Antenna Mount With Biasing Legs for Wall Cavity Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall-mounted antennas for indoor wireless security systems are bulky and unsightly, and mounting them as high as possible within a wall cavity is costly and difficult without drilling or cutting additional holes in the finished wall.
Innovation Solution
A mounting device with pivotally coupled support legs and a biasing element that propels the legs outward to engage the wall cavity surface, allowing the antenna to be secured in an elevated position without enlarging existing holes, using fasteners like metal barbs or elastomer end caps to secure the legs to the vertical surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna is mounted as high as possible within the building, then RF performance is improved, but the antenna becomes bulky and unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is extracted from the visible wall surface and placed inside the wall cavity, where it can operate at an elevated position for optimal RF performance while being hidden from view to maintain aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is nested within the wall cavity structure, allowing it to be positioned at an elevated location inside the wall while remaining concealed, thus achieving both high RF performance and aesthetic appearance
2Device complexity
If the antenna is hidden in the floor, walls, and/or ceiling, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but construction costs increase due to additional holes
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device can be installed through the same opening used for the central control panel, serving multiple functions: providing access for both the control panel and the antenna mounting, thereby avoiding additional holes and reducing construction costs
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting device is divided into separate components (mounting mechanism, support structure) that can be assembled and installed through a single opening, allowing the antenna to be positioned inside the wall cavity without requiring additional access points
3Device complexity
If the antenna is mounted within existing structures, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device is pre-assembled with the antenna before installation, and the entire assembly is designed to be inserted through the existing control panel opening, eliminating the need for complex on-site modifications and reducing installation difficulty
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and cost-effective mounting of antennas in elevated positions within wall cavities, improving RF performance by minimizing obstructions and maintaining an aesthetic appearance while avoiding extensive hole cutting in finished walls.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element for supplying a constant force to the plurality of support legs sufficient to propel the free end of each support leg in an outwardly direction from the platform
Implementation Method 2
The fastener includes a set of metal barbs... The fastener includes a set plastic barbs molded into the free ends of each support leg
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mounted antenna for use in a wireless communication system, and in particular, to a mounting device and associated method for mounting an antenna within a cavity of a finished wall. The mounting device comprises a platform and a plurality of support legs, each of the plurality of support legs having a free end and a fixed end. The fixed end is pivotally coupled to the platform. The platform has a coupling mechanism for attaching an antenna to the platform. The mounting device also includes a biasing element for supplying a constant force to the plurality of support legs sufficient to propel the free end of each support leg in an outwardly direction from the platform and engage a surface within a wall cavity to support the mounting device.