ANTENNA MOUNT FOR A STRUCTURE

Abstract

A pass-through antenna mount for a structure includes a base to be placed against an external wall of the structure and a shaft that extends from the base through an opening in the wall. The base defines an aperture therethrough. The shaft extends away from the base and defines a hollow channel extending along a length thereof. The channel is generally aligned with the aperture in the base. The shaft includes a neck portion and an adjacent body portion. The neck portion is configured to accept a fastener and the body portion defines a cable opening in a wall thereof. The cable opening fluidly communicates with the hollow channel. The antenna mount accepts an antenna mounted to the base, where the antenna cable(s) passes through the shaft and exits through the cable opening of the shaft's body portion, thereby taking a tortuous path through the antenna mount.

Claims

1. An antenna mount for a structure, the antenna mount comprising: a base defining an aperture therethrough; a shaft extending away from the base, the shaft defining a hollow channel extending along a length thereof and being generally aligned with the aperture in the base, the shaft including a neck portion and an adjacent body portion, the neck portion configured to accept a fastener, the body portion defining a cable opening in a wall thereof, the cable opening fluidly communicating with the hollow channel.

2. The antenna mount of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the shaft is sealed closed.

3. The antenna mount of claim 1, further comprising: a plug removably attached to a distal end of the body portion of the shaft, the plug being sized and shaped to seal closed the distal end of the body portion.

4. The antenna mount of claim 3, wherein an inner surface of the body portion of the shaft is threaded proximate the distal end of the body portion and wherein the plug includes: a threaded member; and a head member located at one end of the threaded member, the head member being sized and shaped to seal closed the distal end of the body portion of the shaft when the threaded member of the plug is mated with the threaded inner surface of the body portion.

5. The antenna mount of claim 3, further comprising: a collar sized and shaped to fit over the body portion of the shaft, the collar being positioned between the head member of the plug and the neck portion of the shaft, at least a portion of the collar having an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of the head member of the plug.

6. The antenna mount of claim 5, wherein an outer surface of the neck portion of the shaft is threaded, the antenna mount further comprising: a nut sized to fit onto and mate with the threaded outer surface of the neck portion, wherein an inside diameter of the nut is larger than a maximum outside diameter of the collar and the diameter of the head member of the plug.

7. The antenna mount of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the neck portion of the shaft is threaded, the antenna mount further comprising: a nut sized to fit onto and mate with the threaded outer surface of the neck portion.

8. The antenna mount of claim 7, wherein the nut defines a gap in a wall thereof, a width of the gap accommodating passage of a cable therethrough.

9. The antenna mount of claim 1, wherein at least the base is configured to facilitate attachment of an antenna assembly such that one or more cables of the antenna assembly pass through the aperture of the base and into the hollow channel of the shaft.

10. The antenna mount of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the shaft is generally cylindrical and wherein the hollow channel is a bore.

11. The antenna mount of claim 10, wherein the body portion of the shaft has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the neck portion of the shaft.

12. An antenna mount for a structure, the antenna mount comprising: a substantially flat base defining an opening therethrough; a shaft extending away from the base, the shaft defining a bore extending along a length thereof and being generally aligned with the opening in the base, the shaft including a neck portion and a body portion, one side of the neck portion being adjacent to the body portion and another side of the neck portion being adjacent to the base, an outside surface of the neck portion being threaded, the body portion defining a slot in a wall thereof and being open at a distal end thereof, the slot fluidly communicating with the bore; and a plug removably attached to the body portion of the shaft through the open distal end of the body portion, the plug being sized and shaped to seal closed the open distal end of the body portion.

13. The antenna mount of claim 12, wherein an inner surface of the body portion of the shaft is threaded proximate the distal end of the body portion and wherein the plug includes: a threaded member; and a head member located at one end of the threaded member, the head member being sized and shaped to seal closed the distal end of the body portion of the shaft when the threaded member of the plug is mated with the threaded inner surface of the body portion.

14. The antenna mount of claim 12, wherein the plug is attached to the body portion of the shaft so as to be unremovable in response to an impact force originating from the bore of the shaft.

15. The antenna mount of claim 12, further comprising: a collar sized and shaped to fit over the body portion of the shaft, the collar being positioned between a head member of the plug and the neck portion of the shaft, at least a portion of the collar having an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of the head member of the plug.

16. The antenna mount of claim 15, wherein an end portion of the collar positioned closest to the head member of the plug is tapered.

17. The antenna mount of claim 15, wherein an outer surface of the neck portion of the shaft is threaded, the antenna mount further comprising: a nut sized to fit onto and mate with the threaded outer surface of the neck portion, wherein an inside diameter of the nut is larger than a maximum outside diameter of the collar and the diameter of the head member of the plug.

18. The antenna mount of claim 17, wherein the nut defines a gap in a wall thereof, a width of the gap accommodating passage of a cable therethrough.

19. The antenna mount of claim 12, wherein a wall of the base defining the opening in the base is threaded to be mateable with a threaded portion of an antenna assembly.

20. An intrusion-resistant antenna mount for a structure, the antenna mount being mountable through an aperture of the structure, the antenna mount comprising: a base defining an opening therethrough; and a tortuous path arrangement connected to and extending away from the base, the tortuous path arrangement including: a shaft defining a hollow cable channel extending along a length thereof and being generally aligned with the opening in the base, the shaft further being open at a distal end and defining a cable opening in a wall thereof, the cable opening fluidly communicating with the cable channel; a cylindrical collar tapered at one or more ends and positioned over the shaft; and a plug removably attached to the distal end of the shaft, the plug including a head member sized and shaped to seal closed the distal end of the shaft, wherein the head member has a diameter greater than a diameter of a tapered end of the collar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a structure-mountable antenna assembly, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially assembled antenna mount for a structure, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional and cutaway view of an antenna connected to an assembled antenna mount for a structure, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional and cutaway view of an antenna connected to an assembled antenna mount for a structure, in accordance with alternative exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the antenna mount included in FIG. 4.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a side view of an assembled antenna mount for a structure showing an antenna cable traversing a tortuous path through the antenna mount, in accordance with additional exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary structure with which an antenna mount in accordance with the present disclosure may be used.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows side and end views of an exemplary collar and an exemplary retaining nut for use in an antenna mount for a structure, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] An antenna mount for a structure allows an external antenna to be mounted on the structure, such as, for example, a pad mounted distribution transformer, a cabinet distribution transformer, a cable provider equipment enclosure, an Internet service provider equipment enclosure, or another utility enclosure. Through use of the disclosed antenna mount, a mounted antenna can be connected to a device inside the structure, such as a monitoring unit or sensor, and allow the device to communicate with a remote computing system. The disclosed antenna mount defines a tortuous path for the antenna cable so that in the event the antenna is removed from the outside of the structure to which it was mounted, an object inserted through the opening in the antenna mount is unlikely to contact sensitive electronics and potentially dangerous electrical connections within the structure.

[0029] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a structure-mountable antenna assembly, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The antenna assembly 100 includes an antenna mount 102 and an antenna 138. The antenna mount 102 includes a base 104 and a shaft 108 extending away from the base 104. The base 104 may be substantially flat or planar and have a front side 142 and a back side 144 separated by a thickness. The base 104 defines an aperture 106 through the thickness of the base 104.

[0030] The shaft 108 includes a neck portion 110 and an adjacent body portion 109 that extends from the neck portion 110. The neck portion 110 has a larger outside diameter than an outside diameter of the body portion 109. The neck portion 110 may be threaded on its external surface or otherwise configured to accept a fastener, such as a threaded or press-fit nut. The body portion 109 of the shaft 108 has a distal end 112 that is opposite the neck portion 110. The shaft 108 defines a hollow channel extending along a length thereof. The channel is generally aligned with the aperture 106 in the base 104. The body portion 109 of the shaft 108 defines a cable opening 114 in a wall thereof. The cable opening 114 fluidly communicates or is in fluid communication with the hollow channel of the shaft 108.

[0031] The antenna mount 102 may also include a removable plug assembly 116 that includes a collar 118 and a plug 122. The collar 118 may define a bore 120 through it and be sized and shaped to fit over the body portion 109 of the shaft 108. For example, the collar 118 may have an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the body portion 109 but less than an outside diameter of the neck portion 110. The plug 122 includes a head member 124 and a threaded member 126, where the head member 124 is located at one end of the threaded member 126. The threads on the threaded member 126 of the plug 122 are sized to mate with threads on an inner surface of the body portion 109 of the shaft 108 adjacent the distal end 112 of the shaft 108. In some embodiments, the hollow channel in the shaft 108 can be a bore through an entirety of the shaft 108, such that the distal end 112 of the body portion 109 of the shaft 108 is open. In such a case, the threaded member 126 of the plug 122 can be screwed into the distal end 112 of the body portion 109 to seal closed the distal end 112 of the body portion 109. The head member 124 of the plug 122 is sized and shaped to seal closed the distal end 112 of the body portion 109 of the shaft 108 when the threaded member 126 of the plug 122 is mated with the threaded inner surface of the body portion 109.

[0032] When included, the collar 118 has a length selected to cover a portion of the cable opening 114 in the wall of the body portion 109 of the shaft 108 so as to allow an antenna cable from an antenna 138 to pass through the hollow channel of the shaft 108 and out the cable opening 114 when the distal end 112 of the body portion 109 is sealed closed with the plug 122. Once out of the aperture 106 in the base 104, the antenna cable may be mated with a connector 140 of an antenna 138. When used, the collar 118 is positioned between the head member 124 of the plug 122 and the neck portion 110 of the shaft 108. Additionally, at least a portion of the collar 118 has an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of the head member 124 of the plug 122. Thus, once the collar 118 is slid over the body portion 109 of the shaft 108 and the plug 122 is secured to the distal end 112 of the body portion 109, the collar 118 cannot fall off the body portion 109 of the shaft 108. According to one exemplary embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1, an end portion of the collar 118 nearest the head member 124 of the plug 122 may be tapered to have an outer diameter less than a diameter of the head member 124 of the plug 122. For simplicity in fabrication and to avoid mistakes during installation of the antenna mount 102, both end portions of the collar 118 may be tapered to have an outer diameter less than a diameter of the head member 124 of the plug 122.

[0033] The antenna mount 102 may further include a retaining nut 128 sized to fit onto and mate with the threaded outer surface of the neck portion 110 of the shaft 108. The nut 128 may also have an inside diameter larger than a maximum outside diameter of the collar 118 and the diameter of the head member 124 of the plug 122 to fit over the collar 118 and the plug 122 to facilitate attachment after the distal end 112 of the body portion 109 of the shaft 108 has be sealed closed. The retaining nut 128 may further define a gap 132 in a wall thereof, where the width of the gap 132 accommodates or allows an antenna cable to pass through it so that the cable does not get pinched during installation of the nut 128. The retaining nut 128 may further include a flange 130 that helps distribute force when securing the nut 128 against an inside of the structure in which the antenna mount 102 is mounted.

[0034] In a further exemplary embodiment, a gasket 146 may be placed on the back side 144 of the base 104 to bear against the exterior surface of the structure in which the antenna mount 102 is mounted. In such a case, when the retaining nut 128 is threaded onto the neck portion 110 of the shaft 108 and tightened against the interior side of the structure, the force will pull the back side 144 of the antenna mount base 104 against the external surface of the structure and compress the gasket 146.

[0035] The antenna 138 includes a connector 140 that may be threaded to mate with threads inside the shaft 108 near the base 104 after the antenna 138 is connected to the antenna cable. The antenna 138 may include a gasket 148 that will bear against the front side 142 of the antenna mount base 104 when the connector 140 is threaded into the shaft 108 through the aperture 106 in the base 104.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially assembled alternative antenna mount 102. According to this embodiment, the antenna mount 102 further includes a nut 136 used to help prevent the base 104 from turning when the retaining nut 128 is tightened onto the neck portion 110 of the shaft 108.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional and cutaway view of an antenna 138 connected to an assembled antenna mount 102 for a structure, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In this view, the shaft 108 of the antenna mount 102 extends through an opening 312 in a wall 310 (e.g., a sidewall, front wall, back wall, top, cover, bottom, and so forth) of a structure. The antenna 138 is mounted into the antenna mount 102 by threading the antenna connector 140 into threads 308 inside the channel 314 of the shaft 108 proximate the aperture 106 in the base 104 of the antenna mount 102. The retaining nut 128 is threaded and tightened onto threads 302 of the neck portion 110 of the shaft 108 and the flange 130 of the nut 128 bears against the interior surface of the wall 310 of the structure.

[0038] The channel 314 through the shaft 108 is contiguous and in fluid communication with the cable opening 114 and the aperture 106 in the base 104. The channel 314 may have a first portion 316 and an adjacent second portion 304 that have different interior diameters. In this case, the diameter of the first channel portion 316 may be equal to the diameter of the aperture 106 in the base 104, and the diameter of the second channel portion 304 may be equal to a diameter of the opening at the distal end 112 of the shaft body portion 109. As shown in FIG. 3, the cable opening 114 in the side wall of the shaft body portion 109 may be a slot along the wall of the second channel portion 304. The interior of the cable channel 314 may include a threaded portion 315 adjacent or proximate the distal end 112 of the shaft body portion 109 to receive the threaded member 126 of the plug 122. The head member 124 of the plug 122 retains the collar 118 on the shaft 108 and leaves a portion of the cable opening 114 uncovered.

[0039] In use, with additional reference to FIG. 6, the shaft 108 of the antenna mount 102 can be inserted through the opening 312 in the wall 310 of the structure. An antenna cable 602 can be inserted into the open distal end 112 of the shaft 108 and passed through the cable channel to exit the aperture 106 of the base 104 where a connector 604 at the end of the antenna cable 602 can be connected to the antenna 138 (e.g., by securing the antenna cable connector 604 to the antenna connector 140). The portion 606 of the antenna cable 602 that extends out of the distal end of the shaft may be moved into the cable opening 114. The collar 118 may then be placed over the distal end 112 of the shaft 108 and can bear against the antenna cable 602 that is passing out of the cable opening 114. The collar 118 has a preferably smooth outer surface so as not to damage the antenna cable 602 when positioned against it. The plug 122 is threaded into the distal end 112 of the shaft 108 to seal it closed. The antenna cable 602 passes through the side of the shaft 108 at the cable opening 114 that is not closed off by the collar 118. Thus, the path followed by the antenna cable 602 between the antenna 138 and the interior of the structure is “tortuous,” meaning it turns at a substantial angle (e.g., 45 degrees to 90 degrees from the axis of the shaft 108).

[0040] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional and cutaway view of an antenna 138 connected to an assembled antenna mount 400 for a structure, in accordance with alternative exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The antenna mount 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 is similar to the antenna mount 102 shown in FIG. 3, but with a difference in the shaft configuration. As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end 112 of the shaft 108 is permanently sealed closed, rather than being removably sealed closed with a plug 122. The cable opening 404 may be a slot or other opening that passes through the side wall of the shaft but does not extend to the distal end 112 of the shaft. In this embodiment, the cable opening 404 must be large enough to allow the connector 604 of the antenna cable to pass through it. As further shown in FIG. 5, the distal end 112 of the shaft is closed, and the cable opening 404 is contiguous with the cable channel 314 and the aperture 106 in the base 104. The antenna 138 can be attached to the antenna mount 400 by inserting the antenna connector 140 through the aperture 106 in the base 104 as indicated by arrow 502, and then turning the antenna 138 to thread the connector 140 into the cable channel along threads 308.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary structure with which an antenna mount in accordance with the present disclosure may be used. The illustrated structure is a pad mounted distribution transformer 700 and is one example of the type of structure in which the pass through antenna mount 102, 400 can be used. The tortuous path created by the antenna mount 102, 400 reduces the chance that a person could insert an object into the shaft of the antenna mount 102, 400, if the antenna 138 was removed, and have the object make contact with something inside the structure. In the case where the structure contains electric utility equipment, there would be a risk of electrical shock if a person were able to insert an object into the structure and make contact with a power carrying component. Typically, a pad mounted distribution transformer 700 is located on a concrete slab 704 and has a front door 702 or hatch that is hinged along a joint 706 such that the door 702 can swing up to expose components inside the structure. The structure is made of metal that is typically grounded and acts as a Faraday cage, preventing radio signals from entering or leaving the structure 700, thus, the external antenna 138 is required for electronics equipment inside the structure 700 to communicate.

[0042] FIG. 8 shows side and end views of an exemplary collar 118 and an exemplary retaining nut 128 for use in an antenna mount 102 for a structure, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 shows several views of the collar 118 and the retaining nut 128. Specifically, view 802 is an end view of the collar 118 looking through the bore 120. View 804 is a side view of the collar 118. View 806 is a side view of the retaining nut 128 showing the gap 132 that allows the retaining nut 128 to be positioned on the neck 110 after an antenna cable 602 has been passed through the antenna mount 102. View 808 is a bottom view of the retaining nut with the flange 130 in view, and view 810 is a top view of the retaining nut 132. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, the collar 118 has an internal bore 120 that is sized to allow the collar 118 to fit over the shaft adjacent the distal end 112. The collar 118 may be tapered or conic at each of its opposite ends. The opening 812 through the retaining nut 128 is large enough to fit over the collar 118, having a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the collar 118.

[0043] A pass-through antenna mount has been disclosed that allows for an external antenna to be mounted on the outside of a structure, where the external antenna is connected by an antenna cable that passes through the antenna mount to a component having radio circuitry that is housed inside the structure. While the pass-through antenna mount passes through a wall of the structure, it also requires the antenna cable to follow a tortuous path, rather than a straight path, through the antenna mount in order to add a level of safety and reduce the risk of someone inserting a foreign object into the antenna mount and making contact with a sensitive or potentially dangerous component in the structure.

[0044] The claims appended hereto are meant to cover all modifications and changes within the scope of the present disclosure.