Holding apparatus for an electronic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a holding apparatus (1) for an electronic device, in particular for a WLAN access point, comprising a preferably planar mounting portion (2), to which the device can be attached and / or on which the device can be arranged, and an attachment portion (5), which is substantially rigidly connected to the mounting portion (2), for attaching the holding apparatus (1) to a building element (14), wherein the holding apparatus allows flexible, simple attachment to a building element without needing to drill into the building element. According to the invention, the attachment portion (5) is designed for vertical suspension in the building element (14).

Description

[0001] Holding device for an electronic device

[0002] The present invention relates to a holding device for an electronic device, in particular for a WLAN access point, having a preferably plate-like mounting portion to which the device is fastened and / or on which the device can be arranged, and a fastening portion substantially firmly connected to the mounting portion for fastening the holding device to a building element.

[0003] The invention also relates to the use of a holding device according to one of claims 1 to 10.

[0004] Given the widespread use of electronic equipment in buildings, it is often necessary to position these devices appropriately within the building. The placement must be chosen in such a way that the functionality of the electronic device is fully guaranteed. Furthermore, the placement should be chosen so that the electronic device is as inaccessible to unauthorized persons as possible and, if possible, does not take up space that could otherwise be used.

[0005] Against this background, electronic devices, in particular WLAN access points, are often attached to a building element using a generic mounting device. Typically, the mounting is achieved by drilling holes into the building element in order to secure the mounting section of the generic mounting device in a suitable manner, for example by means of dowel screws. Typical building elements to which WLAN access points, in particular, are attached are walls or ceilings. The mounting section of a generic mounting device is usually designed as a plate. Depending on the application, the electronic device, such as the WLAN access point, can be placed on the plate or suspended using a suitable rail system below the plate.

[0006] Accordingly, in the prior art, holding devices of the type mentioned above are used to attach an electronic device to a building element.

[0007] However, the known holding devices and their use have the problem that in many applications it is undesirable or technically impossible due to the nature of the building element in question to drill a hole to attach the holding device.

[0008] Against the background described, the object of the present invention is to provide holding devices of the type mentioned at the outset as well as a use of the type mentioned at the outset, which enable flexible, simple fastening to a building element without having to drill into the building element.

[0009] According to the invention, this object is achieved in a holding device of the type mentioned at the outset in that the fastening section is designed for vertical suspension in the building element. By designing the fastening section for vertical suspension in the building element, the need to drill holes in the building element is advantageously eliminated. The holding device according to the invention with the fastening section can advantageously be placed, for example, on a room divider wall, as is common, for example, in trade fair construction or in open-plan offices. Likewise, a holding device according to the invention can advantageously be suspended from a grid ceiling element as a building element without the need for drilling holes.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening section has at least one groove-like recess for at least partial vertical insertion over the building element. In particular, the building element can be a partition wall, for example a drywall, which does not extend completely to the ceiling. Likewise, within the scope of the invention, the building element can be a wall of a grid ceiling, which is arranged below the actual building ceiling in such a way that a gap remains between the actual building ceiling and the upper end of the grid ceiling. The particular advantage of this embodiment is also that the holding device can be fastened to the building element via its fastening section without having to drill into the building element.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fastening section has two recesses arranged at a distance from one another in a plane parallel to the mounting section, wherein the plane is preferably arranged above the mounting section. According to this embodiment, the holding device according to the invention can be suspended vertically in the building element via the recesses arranged at a distance from one another in a plane-parallel manner, without the building element having to be drilled. Because the plane is preferably arranged above the mounting section, the holding device according to the invention according to this embodiment is particularly suitable for ceiling mounting in cases in which the electronic device to be held, such as the WLAN access point, is to be placed on the plate-like mounting section.In particular, it is advantageous within the scope of the invention if, in a holding device according to the invention, a cross-sectional shape of the recess is adapted to a cross-sectional shape of the building element. If the building element is not flush with the actual building ceiling at the top, so that an installation space remains between the upper edge of the building element and the actual ceiling, according to this embodiment the holding device can advantageously be slipped onto the building element, such as a partition wall or an element of a grid ceiling, from above via the correspondingly shaped recess. If the holding device is to be slipped onto a panel-shaped wall element, the cross-sectional shape of the building element is essentially rectangular. Accordingly, the cross-sectional shape of the recess according to this embodiment of the invention also has a rectangular shape to enable hanging.

[0012] A particularly convenient attachment of the holding device according to the invention to a building element is obtainable according to a variant of the invention if the recess is designed to fit over the building element in a form-fitting manner. In the case of a panel-like building element, such as a partition wall that does not extend to the actual building ceiling or an element of a grid ceiling, the recess is rectangular in shape according to the invention with a width that, plus a slight loading, essentially corresponds to the thickness of the wall. In this case, the holding device according to the invention can be attached by simply hanging it in place, without the need for any further horizontal fixings.

[0013] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention

[0014] In the case of a holding device, the fastening section is provided with transverse fastening means for fixing the holding device to the building element in a horizontal direction. According to this embodiment, recesses can, for example, be dimensioned such that they are suitable for fitting over a large number of different building elements, in particular partitions, by making the cross-section of the recess larger than the cross-section of the corresponding building element. In this case, fixing in a horizontal direction advantageously ensures that the holding device can be fixed parallel to the building element or at a right angle to it, and that there is no longer any play in the horizontal direction. Screw connections, preferably with a wing screw, are particularly suitable as transverse fastening means, although these do not require any drilling into the building element.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the holding device according to the invention, the mounting section is provided, preferably on an underside, with rail-like fastening elements onto which the electronic device can be slid horizontally with counter-elements shaped to complement the fastening elements when the holding device is suspended in the building element. On the side of the electronic device to be held, in particular the WLAN access point, corresponding mounting rails are provided for many devices, which are shaped such that they can be slid over the rail-like fastening elements of the holding device according to this embodiment.

[0016] In particular, the building element within the scope of the invention is a

[0017] Wall element. In industrial buildings or in wholesale sales halls, such as furniture stores, wall elements are often used that do not extend all the way up to the usually very high actual building ceilings. A suitably designed mounting device according to the invention can therefore be suspended from such wall elements. Advantageously, in this case, the wall element does not require drilling.

[0018] In another advantageous embodiment of the holding device according to the invention, the wall element is part of a room wall.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, the wall element is part of a grid ceiling. Grid ceilings are often arranged at a distance below the actual building ceiling, leaving a mounting space above the end of the wall elements of the grid ceiling, which allows the inventive holding device to be placed onto the wall element of the grid ceiling from above.

[0020] The underlying object directed to a use is achieved by using a holding device according to one of claims 1 to 10 in order to fasten an electronic device, in particular a WLAN access point, to a building element.

[0021] In particular, in an advantageous embodiment of the inventive use, the building element is a wall element. Wall elements are used, for example, in trade fair construction or in larger department stores, especially furniture stores, as room dividers. They do not extend to the building ceiling and therefore allow a generic support device to be suspended from above.

[0022] Another advantageous embodiment of the use according to the invention provides that the wall element is part of a room wall.

[0023] Alternatively, the use according to the invention can be directed to the wall element being part of a grid ceiling. Grid ceilings are widely used in public buildings, office spaces, or department stores, especially furniture stores. The use according to the invention enables the mounting of the electronic device, in particular a WLAN access point, without the need to drill holes in the building element.

[0024] The invention is described by way of example in a preferred embodiment with reference to a drawing, wherein further advantageous details can be found in the figures of the drawing.

[0025] Functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0026] The figures in the drawing show in detail:

[0027] Figure 1: perspective view obliquely from above of a preferred embodiment of a holding device according to the invention;

[0028] Figure 2: perspective view from below of the

[0029] Holding device according to Figure 1;

[0030] Figure 3: Side view of the holding device according to Figures 1 and 2 in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1 in a state vertically suspended in a building element.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a perspective view obliquely from above of a holding device 1 in a first embodiment of the invention. This device has a rectangularly shaped mounting plate 2. The mounting plate 2 is provided on two opposite end faces with boundary walls 3, 4 bent upwards at right angles. The holding device 1 according to the invention has a fastening section 5 that is integrally designed with the mounting plate 2. The fastening section 5 has a contact wall 6 that delimits the boundary walls 3, 4 of the mounting plate 2 at right angles to them. Furthermore, the fastening section 5 of the holding device 1 according to the invention is characterized by side flanks 7, 8, which are integrally designed with the boundary walls 3, 4 of the mounting plate 2 of the holding device 1. The side flanks 7, 8 are shaped identically. They project beyond the plane of the mounting plate 2 in the vertical direction, even beyond the boundary walls 3, 4.Each side flank 7, 8 has a recess 9, 10. The recesses 9, 10 in the side flanks 7, 8 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape in an upper section. The side flanks 7, 8 are connected to each other via cross-bar elements 11, 12.

[0032] As can be seen particularly clearly in Figure 2, which shows an oblique view from below of the inventive holding device according to Figure 1, the mounting plate 2 is provided on its underside with a rail-like fastening element 13. The fastening element 13 is designed as an adapter rail, which is adapted to complementarily shaped connecting elements on the side of the WLAN access point to be held.

[0033] As can also be seen in Figure 2, the mounting plate 2 has a recess 14 in a section near the system wall 6. The recess 14 serves, on the one hand, to save weight. It also allows the passage of connecting cables and the like in certain applications.

[0034] Figure 3 shows a side view in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1 of the holding device according to the invention of Figures 1 and 2 in interaction with a grid ceiling element 14. As can be clearly seen in Figure 3, the holding device 1 is suspended with its fastening section 5 in the grid ceiling element 14. For this purpose, the fastening section 5 with the recess 10 formed in the side flank 8 is slipped over the grid ceiling element 14 from above. The upper end edge 15 of the recess 10 in the side flank 8 rests on the grid ceiling element 14 due to the effect of gravity and is thus held on the grid ceiling element 14 by vertical suspension.

[0035] As can be seen particularly well in Figure 3, the holding device has a curved F-shape in side view due to the boundary walls 3, 4 and the shape of the side flanks 7, 8 with their recesses 9, 10.

[0036] As Figure 3 further illustrates, the horizontal extent of the recess 10 is designed to be greater than the wall thickness 16 of the grid ceiling element 14. Therefore, the holding device 1 essentially still has some play in the horizontal direction relative to the grid ceiling element 14. To ensure that the holding device 1 is also attached to the grid ceiling element 14 in the horizontal direction and to also ensure that the mounting plate 2 is aligned in a horizontal plane and thus at a right angle to the grid ceiling element 14, the fastening section 5 is provided with transverse fastening means in the form of a wing screw 17. The wing screw 17 is guided through a threaded bore 18, 19 in the cross bar element 11 or 12. The wing screw 17 is provided with a contact washer at its end in a manner known per se.

[0037] As Figure 3 illustrates, the holding device 1 is secured horizontally via the fastening section 5 by means of the wing screw 17. For this purpose, the support disc 20 rests on the grid ceiling element 14 to bring the grid ceiling element 14 into contact with the support surface 6 of the fastening section 5. In the state shown in Figure 3, the grid ceiling element 14 is thus sandwiched between the support disc 20 of the wing screw 17 and the support wall 6 of the fastening section 5.

[0038] In this way, the holding device 1 is suspended vertically in the grid ceiling element 14. According to the invention, the holding device 1 is thus attached to the grid ceiling element 14 without the need to drill into the grid ceiling element 14.

[0039] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0040] 1 holding device

[0041] 2 mounting plates

[0042] 3 boundary wall

[0043] 4 boundary wall

[0044] 5 Fastening section

[0045] 6 system wall

[0046] 7 side flank

[0047] 8 side flank

[0048] 9 Recess

[0049] 10 recess

[0050] 11 Cross bar element

[0051] 12 Cross bar element

[0052] 13 rail-like fastening element

[0053] 14 Grid ceiling element

[0054] 15 upper edge

[0055] 16 wall thickness

[0056] 17 Wing screw

[0057] 18 threaded hole

[0058] 19 threaded hole

[0059] 20 contact disc

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Holding device (1) for an electronic device, in particular for a WLAN access point, with a preferably plate-like mounting section (2) to which the device can be fastened and / or on which the device can be arranged, and a fastening section (5) which is substantially firmly connected to the mounting section (2) for fastening the holding device (1) to a building element (14), characterized in that the fastening section (5) is designed for vertical hanging in the building element (14).

2. Holding device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening section (5) has at least one groove-like recess (9, 10) for at least partially vertically slipping over the building element (14).

3. Holding device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening section (5) has two recesses (9, 10) arranged at a distance from one another in a plane parallel to the mounting section (2), wherein the plane is preferably arranged above the mounting section (2).

4. Holding device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a cross-sectional shape of the recess (9, 10) is adapted to a cross-sectional shape of the building element (14).

5. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (9, 10) for form-fitting over the building element (14).

6. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening section (5) is provided with transverse fastening means (17, 20) for fixing the holding device (1) to the building element (14) in the horizontal direction.

7. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting section (2), preferably on an underside, is provided with rail-like fastening elements (13) onto which the electronic device can be pushed in the horizontal direction with counter-elements shaped complementarily to the fastening elements (13) when the holding device (1) is suspended in the building element (14).

8. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the building element (14) is a wall element.

9. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall element is part of a room wall.

10. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall element is part of a grid ceiling.

11. Use of a holding device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10 for attaching an electronic device, in particular a WLAN access point, to a building element (14).

12. Use according to claim 11, characterized in that the building element (14) is a wall element.

13. Use according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the wall element is part of a room wall.

14. Use according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the wall element is part of a grid ceiling.

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