A floating device for transfer of personnel and material to and from the shore, where the device is divided into sections that are mutually brought together by articulated couplings to form an extended, continuous path for the transfer of said personnel and material, as the sections are set up to be reset between a parked, folded position and an extended, using position. The device is characterized by a first section (10) that comprises mutually separated hull sections (14, 16) that are connected via a deck (12) where the other sections (20, 30) in the device are set up to be parked in under the deck (12) between the hull parts (14, 16) of the first section (10), and also that the device comprises means to securely couple the other sections (20, 30) to the first section (10) up under the deck, as the hull parts can be ballasted to be able to raise and lower the first section (10) with regard to the other sections (20, 30).

A floating device for transfer of personnel and material to and from the shore, where the device is divided into sections that are mutually brought together by articulated couplings to form an extended, continuous path for the transfer of said personnel and material, as the sections are set up to be reset between a parked, folded position and an extended, using position. The device is characterized by a first section (10) that comprises mutually separated hull sections (14, 16) that are connected via a deck (12) where the other sections (20, 30) in the device are set up to be parked in under the deck (12) between the hull parts (14, 16) of the first section (10), and also that the device comprises means to securely couple the other sections (20, 30) to the first section (10) up under the deck, as the hull parts can be ballasted to be able to raise and lower the first section (10) with regard to the other sections (20, 30).

Exemplary embodiments of an improved water mat system comprise a plurality of polymeric, closed-cell foam panels, each of the plurality of panels taking any suitable shape and defining a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of hinge components are configured and placed to connect the plurality of panels and operable to transition the water mat system between a deployed state and a stored state. When the water mat system is in the deployed state the plurality of panels are positioned in an end-to-end arrangement such that the top surfaces of the panels collectively define a substantially common plane (i.e., the panels are laid out end-to-end). When the water mat system is in the stored state the top surface of a first one of the plurality of panels is juxtaposed to the bottom surface of a second one of the plurality of panels (i.e., the panels are stacked).

Exemplary embodiments of an improved water mat system comprise a plurality of polymeric, closed-cell foam panels, each of the plurality of panels taking any suitable shape and defining a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of hinge components are configured and placed to connect the plurality of panels and operable to transition the water mat system between a deployed state and a stored state. When the water mat system is in the deployed state the plurality of panels are positioned in an end-to-end arrangement such that the top surfaces of the panels collectively define a substantially common plane (i.e., the panels are laid out end-to-end). When the water mat system is in the stored state the top surface of a first one of the plurality of panels is juxtaposed to the bottom surface of a second one of the plurality of panels (i.e., the panels are stacked).

Exemplary embodiments of an improved water mat system comprise a plurality of polymeric, closed-cell foam panels, each of the plurality of panels taking any suitable shape and defining a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of hinge components are configured and placed to connect the plurality of panels and operable to transition the water mat system between a deployed state and a stored state. When the water mat system is in the deployed state the plurality of panels are positioned in an end-to-end arrangement such that the top surfaces of the panels collectively define a substantially common plane (i.e., the panels are laid out end-to-end). When the water mat system is in the stored state the top surface of a first one of the plurality of panels is juxtaposed to the bottom surface of a second one of the plurality of panels (i.e., the panels are stacked).

Exemplary embodiments of an improved water mat system comprise a plurality of polymeric, closed-cell foam panels, each of the plurality of panels taking any suitable shape and defining a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of hinge components are configured and placed to connect the plurality of panels and operable to transition the water mat system between a deployed state and a stored state. When the water mat system is in the deployed state the plurality of panels are positioned in an end-to-end arrangement such that the top surfaces of the panels collectively define a substantially common plane (i.e., the panels are laid out end-to-end). When the water mat system is in the stored state the top surface of a first one of the plurality of panels is juxtaposed to the bottom surface of a second one of the plurality of panels (i.e., the panels are stacked).

Arrangement of flexible joints between bridge sections (4) and pontoons (1) that enable flexible floating piers to be in operation in areas with large waves without the sections or construction being subject to structural damage.

The pneumatic support has a pneumatic body which can be placed pneumatically under pressure and which, under operating pressure, operationally keeps at a distance apart a compression member which extends substantially over its length and a tension member which likewise extends substantially over its length, wherein forces are introduced at force introduction points in end regions of the compression member and the tension member into said members and wherein connecting elements are provided between the compression member and the tension member and introduce forces into the compression member and the tension member likewise at force introduction points, wherein, furthermore, the pneumatic body has formations which extend between adjacent force introduction points and which project outwardly beyond a rectilinear connection between the adjacent force introduction points. As a result, undesired distortion of the support under operating pressure, but without operating load, is avoided.

The pneumatic support has a pneumatic body which can be placed pneumatically under pressure and which, under operating pressure, operationally keeps at a distance apart a compression member which extends substantially over its length and a tension member which likewise extends substantially over its length, wherein forces are introduced at force introduction points in end regions of the compression member and the tension member into said members and wherein connecting elements are provided between the compression member and the tension member and introduce forces into the compression member and the tension member likewise at force introduction points, wherein, furthermore, the pneumatic body has formations which extend between adjacent force introduction points and which project outwardly beyond a rectilinear connection between the adjacent force introduction points. As a result, undesired distortion of the support under operating pressure, but without operating load, is avoided.