Dock float system

Abstract

A composite floating dock system comprised of one or more dock float components, with each dock float component having a dock frame and one or more floats attached thereto, with each of the dock float components constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic into a single monolithic unit, and being ballasted with encased concrete.

Claims

1. A dock float system, said system comprising one or more dock float components, each said dock float component comprised of a dock frame and one or more floats, with each of the one or more floats affixed to an underside of said dock frame; wherein said dock frame is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein, said dock frame is substantially rectangular, having four substantially rectangular side walls and a substantially rectangular floor, with an open top and an interior space, wherein two of the side walls comprising a first pair of side walls are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and two other side walls comprising a second pair of side walls are oriented substantially parallel to each other, with each side wall of the first pair of side walls adjacent to both side walls of the second pair of side walls, with adjacent side walls oriented substantially perpendicular to each other, and all four side walls adjacent to and oriented substantially perpendicular to the floor, such that the four side walls and the floor are formed as a monolithic unit, with water tight seams at all points of adjacency of the side walls and floor, and each of said one or more floats is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein; whereby said dock float system is placed into a water environment such that said dock float system floats with each dock frame being substantially above the water and the one or more floats being substantially submerged.

2. The dock float system of claim 1 wherein the dock frame of each of the one or more dock float components is topped by decking.

3. The dock float system of claim 1 wherein the dock frame of each of the one or more dock float components further comprises a pair of deck flanges, with a first deck flange located on an upper edge of one of the two side walls comprising one of the pair of side walls of said dock frame and a second deck flange located on an upper edge of the other of the two side walls comprising said pair of side walls of said dock frame, wherein each deck flange is substantially planar, is oriented substantially parallel to the floor of said dock frame, and extends partially over the interior space of said dock frame, such that the deck flanges provide support for decking placed thereon and attached thereto.

4. The dock float system of claim 1 wherein the dock frame of each of the one or more dock float components further comprises a central beam, said central beam being located within the interior space of said dock frame and being adjacent to the floor of said dock frame, said central beam rising upward from said floor in a substantially perpendicular orientation to said floor, with said central beam running between and being adjacent to each of the side walls comprising the second pair of side walls of said dock frame and oriented substantially perpendicular to said side walls comprising the second pair of side walls, said central beam being spaced apart from the two side walls comprising the first pair of side walls and being oriented substantially parallel to said side walls comprising the first pair of side walls; wherein said central beam is comprised of two substantially rectangular side walls spaced apart from each other and forming a hollow void therebetween, whereby said hollow void is at least partially filled with concrete.

5. The dock float system of claim 4 wherein said side walls of said central beam are oriented substantially parallel to each other.

6. The dock float system of claim 4 wherein said side walls of said central beam are angled slightly towards each other, such that portions of said side walls adjacent to said floor of said dock frame are farther apart from each other than portions of said side walls furthest from said floor.

7. The dock float system of claim 4 wherein horizontally oriented reinforcement components are placed in the concrete that is located within the hollow void of the central beam.

8. The dock float system of claim 4 wherein said central beam further comprises a reinforced composite cap, said cap placed onto top edges of the side walls of said central beam, thereby sealing the hollow void of said central beam.

9. The dock float system of claim 4 wherein the dock frame of each of the one or more dock float components further comprises one or more cross beams, with each said cross beam being located within the interior space of said dock frame and being adjacent to the floor of said dock frame, each said cross beam rising upward from said floor in a substantially perpendicular orientation to said floor, with each said cross beam running between and being adjacent to the central beam and one side wall of said dock frame and oriented substantially perpendicular to said side wall and said central beam; wherein each said cross beam is comprised of two substantially rectangular side walls spaced apart from each other and forming a hollow void therebetween, whereby said hollow void is at least partially filled with concrete.

10. The dock float system of claim 9 wherein said side walls of each said cross beam are oriented substantially parallel to each other.

11. The dock float system of claim 9 wherein said side walls of each said cross beam are angled slightly towards each other, such that portions of said side walls adjacent to said floor of said dock frame are farther apart from each other than portions of said side walls furthest from said floor.

12. The dock float system of claim 9 wherein horizontally oriented reinforcement components are placed in the concrete that is located within the hollow void of each of the cross beams.

13. The dock float system of claim 9 wherein each said cross beam further comprises a reinforced composite cap, said cap placed onto top edges of the side walls of said cross beam, thereby sealing the hollow void of said cross beam.

14. A dock float system, said system comprising one or more dock float components, each said dock float component comprised of a dock frame and one or more floats, with each of the one or more floats affixed to an underside of said dock frame; wherein said dock frame is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein, each of the one or more floats of the one or more dock float components is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein, and each of the one or more floats of each of the one or more dock float components is a substantially rectangular structure having four substantially rectangular side walls and a substantially rectangular floor, enclosing an interior space, wherein two of the side walls comprising a first pair of side walls are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and two other side walls comprising a second pair of side walls are oriented substantially parallel to each other, with each side wall of the first pair of side walls adjacent to both side walls of the second pair of side walls, with adjacent side walls oriented substantially perpendicular to each other, and all four side walls adjacent to and oriented substantially perpendicular to the floor, such that the four side walls and the floor are formed as a monolithic unit, with water tight seams at all points of adjacency of the side walls and floor; whereby said interior space of each said float is at least partially filled with a quantity of concrete, such that the quantity of concrete located within each float is substantially the same as the quantity of concrete located within each other float, and said dock float system is placed into a water environment such that said dock float system floats with the dock frame being substantially above the water and the one or more floats being substantially submerged.

15. A dock float system, said system comprising one or more dock float components, each said dock float component comprised of a dock frame and one or more floats, with each of the one or more floats affixed to an underside of said dock frame; wherein said dock frame is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein, each of the one or more floats of each of the one or more dock float components is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein, and each of the one or more floats of each of the one or more dock float components is a structure having four side walls and a substantially rectangular floor, enclosing an interior space, wherein two of the side walls are substantially trapezoidal in shape and two of the sidewalls are substantially rectangular, with the two substantially trapezoidal side walls comprising a first pair of side walls which are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and with the two substantially rectangular side walls comprising a second pair of side walls which are angled towards each other and adjacent to the side walls of the first pair of side walls, with all four side walls adjacent to the floor, such that the four side walls and the floor are formed as a monolithic unit, with water tight seams at all points of adjacency of the side walls and floor; whereby said interior space of each said float is at least partially filled with a quantity of concrete, such that the quantity of concrete located within each float is substantially the same as the quantity of concrete located within each other float, and said dock float system is placed into a water environment such that said dock float system floats with the dock frame being substantially above the water and the one or more floats being substantially submerged.

16. A dock float system, said system comprising one or more dock float components, each said dock float component comprised of a dock frame and one or more floats, with each of the one or more floats affixed to an underside of said dock frame; wherein said dock frame is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein, each of the one or more floats of each of the one or more dock float components is constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and incorporates concrete therein, and each of the one or more floats of each of the one or more dock float components is a structure having four substantially trapezoidal side walls and a substantially rectangular floor, enclosing an interior space, wherein two of the side walls comprise a first pair of side walls and the other two of side walls comprise a second pair of side walls, with the first pair of side walls angled towards each other and the second pair of side walls angled towards each other, with each side wall of the first pair of side walls adjacent to the side walls of the second pair of side walls, with all four side walls adjacent to the floor, such that the four side walls and the floor are formed as a monolithic unit, with water tight seams at all points of adjacency of the side walls and floor; whereby said interior space of each said float is at least partially filled with a quantity of concrete, such that the quantity of concrete located within each float is substantially the same as the quantity of concrete located within each other float, and said dock float system is placed into a water environment such that said dock float system floats with the dock frame being substantially above the water and the one or more floats being substantially submerged.

17. The dock float system of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more dock float components has four floats attached thereto.

18. The dock float system of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a plurality of dock float components, with each of the plurality of dock float components being attached to at least one other of the plurality of dock float components, with each of the plurality of dock float components being attached to at least one other of the plurality of dock float components by one or more elongate connectors, and each of the one or more elongate connectors has a first end and a second end, and the first end of each of the one or more elongate connectors is attached to an outer surface of one of the side walls of the dock frame of one of the plurality of dock float components.

19. The dock float system of claim 18 wherein the second end of at least one of the one or more elongate connectors is attached to an outer surface of one of the side walls of the dock frame of one of the plurality of dock float components other than the dock float component to which the first end of said elongate connector is attached.

20. The dock float system of claim 18 wherein the second end of at least one of the one or more elongate connectors is attached to the second end of another of the one or more elongate components.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the dock frame of the present invention, showing the relation of the side walls to each other, the placement of the central beam within the interior space of the dock frame, and the relation of the multiple cross beams to the central beam and the side walls.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the dock frame of the present invention, with one side wall cutaway to reveal the central beam and a pair of cross beams.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the dock frame of the present invention with attached floats, with one side wall of the dock frame cutaway to reveal the central beam filled with concrete and a pair of cross beams, and with one side wall of each float cutaway to reveal the concrete ballast located within the interiors of the floats.

(4) FIG. 4 is a plan side view of a dock float system of the present invention formed by a pair of dock float components linked together by a connector and placed into a water environment.

(5) FIG. 5 is a plan side cutaway view of the central beam of the dock frame of the present invention showing the concrete filling as well as the composite rebar placed within the concrete for added strength.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

(6) The present invention is a composite dock float system 1. See FIG. 4. The system is comprised of one or more dock float components 100. Each dock float component 100 is comprised of a dock frame 110 and one or more floats 200. The one or more floats 200 are affixed to the underside 150 of the dock frame 110. The dock frame 110 is topped by decking 300. Multiple dock float components 100 may be attached to each other by connectors 400. The dock float system 1 is intended to be placed into a fresh or salt water environment, whereby the dock float system 1 floats with the dock frame component 110 being entirely or substantially above the water line 7 and the float components 200 being substantially or entirely submerged. See FIG. 4.

(7) The primary novelty of the present invention is how the various components are constructed. Each of the components are constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP). Composite rebar may also be employed to provide strength and rigidity to the components. Concrete 5 is also used to provide strength, rigidity, and ballast. The use of these materials make the dock float system 1 much more resistant to environmental degradation, as well as allowing for in place repairs when needed. In addition, greater uniformity of product is ensured.

(8) Regarding the components of the dock float system 1, the dock frame 110 is a substantially rectangular structure having four substantially rectangular side walls 120 and a substantially rectangular floor 130, with an open top and an interior space 140. See FIG. 1. One pair of side walls 120 are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and the other pair of side walls 120 are oriented substantially parallel to each other. Adjacent side walls 120 are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. All four of the side walls 120 are adjacent to and oriented substantially perpendicular to the floor 130. The four side walls 120 and the floor 130 are formed as a monolithic unit, with water tight seams at all points of adjacency of the side walls 120 and floor 130.

(9) Located within the interior space 140 of the dock frame 110 is a central beam 170. See FIGS. 1 and 2. The central beam 170 is adjacent to the floor 130 and rises upward from the floor 130 in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the floor 130. The central beam 170 runs between and is adjacent to one pair of side walls 120, and is oriented substantially perpendicular to those side walls 120. The central beam 170 is spaced apart from the other pair of side walls 120, and is oriented substantially parallel to those side walls 120. Where the central beam 170 is adjacent to a side wall 120, that side wall 120 may be reinforced at the point of adjacency.

(10) The central beam 170 has two substantially rectangular side walls 172 spaced apart from each other, forming a hollow void therebetween. The side walls 172 of the central beam 170 may be oriented substantially parallel to each other, or they may be angled slightly towards each other, such the that portions of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 adjacent to the floor 130 are farther apart than the portions of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 furthest from the floor 130. The side walls 172 of the central beam 170 are constructed of the same FRP material as the side walls 120 and floor 130 of the dock frame 110, and may be integrated therewith as a single monolithic structure.

(11) Alternatively, the central beam 170 may be constructed independently of the side walls 120 and floor 130 of the dock frame 110, and then placed into the dock frame 110 and affixed thereto. In this embodiment, the central beam 170 will also comprise a floor, a front wall, and a rear wall. The floor of the central beam 170 will be oriented horizontally and substantially perpendicular to the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 and will run between the bottom edges of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 and be affixed thereto. The front wall of the central beam 170 will be located at one end of the central beam 170 and oriented vertically and substantially perpendicular to the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 and substantially perpendicular to the floor of the central beam 170 and will run between the front edges of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 and be affixed thereto and to the front edge of the floor. The rear wall of the central beam 170 will be located at the opposite end of the central beam 170 and oriented vertically and substantially perpendicular to the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 and substantially perpendicular to the floor of the central beam 170 and will run between the rear edges of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 and be affixed thereto and to the rear edge of the floor. The length of the floor of the central beam 170 will be substantially the same as the lengths of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 and the heights of the front and rear walls of the central beam 170 will be substantially the same as the heights of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170. The side walls 172 of the central beam 170 in this embodiment may be oriented substantially parallel to each other, or they may be angled slightly towards each other, such the that portions of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 adjacent to the floor of the central beam 170 are farther apart than the portions of the side walls 172 of the central beam 170 furthest from the floor of the central beam 170. The front wall of the central beam 170 is substantially parallel to the rear wall of the central beam 170. The side walls 172, front wall, rear wall, and floor of the central beam 170 in this embodiment are constructed of the same FRP material as the side walls 120 and floor 130 of the dock frame 110, and may be integrated with each other as a single monolithic structure. So configured, the central beam 170 will comprise four sides, a floor, and an open top.

(12) Concrete 5 is placed within the hollow void of the central beam 170, in either of the above-described embodiments of the central beam 170. See FIGS. 3 and 5. Horizontally oriented reinforcement components 190 may be placed in the concrete 5 that is placed within the hollow void of the central beam 170. See FIG. 5. These reinforcement components 190 may be composite rebar. The central beam 170 may have a reinforced composite cap 178 placed onto the top edges 174 of its side walls 172, thereby sealing its interior space. The cap 178 may be constructed of the same FRP material as the side walls 172 of the central beam 170. The cap 178 may be substantially planar and oriented substantially parallel to the floor 130 of the dock frame 110 (or the floor of the central beam 170 in the alternate embodiment). Preferably, the height of the central beam 170 should be not greater than the height of the side walls 120 of the dock frame 110.

(13) Also located within the interior space 140 of the dock frame 110 may be one or more cross beams 180. See FIGS. 1 and 2. Each cross beam 180 is adjacent to the floor 130 and rises upward from the floor 130 in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the floor 130. Each cross beam 180 runs between and is adjacent to a side wall of the dock frame 110 and the central beam 170, and is oriented substantially perpendicular to that side wall and the central beam 170. Where each cross beam 180 is adjacent to a side wall, that side wall may be reinforced at the point of adjacency. A pair of cross beams 180 may be positioned in alignment with each other, one on either side of the central beam 170.

(14) Each cross beam 180 has two substantially rectangular side walls spaced apart from each other, forming a hollow void therebetween. The side walls of each cross beam 180 may be oriented substantially parallel to each other, or they may be angled slightly towards each other, such the that portions of the side walls of said cross beam 180 adjacent to the floor 130 are farther apart than the portions of the side walls of said cross beam 180 furthest from the floor 130. The side walls of each cross beam 180 are constructed of the same FRP material as the side walls 120 and floor 130 of the dock frame 110, and may be integrated therewith as a single monolithic structure. Concrete 5 may be placed within the hollow void of each cross beam 180. Horizontally oriented reinforcement components 190 may be placed in the concrete 5 that is placed within the hollow void of each cross beam 180. These reinforcement components 190 may be composite rebar. Each cross beam 180 may have a reinforced composite cap placed onto the top edges if its side walls, thereby sealing its interior space. The cap may be constructed of the same FRP material as the side walls of the cross beam 180. The cap may be substantially planar and oriented substantially parallel to the floor 130 of the dock frame 110. The height of each cross beam 180 should be not greater than the height of the side walls 120 of the dock frame 110, and preferably should be substantially the same as the height of the central beam 170.

(15) In an alternative embodiment, each cross beam 180 may be constructed independently of the side walls 120 and floor 130 of the dock frame 110, and then placed into the dock frame 110 and affixed thereto. In this embodiment, each central beam 170 will also comprise a floor, a front wall, and a rear wall, with these elements being constructed in the same way as the corresponding elements of the central beam 170 in the alternate embodiment.

(16) Formed along the top edges of at least a pair of the side walls 120 of the dock frame 110 are deck flanges 160. See FIGS. 2 and 3. Each deck flange 160 is substantially planar and is oriented substantially parallel to the floor 130 of the dock frame 110 and extends partially over the interior space 140 of the dock frame 110. The deck flanges 160 are constructed of the same FRP material as the side walls 120 and floor 130 of the dock frame 110, and may be integrated therewith as a single monolithic structure.

(17) Decking 300 is provided to fit over the open top of the dock frame 110. See FIG. 4. The decking 300 is oriented substantially parallel to the floor 130 of the dock frame 110. The decking 300 is attached to the deck flanges 160. Cleats 500 may be affixed to the decking 300. Any appropriate material may be used for the decking 300. This includes wood, fiberglass, composite material, and the like. The decking 300 (or portions thereof) may be removably attached to the dock frame 110 to allow access to the interior space 140 of the dock frame 110.

(18) One or more floats 200 are associated with the dock frame 110. See FIGS. 3 and 4. Each float 200 is a substantially rectangular structure having four substantially rectangular side walls 210, a substantially rectangular floor 220, and a substantially rectangular top, enclosing an interior space 230. One pair of side walls 210 are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and the other pair of side walls 210 are oriented substantially parallel to each other. Adjacent side walls 210 are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. All four of the side walls 210 are adjacent to and oriented substantially perpendicular to the floor 220. The top is adjacent to and oriented substantially perpendicular to the four side walls 210 and substantially parallel to the floor 220. The four side walls 210, the floor 220, and the top of the float 200 are constructed of the same FRP material as the side walls 120 and floor 130 of the dock frame 110 and may be formed as a monolithic unit, with water tight seams at all points of adjacency of the side walls 210, the floor 220, and the top.

(19) In an alternative embodiment, one pair of side walls 210 of the float 200 are angled slightly towards each other, such the that portions of these side walls 210 adjacent to the floor 220 of the float 200 are farther apart from each other than the portions of these side walls 210 adjacent to the top of the float 200. In this embodiment these side walls 210 are oriented at an angle to the floor 220 and to the top of the float 200. The other pair of side walls 210 are trapezoidal in shape.

(20) In yet another alternative embodiment, both pairs of opposing side walls 210 of the float 200 are angled slightly towards each other, such the that portions of these side walls 210 adjacent to the floor 220 of the float 200 are farther apart from each other than the portions of these side walls 210 adjacent to the top of the float 200. In this embodiment all of these side walls 210 are oriented at an angle to the floor 220 and to the top of the float 200, and each of these side walls 210 is trapezoidal in shape.

(21) Located within the interior space 230 of each float 200 is a quantity of concrete 5. See FIG. 3. The quantity of concrete 5 located within each float 200 should be substantially the same as the quantity of concrete 5 located within each other float 200.

(22) Each of the one or more floats 200 associated with a dock frame 110 is affixed to the dock frame 110 by affixing the top surface of the top of the float 200 to the bottom surface 150 of the dock frame floor 130.

(23) When the dock float system 1 is comprised of a plurality of dock float components 100, each dock float component 100 comprises one or more elongate connectors 400. See FIG. 4. The connectors 400 extend from the side walls 120 of the dock frames 110 of the dock float components 100, such that connectors 400 from different dock float components 100 may be attached to each other. The connectors 400 may attach to each other in a rigid configuration, whereby connected dock float components 100 move in sync relative to each other, or in a flexible configuration, whereby connected dock float components 100 may move independently relative to each other.

(24) In one embodiment, the first end 402 of a connector 400 is attached to a side wall 120 of a dock frame 110, and the second end 404 of that connector 400 is attached to a side wall 120 of another dock frame 110. See FIG. 4. In another embodiment, the first end 402 of a connector 400 is attached to a side wall 120 of a dock frame 110, and the second end 404 of that connector 400 is attached to the second end 404 of another connector 400 attached to the side wall 120 of another dock frame 110.

(25) What has been described and illustrated herein are preferred embodiments of the dock float system 1 of the present invention along with some it its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Other embodiments not specifically set forth herein are also contemplated.