Method and apparatus for assembly and installation of a communication device

• US 10,468,744 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2017
• 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: Adriazola, Aldo, Bennett, Robert, Fuchs, Mitchell Harvey, Pimm, Brandon, Barzegar, Farhad, Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, III, Thomas M., Barnickel, Donald J., Roman, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US15/592,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20180331413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 343758, 343785
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/088 Quick-releasable antenna elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/103 Latching means; ensuring extension or retraction thereof
• 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 3/10 to produce a conical or spiral scan

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a communication device having a connection structure that physically connects with a utility structure, where the connection structure has a strut channel. The communication device has a support structure physically connected to the connection structure. The communication device has a group of radio devices secured to the support structure, where the strut channel is configured to enable temporarily locking the support structure to the connection structure via an installation member during an installation process. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a support structure having a cylindrical shape and a hollow bottom portion;

a first radio device physically secured to the support structure;

a strut channel that physically connects with a utility structure that is a separate structure from the device, wherein the utility structure provides the device with support from ground;

an installation member having a strut and a mounting support, wherein the strut slidably engages with the strut channel during an installation process, and wherein the mounting support is insertable into the hollow bottom portion of the support structure during the installation process; and

a mounting bracket that physically connects the support structure to at least one of the strut channel or the utility structure during the installation process.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the installation member includes a locking mechanism that selectively locks the strut along the strut channel.

3. The device of claim 1, comprising an antenna, wherein the utility structure comprises a utility pole, wherein the strut slidably engages with the strut channel during the installation process to allow for adjustment of a vertical position of the device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the antenna is integrated with the support structure.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the first radio device has a first radio housing with a first housing opening therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through the first housing opening, wherein the first radio device comprises first radio components associated with transmitting first wireless signals, receiving the first wireless signals, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first radio device has a first coupling structure that enables coupling the first radio components to the antenna.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a second radio device connected with the support structure, wherein the second radio device has a second radio housing with a second housing opening therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through the second housing opening, wherein the second radio device comprises second radio components associated with transmitting second wireless signals, receiving the second wireless signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the first wireless signals and the second wireless signals utilize different communication protocols, and wherein the first and second radio devices are positioned in a stacked arrangement.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second radio device comprises a directional antenna, and wherein the second radio housing is rotatable with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting of a direction of the directional antenna.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first radio device is rotatable with respect to the support structure.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the strut is selectively removable from the strut channel and the mounting support is selectively removable from the hollow bottom portion of the support structure thereby disengaging the installation member from the strut channel and the support structure.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first radio device comprises first radio components associated with transmitting first wireless signals, receiving the first wireless signals, or a combination thereof, wherein an annular contact is formed on the support structure, wherein the annular contact engages with a contact on the first radio device, wherein the transmitting of the first wireless signals induces electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium towards a receiver, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are representative of the first wireless signals.

11. A method comprising:

physically connecting a radio device to a support structure;

physically connecting a strut channel with a utility structure;

engaging a strut of an installation member with the strut channel;

sliding the strut to a desired position along the strut channel;

locking the strut at the desired position thereby locking the installation member with respect to the strut channel;

engaging the support structure with a mounting support of the installation member; and

physically connecting the support structure to the strut channel while the support structure is engaged with the mounting support of the installation member.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

unlocking the strut thereby unlocking the installation member with respect to the strut channel; and

sliding the strut along the strut channel thereby disengaging the installation member from the strut channel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the engaging the support structure with the mounting support of the installation member comprises inserting the mounting support into a hollow bottom portion of the support structure.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the physically connecting the radio device to the support structure comprises positioning the support structure in, and passing through, a housing opening in the radio device.

15. A communication device comprising:

a connection structure that physically connects with a utility structure, wherein the connection structure has a strut channel;

a support structure physically connected to the connection structure; and

a group of radio devices secured to the support structure, wherein the strut channel is configured to enable temporarily locking the support structure to the connection structure via an installation member during an installation process, wherein the group of radio devices has radio housings with housing openings therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through each of the housing openings thereby positioning the group of radio devices in a stacked arrangement.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the support structure comprises an antenna.

17. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the installation member comprises a strut that slidably engages with the strut channel of the connection structure.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the installation member includes a locking mechanism that selectively locks the strut along the strut channel, wherein the strut slidably engages with the strut channel during the installation process to allow for adjustment of a vertical position of the communication device.

19. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the support structure has a cylindrical shape.

20. The communication device of claim 15, wherein at least one radio device of the group of radio devices is rotatable with respect to the support structure.