technician may attach and remove the network access point from the enclosure while the technician is substantially located within the room space.