Ceiling-mounted wireless network access point

• US 7,763,797 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap One LLC (Snap One Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Pakedge Device & Software Inc. (Snap One Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Pak, Victor S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US11/085,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20060211451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,954 Days
• Field of Search: 174/43, 174/40.CC, 174/60, 174/520, 174/560, 343/872
• US Class Current: 174/60
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/20 Ceiling roses or other lighting sets

Abstract

A ceiling-mountable wireless access point includes a ceiling box with a wing bracket and a wireless access point. The access point is receivable in the ceiling box, with the ceiling box mountable in a drywall installation. The wing bracket couples with ceiling box to secure the apparatus in a ceiling. A power-over-Ethernet module may be provided to eliminate the need for a dedicated power supply at the installation site.

Claims

1. A ceiling-mounted wireless access point comprising:

a ceiling box including;

a plurality of side walls defining an interior opening, an exterior opening, and an inner chamber;

a brace disposed between the side walls and extending across the interior opening and including a threaded through hole; and

a plurality of flanges disposed at the exterior opening and extending orthogonally outwardly from the side walls;

a wing bracket including;

a cross member with a threaded through hole; and

a pair of arms resiliently extending from ends of the cross member at an outward angle;

the arms having a greater length than the side walls have between the openings;

the wing bracket being fittable over the ceiling box such that when the through holes are substantially aligned with each other and a screw is tightened therein, the arms extend toward the exterior opening and the wing bracket is drawn toward the ceiling box; and

a wireless access point including a housing that is receivable through the exterior opening and within the inner chamber;

the housing including a plurality of friction springs that are adapted to engage with the side walls of the ceiling box to secure the access point within the ceiling box.

2. The ceiling-mounted wireless access point of claim 1 further comprising a power-over-Ethernet module for connection with the access point.

3. The ceiling-mounted wireless access point of claim 1 wherein each of the arms of the wing bracket includes a curved portion disposed at the connection with the cross member.

4. The ceiling-mounted wireless access point of claim 1 wherein the access point includes a cover that extends outwardly from the housing such that when the housing is received in the inner chamber, the cover extends beyond the flanges of the ceiling box.

5. The ceiling-mounted wireless access point of claim 1 wherein the ceiling box includes a pair of the flanges.

6. The ceiling-mounted wireless access point of claim 1 wherein the ceiling box includes four of the side walls.

7. The ceiling-mounted wireless access point of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a perimetrical section and an antenna recess extending outwardly from the perimetrical section.

8. Apparatus for mounting a wireless access point in drywall, the apparatus comprising:

a box including;

an inner chamber with an opening for receiving the wireless access point;

a brace extending across an end of the inner chamber opposite to the opening and having a threaded through hole; and

a plurality of flanges extending outwardly from the opening;

a wing bracket including;

a cross member with a threaded through hole; and

a pair of arms resiliently extending from the cross member at an outward angle;

the wing bracket being fittable over the housing such that when the through holes are substantially aligned with each other and a screw is tightened therein, the cross member of the wing bracket is drawn toward the brace of the box, with the arms extending beyond the opening of the inner chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein when mounted in drywall, the flanges are received against a room-side of the drywall and ends of the arms of the wing bracket engage an interior side of the drywall.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the arms of the wing bracket includes a curved portion disposed at the connection with the cross member.

11. The ceiling-mounted wireless access point of claim 8 wherein the housing includes a perimetrical section and an antenna recess extending outwardly from the perimetrical section.

12. A wireless access point comprising:

a mounting apparatus comprising a flange, disposed at an exterior opening of the mounting apparatus, for engaging an outward surface of a building material that has an outward surface and an inward surface;

at least a first member coupled to the mounting apparatus and adjustable with respect to the mounting apparatus so as to engage the inward surface of the building material; and

a housing connected to a wireless router, the housing being received by the mounting apparatus through the exterior opening and engaging the mounting apparatus to secure the housing to the mounting apparatus.

13. The wireless access point claimed in claim 12, further comprising a power-over-Ethernet module connected to the housing that is connected to the wireless router.

14. The wireless access point claimed in claim 12, wherein the first member is adjustable with respect to the mounting apparatus by tightening a screw that passes through the mounting apparatus and engages the first member.

15. The wireless access point claimed in claim 12, further comprising a cover that extends outwardly from the mounting apparatus.

16. The wireless access point claimed in claim 15, wherein the cover extends beyond the flange of the mounting apparatus to cover the flange.

17. The wireless access point claimed in claim 12, wherein the mounting apparatus comprises a box having said flange at an exterior opening of the box.

18. The wireless access point claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the box further comprises a brace spanning an interior opening of the box, the brace having a through hole; and

wherein the first member comprises a wing bracket including a cross member having a threaded through hole and a pair of arms extending from ends of the cross member at an outward angle, the wing bracket being adjustable with respect to the box by the tightening of a screw within the through holes of the brace and the wing bracket.

19. The wireless access point claimed in claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of friction springs that are adapted to engage the mounting apparatus.