Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Pontoon and a,carrier element for a pontoon.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a pontoon.far use. in a fake, pool or
corresponding water area,
and comprising a carrier element for realising buoyancy and an upwardly facing
support
surface for carrying a load.
The present invention also relates to a carrier element for a pontoon.
BACKGROUND ART
Pontoons are known in a huge number of different fields of use, such as for
bathing landing
stages, mooring boats, fishing and other activities where the wish is for
ready access to water
of a certain depth. Typically, the pontoons are moored in lakes, seas, pools
and similar
waterways. They may be disposed beside beaches, piers or fixed landing stages,
but may also
be placed freely by being anchored with the aid of an anchor or other weight
which causes the
pontoon to remain in the desired position in the water. The advantages
inherent in pontoons
are numerous: they are easy to move, are independent of the structure of the
bottom, are
substantially insensitive to differences in the water level, since they always
float on the
surface, and they can always be moved and rebuilt for realising a different
pontoon structure.
Unfortunately , there are also disadvantages. Even if the pontoons always
float, the
construction as a whole is heavy and unwieldy when being transported on land.
They also
show a tendency to be bulky, since they must include large elements of low
density in order to
obtain maximum buoyancy. In general, such elements are disposed on the
underside of the
pontoon, which implies that the pontoon is not only of considerable length,
but also
considerable depth. To sum up, it may be said that the transport and storage
of pontoons
require considerable space.
A further disadvantage is that the assembly of pontoons is quite a complicated
procedure.
They are often built at factories, which contributes to the large space
requirements on
transport, since such pontoons are generally transported in the finished
state.
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PROBLEM STRUCTURE
It is thus one object of the present invention to realise a pontoon which
requires little space on
transport and storage in relation to its final size, at the same time as
maximum payload is
obtained. Assembly should be so simple that it can be put into effect wholly
or partly close to
the site of final use.
SOLUTION
The object forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the
pontoon intimated
by way of introduction is characterised in that the carrier element and the
support surface are
of one piece manufacture with one another.
Concerning the carrier element, the object of the present invention will be
attained if this is
characterised in that it has a shell and foamed material disposed therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow with
reference to
the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pontoon according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a carrier element included in the pontoon of Fig.
1;
Fig. 3 is a straight side elevation of the carrier element of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a frame included in the pontoon according to the
present
invention; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a corner element included in the frame.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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Fig. 1 shows a pontoon 1 according to the present invention. The pontoon is
constructed from
a number of buoyant bodies or Garner elements 2 which are united by at least
two longitudinal
profile bodies, but preferably by a circumferential, complete frame 3.
The carrier elements 2 possess the buoyancy which entails that the pontoon 1
floats on the
surface of the water and is capable of carrying a load, for example people on
the pontoon. The
carrier elements 2 are mutually identical and are replaceable. In the
illustrated embodiment,
they are five in number, but this number is optional depending on the desired
length of the
pontoon 1. The carrier elements 2 are intended to serve an upwardly facing
support surface 9
IO at the same time as they realise the requisite buoyancy of the pontoon 1.
Regardless of how the carrier elements 2 are joined together, by means of a
complete frame 3
or opposing longitudinal profile bodies in the longitudinal direction of the
pontoon, it is
important that the frame or the profile bodies are flexurally rigid in the
vertical direction when
the pontoon is in use, so that the entire pontoon moves in the water as a
rigid unit.
At their short sides, the carrier elements 2 are provided with engagement
members for
cooperation with the surrounding frame 3 or the longitudinal profile bodies.
However, the
engagement members are not visible in Fig. 1, but are concealed by the frame 3
since they axe
accommodated in it.
The frame 3 includes a profile which, in the preferred embodiment, is extruded
and is
manufactured, for example, from aluminium or plastic. The frame 3 has two
longitudinal
sides 4 and two short sides 5 which are built up from the same profile. The
longitudinal sides
4 and the short sides 5 are united in the, corners by specific corner elements
6 which, in the
preferred embodiment, are manufactured from plastic. However, other production
materials
such as aluminium are conceivable. The frame 3 is interconnected to the
carrier elements 2
preferably in that the carrier elements 2 display specific projections which
are accommodated
in corresponding recesses on the inside of the frame 3. With the aid of the
frame 3, a
torsionally rigid arrangement is realised of the individual carrier elements
2. The frame 3
further serves for securing anchorage members 7 in which the pontoon 1 may
there be secured
to some other structure or other objects such as, for example, small craft
which may be
moored to the pontoon 1.
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Fig. 2 shows an individual carrier element 2 straight from above. In this
Figure, the
engagement members 8 which cooperate with the inside of the frame 3 are
visible. The
engagement members 8 are in the form of projections which extend over a
substantial part of
the short sides of the carrier elements 2. The engagement members 8 may
naturally be given a
different extent, but should be quite elongate in order to reduce the risk of
twisting of the
carrier element 2 in relation to the frame 3 and thereby causing instability
in the pontoon 1.
Thus, an increased length of the engagement members 8 results in increased
rigidity in the
pontoon 1 as a whole.
The carrier element 2 further has a support surface 9 which is intended to
directly support a
load, for example a person walking on the pontoon 1. Thus, no specific coating
is required on
the carrier elements, but these per se and with the aid of the frame 3 possess
the requisite
rigidity to permit direct access to the pontoon. The support surface 9 is
further advantageously
provided with some form of friction-increasing surface structural pattern for
reducing the risk
of slipping. Such patterns may have very different appearances, and for the
sake of simplicity
they are not shown in Fig. 2.
The carrier element 2 has an outer shell which is of one piece manufacture,
preferably by
blow moulding or rotation casting. As a result, the carrier element will be
substantially
without joints, with the exception of an aperture for the introduction of a
filler material.
Inside the carrier element 2, there is disposed a filler material of low
density in the form of a
continuous foamed element. A few examples of filler material are expanded
polystyrene or
polyurethane foam.
On the expansion of the filler material so that the foamed element is formed,
this will have a
surface layer, a so-called casting skin, which imparts to the foamed element
superior
mechanical strength and in particular torsional rigidity. The foamed element
interiorly in the
outer skin supports this from inside so that it will display superior
mechanical strength and
may also resist spot loadings from the outside without buckling inwards. The
superior
strength of the carrier element 2 contributes to a great extent to the pontoon
1 being capable
of being built up without any specific carrying surface needing to be provided
on top of the
carrier elements, even though the function of the frame 3 is also important
for ensuring
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torsional rigidity between the carrier elements 2. A feature common to those
materials that are
employed as filler materials is that they have low density and preferably
closed cells.
In practical trials, each respective carrier element 2 has proved to be able
to carry loads of
5 about 120 kg. These levels naturally depend on the production material in
and size of the
carrier elements 2.
Fig. 3 shows the carrier element 2 straight from the side, i.e. in the
direction of the arrow A in
Fig. 2. In this view, the cross. sectional profile of the projections 8 is
apparent. In such
instance, it will be seen that the profle is undercut for realising a reliable
anchorage with the
frame 3. The thickness of the carrier elements 2, i.e. their extent in the
vertical direction, is of
the same order of magnitude as the height of the frame 3.
The profile included in the frame 3 is shown in cross section in Fig. 4. As
was mentioned
previously, the profile is particularly well suited for extrusion, for example
in plastic or
aluminium.
The frame 3 has an undercut groove 10 for accommodating the elongate
projections 8 of the
carrier elements 2. Preferably, the projections 8 are intended to be slid into
the undercut
groove 10, but depending on material properties in both the carrier elements 2
and the frame-
3, a snap action locking may also come into consideration. The dimensioning of
the undercut
in the groove 10 and the projections 8 is also decisive as to whether a snap
action locking is
possible.
In the upper region of the frame 3, there is provided a longitudinal upper
groove 11. The
groove 11 serves for receiving and accommodating screws so that extra
equipment may be
provided anywhere whatever along the length of the frame 3. Such extra
equipment may be
devices for mooring boats, simple taffrails and handrails and means for
interconnection with
other pontoons 1 provided with frames. The screw groove or pocket 11 further
displays a
laterally disposed space 14 which functions as a drawing groove for a strip
disposed therein.
Such a strip may be provided either for decorative purposes or also for
interconnection with a
substantially parallel groove on another pontoon 1 which is positioned
adjacent the first
pontoon.
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At the lower end of the frame 3, there is provided a lower longitudinal groove
12 which, like
the groove 11, functions as a screw pocket for disposing equipment on the
frame. Such
possible equipment is advantageously secured in position with the aid of
screws which engage
in both the upper screw pocket 11 and the lower screw pocket 12.
Along the outside of the frame 3, there is provided a longitudinal groove 13.
This serves as a
countersink for parts such as the anchorage means 7 which are disposed on the
outside of the
frame 3. Consequently, the risk is reduced that people sustain injuries on
projecting parts such
as screw heads, fittings or the like.
Fig. 5 is a close up view of a corner element 6 included in the frame 3, this
element being
disposed between the longitudinal sides 4 and the short sides 5 in the frame
3. In the mounted
position, the corner element 6 has an outwardly facing corner portion 15 which
forms a
unitary transition between a longitudinal side 4 and a short side 5 in the
frame 3. The
matching with the outside of the frame results in smooth transitions between
the corner
element 6 and the profiles included in the frame 3, whereby the risk of injury
on projecting
corners or edges is eliminated.
The corner element 6 further displays two more powerful arms 16 which are
disposed, like the
projections 8 of the carrier elements 2, to project inwards in the undercut
longitudinal groove
10 of the frame 3. In order that the arms 16 remain in position in the groove
10, they axe
secured with the aid of anchorage means such as screws or rivets in the holes
18.
The corner element 6 is further provided with two shorter, narrower
projections 17 which are
screwed in position in the straight section 19 of the frame 3 which is
disposed below the
elongate undercut groove 10. The shorter projections 17 are also provided with
holes 18 for
anchorage members such as screws or rivets.
DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
It is possible to vary the frame 3 included in the pontoon 1. In the preferred
embodiment,
there was shown a frame 3 with quite a detailed cross section. It is naturally
possible to
simplify the frame 3 considerably even if some of the advantage attained by
the provision of
the screw pockets I 1 and 12 is lost. The simplification that is most readily
to hand is that the
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frame 3 in its entirety consists of a C-profile which substantially
corresponds to the elongate
projections 8 of the carrier elements 2. In particular if the simpler, just-
described embodiment
of the frame 3 is selected. It is possible to modify both manner of
manufacture and choice of
materials. For a simpler frame 3, forming by means of roll forming of sheet
material is a
conceivable alternative.
In one particularly simple and economical variation of the subject matter of
the present
invention, the projections 8 on the. carrier elements 2 may be dispensed with.
Instead, there
are provided material accumulations along the short sides of the carrier
elements 2 so that the
material thickness will be sufficient to permit screwing the carrier elements
2 to the frame 3
or the longitudinal profile bodies.
Another method of modifying the pontoon 1 according to the present invention
is to provide,
between the carrier elements 2 included in the pontoon 1, specific joint
profiles in order to
overbridge the joints between them. Such joint profiles give a smoother
surface and also
contribute to increased rigidity in the pontoon 1, in particular in the event
of a moving cargo,
such as when a person moves along the pontoon 1. Advantageously, the joint
profiles are
secured in or inside the longitudinal sides 4 of the frame 3.
Finally, it is naturally possible to provide, on the pontoon 1, an additional
upwardly facing
carrying surface. Such a provision preferably serves a decorative purpose,
since a separate
carrying surface is not necessary for the stability and rigidity of the
pontoon 1.
The present invention may be modified further without departing from the scope
of the
appended Claims.
