Internally fittable and removable mount for external antenna
View Patent ↗The mount allows an antenna to be fitted to an inaccessible side of a panel from an accessible side, through a knockout. An antenna and cable are first fitted to the mount. The mount has clips that can be squeezed inwards so that it can be inserted into the knockout, and then released so that they retain the mount from the far side of the panel. Stops on the mount prevent it from being inserted too far. The tabs may be squeezed with finger pressure only so that the mount can be fitted in restricted locations where access is difficult, such as in an electrical breaker box. The mount can easily be removed by squeezing the tabs.
1. A mount for fitting an antenna to a distal side of a panel from a proximal side of the panel, through a knockout in the panel, the mount comprising:
a body having a distal end, a proximal end and a hole passing from the distal end to the proximal end for accommodating a signal conductor for electrical connection to the antenna;
one or more tabs attached to the distal end of the body and projecting into the proximal end of the body, said tabs being inwardly flexible;
a clip projecting outwards from an outer surface of each tab at the distal end of the body;
a retaining surface on each clip located in a first plane and facing towards the proximal end of the body;
one or more wings attached to and projecting radially outwards from the proximal end of the body, each wing having a stop surface located in a second plane and facing towards the distal end of the body; and
a gap between the first and second planes for accommodating a thickness of the panel;
wherein, when said tabs are flexed inwards, the mount can be passed into the knockout until said stop surfaces engage with the proximal side of the panel and, when said tabs are then released, the mount can be retained in the knockout by said retaining surfaces engaging with the distal side of the panel.
2. The mount of claim 1 , further comprising one or more slots in the distal end of the body for accommodating one or more burrs in the knockout.
3. The mount of claim 1 , further comprising a socket in the hole of the body for accommodating a nut of a signal conductor.
4. The mount of claim 1 , wherein said tabs can be flexed inwards by finger pressure.
5. The mount of claim 1 , wherein said tabs can be flexed inwards to remove the mount from the panel.
6. The mount of claim 1 , wherein said tabs need a specialized tool to be flexed inwards.
7. The mount of claim 1 , wherein there are four tabs.
8. The mount of claim 1 , wherein there are four wings.
9. The mount of claim 8 , wherein the wings and tabs are in circumferentially alternating positions.
10. The mount of claim 1 , wherein the body, tabs and wings are made as a single piece.
11. The mount of claim 10 , wherein the body, tabs and wings are injection molded.
12. The mount of claim 1 , wherein the body, tabs and wings are 3D printed.
13. The mount of claim 1 , wherein the body, tabs and wings are made from nylon.
14. The mount of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is integral to the body.
15. The mount of claim 1 , wherein the signal conductor is integral to the body.