Pakedge Patents In-Ceiling WAP, Intros Flip-Down Model

The ceiling is often the best place for a wireless access point (WAP), but they can sure look ugly if affixed to the ceiling like a smoke detector.

Many manufacturers now make hidden WAPs that practically disappear into the ceiling, but Pakedge was just awarded the patent for the design.

On July 27, Pakedge, maker of enterprise-grade networking products, was awarded patent No. 7,763,797 for a "Ceiling-mounted wireless network access point."

Patent abstract:

A ceiling-mountable wireless access point includes a ceiling box with a wing bracket and a wireless access point. The access point is receivable in the ceiling box, with the ceiling box mountable in a drywall installation. The wing bracket couples with ceiling box to secure the apparatus in a ceiling. A power-over-Ethernet module may be provided to eliminate the need for a dedicated power supply at the installation site.

Claims:

1. A ceiling-mounted wireless access point comprising: a ceiling box including: a plurality of side walls defining an interior opening, an exterior opening, and an inner chamber; a brace disposed between the side walls and extending across the interior opening and including a threaded through hole; and a plurality of flanges disposed at the exterior opening and extending orthogonally outwardly from the side walls; a wing bracket including: a cross member with a threaded through hole; and a pair of arms resiliently extending from ends of the cross member at an outward angle; the arms having a greater length than the side walls have between the openings; the wing bracket being fittable over the ceiling box such that when the through holes are substantially aligned with each other and a screw is tightened therein, the arms extend toward the exterior opening and the wing bracket is drawn toward the ceiling box; and a wireless access point including a housing that is receivable through the exterior opening and within the inner chamber; the housing including a plurality of friction springs that are adapted to engage with the side walls of the ceiling box to secure the access point within the ceiling box. ...

Introducing the Flip-Down In-Ceiling WAP

Now Pakedge does it again, with a new in-ceiling design. At CEDIA Expo 2010, the company will introduce two flush-mounted WAPs that flip down from the ceiling.

Although it appears from the images that the WAPs flip down for greater coverage when in use, Pakedge spokesperson Nick Philips tells us the "swing down feature is for easy installation and maintenance."

Installation is simple, Philips says. Simply cut a round hole, engage two dog ears, connect a Cat 5/6 cable and close the cover. The product products just 3/4-inch from the surface.

The WAP-C3N supports 8012.11b/g/n for “ultra high throughput" and the WAP-C3G supports 802.11b/g.

Both products are enterprise-class. A single access point can serve multiple VLANs with multiple SSIDs so only one AP is needed to span multiple subnets, says Philips.

Pricing will be available at CEDIA but Philips says it will retail for about 25 percent less than the company's original WAP-C3 fixed in-ceiling product (about $700 to $800), shown in the patent diagrams above.

The new wireless access points will be demonstrated during CEDIA at Pakedge Booth 4345, along with the company’s full range of enterprise-grade networking gear for the home.