Method and apparatus for mounting network devices

• US 10,103,422 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Britz, David M., Barnickel, Donald J., Gerszberg, Irwin
• Primary Examiner(s): LINDGREN BALTZELL, ANDREA J
• Application Number:
  US15/372,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20180166766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 343890
• 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 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/10 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/22 RF wavebands combined with non-RF wavebands, e.g. infrared or optical
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna including a dielectric antenna and a mounting carriage connectable with a mounting bracket. Wireless signals can be transmitted by electromagnetic waves that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, where the electromagnetic waves are guided by a dielectric core of a cable coupled to a feed point of the dielectric antenna. The mounting bracket is connectable with a cross member of a utility pole, where the mounting carriage includes an opening for receiving an antenna mount, and where, when received in the mounting carriage, the antenna is suspended beyond distal ends of the cross member. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of mounting brackets connectable with a distal end of a cross member that is fixably attached to a utility pole, wherein each of the plurality of mounting brackets includes at least one of a plurality of lugs;

a cylindrical member having a curved shape;

clamping brackets connecting the cylindrical member with the plurality of lugs; and

a mounting carriage connectable with the cylindrical member, wherein the mounting carriage includes an opening for receiving an antenna mount of an antenna, wherein the mounting carriage when in an unlocked state slides via a core bearing along the cylindrical member and rotates about the core bearing enabling rotation with respect to the cylindrical member, wherein the mounting carriage when in a locked state does not slide along the cylindrical member and does not rotate about the core bearing, and wherein the antenna, when received in the mounting carriage, is suspended beyond the distal end of the cross member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a dielectric antenna, wherein wireless signals are transmitted by electromagnetic waves that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by a dielectric core of a cable coupled to a feed point of the dielectric antenna.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of mounting brackets includes an opening to receive one corner of the distal end of the cross member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of mounting brackets is connectable with the distal end of the cross member via a securing member extending through the mounting bracket and into one corner of the distal end of the cross member.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of mounting brackets includes a dimple adapted to penetrate the cross member at one corner of the distal end of the cross member.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of mounting brackets includes a deformable pad in the opening to deform and comply with a surface of the distal end of the cross member.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member has a first radius in excess of a second radius of the utility pole.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna mount when in an unlocked state rotates about the opening in the mounting carriage, and wherein the antenna mount when in a locked state does not rotate about the opening in the mounting carriage.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lugs is pivotally connected with one of the plurality of mounting brackets.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inter-bracket plate connected with the plurality of mounting brackets, wherein the inter-bracket plate connects an electronics module thereto, and wherein the electronics module enables wireless communications via the antenna.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronics module, when connected to the inter-bracket plate, is suspended beyond the distal end of the cross member.

12. A method comprising:

connecting a plurality of mounting brackets with a distal end of a cross member that is fixable attached to a utility pole;

connecting a mounting carriage to a curved member;

connecting the curved member to first and second mounting brackets of the plurality of mounting brackets; and

connecting an antenna to the mounting carriage to suspend the antenna beyond the distal ends of the cross member.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the antenna comprises a dielectric antenna, and further comprising transmitting wireless signals by electromagnetic waves that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by a dielectric core of a cable coupled to a feed point of the dielectric antenna.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the curved member is cylindrical, wherein the mounting carriage when in an unlocked state slides along the curved member and rotates about the curved member, and wherein the mounting carriage when in a locked state does not slide along the curved member and does not rotate about the curved member.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of mounting brackets includes an opening to receive one corner of the distal end of the cross member.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of mounting brackets includes a dimple adapted to penetrate the cross member at one corner of the distal end of the cross member and a deformable pad in an opening to deform and comply with a surface of the distal end of the cross member.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

connecting an inter-bracket plate with the plurality of mounting brackets; and

connecting an electronics module with the inter-bracket plate, wherein the electronics module enables wireless communications via the antenna.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronics module, when connected to the inter-bracket plate, is suspended beyond the distal end of the cross member.

19. A system comprising:

an antenna comprising a dielectric antenna, wherein wireless signals are transmitted by electromagnetic waves that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by a dielectric core of a cable coupled to a feed point of the dielectric antenna; and

a mounting carriage connectable with a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is connectable with a cross member of a utility pole, wherein the mounting carriage includes an opening for receiving an antenna mount, and wherein when received in the mounting carriage, the antenna is suspended beyond distal ends of the cross member.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the mounting carriage when in an unlocked state rotates in a first direction, wherein the mounting carriage when in a locked state does not rotate in the first direction, wherein the antenna mount when in an unlocked state rotates in a second direction, wherein the antenna mount when in a locked state does not rotate in the second direction, and wherein the first and second directions are orthogonal.