Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLOATING DOCK STRUCTURE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a floating dock
structure having a pair of aluminum extiuded hollow side
rails and cross-members which are secured to a lower tubular
portion of the side rails and extending therebetween to
provide a metal dock structure which is highly resistant to
impact loads and torquing forces and which provides improved
underfloor space for the passage of service conduits and
material.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Docks formed from aluminum extrusions and metal
trusts and beams are known in the art. However, there are
several problems associated with such known floating docks.
One such problem is the torquing force in the connecting
structure between the side rails of the dock when the dock
is subjected to large wave action or impact forces imparted
to the dock by large yachts when docking or during severe
weather conditions. The torquing forces imparted in the
framework interconnecting the side rails will often cause
damage to the framework and the connection to floatation
casings secured., Thereto there is often a requirement for
repair. It is not easy to repair docks because of the many
watercrafts that are docked. Another disadvantage of such
docks is that they do not provide sufficient space
underneath the floor structure for the passages of large
conduits which are required to provide proper service to
larger yachts, such as megayachts, wherein piping of four to
five inches (4 to 5 inches) in outer diameter is required.
If the piping or conduits are water-pressure conduits, then
there is a need to provide a dock which has sufficient
rigidity to prevent damage to these conduits when the dock
is subjected to severe wave action. The side rails need to
be designed for maximum strength and impact force transfer
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into the frame structure of the dock to withstand severe
wave action.
[0003] It is also known to provide floating metal docks
with concrete slab decking supported on metal stringers.
However, the contact between the concrete slabs and the
metal support stringers make the dock noisy during
displacement by wave action wherein the concrete slabs are
frictionally displaced in contact with the metal stringers.
Another disadvantage is that because of this friction and
the fact that the concrete is in contact with salt water or
fresh water, the concrete deteriorates at the friction areas
and this causes deterioration of the slabs and damages the
support surfaces of the stringers. A still further
disadvantage is that many of these metal docks have their
side rails, cross-members and stringers constructed of
several parts which may be attached together by bolt
fasteners or by welding. The bolt fasteners become loose
with time due to the torquing action of the frame and
require to be re-tightened. If the parts are welded
together, this makes the dock more costly to fabricate and
the many welds may be subject to breakage, particularly with
members subjected to torquing force.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore a feature of the present invention
to provide a floating dock structure which substantially
overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art
mentioned hereinabove.
[0005] Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a floating dock structure which is comprised of
aluminum extruded one-piece side rails of reinforced design
and capable of transferring lateral impact forces into the
dock frame structure.
[0006] Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a floating dock structure having aluminum extruded
cross-members to interconnect the reinforced side rails and
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which are constructed of a single extruded piece having a
hollow structural anti-torquing design which permits
connection to a floating system under the dock.
[00071 Another feature of the present invention is
provide a floating dock structure capable of receiving under
its decking floor continuous service conduits having
external diameters of up to five inches (5 inches).
[00081 Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a floating dock structure having a novel floor
decking stringer design capable of supporting concrete tiles
or other flooring material of different thicknesses.
[0009] Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a floating dock structure having a concrete.slab
decking which is supported on connectors which isolate the
concrete slabs from contact with the metal support members
of the dock structure to eliminate noise and wear and permit
ease of assembly and repair and provide access to the space
under the floor.
[000101 Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a floating dock structure having cross-members of
anti-torquing design and which at the same time provides for
interconnection to floatation casings positioned thereunder.
[00011] Another feature of the present invention is to
provide extruded or molded plastics isolating connectors
which are removably connectable to the side rails and to the
stringers and of different configuration for the support of
concrete tiles of different sizes and thicknesses.
[00012] According to a broad aspect of the present
invention there is provided a floating dock structure which
is comprised of a pair of side rails secured together in
spaced-apart substantially parallel relationship by a
plurality of cross-members connected between the side rails
to a lower tubular portion of the side rails. The side
rails are a single-piece, hollow, tubular aluminum extruded
side rails which define a top wall, an exterior side wall, a
bottom wall and an interior side wall spaced inwardly from
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the exterior side wall. Bracing wall means is provided
between the exterior side wall and the interior side wall.
Elongated deck support stringers are secured in spaced-apart
relationship on a top wall of the cross-members and extend
in substantially parallel, relationship to each other and to
the side rails. Decking floor members are supported by the
deck support stringers elevated from the top face of the
cross-members a distance of up to about five inches (5
inches) to create underfloor passages adapted for the
passage of conduits and services material. Means is
provided to secure floatation support means under the cross-
members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[00013] A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[000i4] FIG. 1 is a top view of the metal floating dock
frame structure of the present invention showing the
interconnection of the side rails by the cross-members;
[00015] FIG. 2 is a transverse section view through the
floating dock structure showing concrete decking tiles
supported between stringers and the side rail members;
[00016] FIG. 3A is an enlarged partial view of Figure 2;
[00017] FIG. 3B is a fragmented section view of a corner
of the dock showing a dock connecting flange secured to an
end cross-member;
[00018] FIG. 4 is an enlarged section view illustrating
the profile of the aluminum extruded side rail;
[00019] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a cross-member
illustrating the extruded aluminum profile thereof and its
connection to a securement flange of a floatation casing;
[00020] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of an aluminum
extruded hollow deck support stringer;
[00021] FIG. 7A is a fragmented section view of the
floating dock structure showing a concrete tile supported
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thereby and the configuration of the stringer decking
support connector;
[00022] FIG. 7B is a fragmented section view showing a
concrete tile of increased thickness and a decking support
connector of different configuration;
[00023] FIG. 7C is a view similar to Figure 7B but
showing a decking support connector of a still further
configuration supporting a different type of decking floor;
[000241 FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the decking
support connector illustrated in Figure 7A;
[00025] FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the decking
support connector illustrated in Figure 7B;
[00026] FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the decking
support connector illustrated in Figure 7C;
[00027] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the decking
support connector which is secured to the side rails and of
the type illustrated in Figure 3A; and
[00028] FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a decking
support connector connected to the side rail but adapted to
support a concrete slab which has an increased thickness, as
shown in Figure 7B.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[000291 Referring now to the drawings and more
particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown generally at
the floating dock structure of the present invention.
The floating dock structure is a metal structure and is
comprised of a pair of aluminum extruded, one-piece, side
rails 11 and il' which are secured together in spaced-apart
substantially parallel relationship by a plurality of cross-
members 12. The cross-members 12 are also aluminum extruded
one-piece members and they are secured to a lower tubular
portion 13 of the side rails 11 by welding. A plurality of
elongated deck support stringers 14 are secured in spaced-
apart parallel relationship on a top wall 12' of the cross-
members 12 by welding as shown at 15 in Figure 3A. Decking
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floor members 16, hereinshown in the form of concrete tiles,
are supported between the side rails 11 and 11' by the
stringers 14 and more specifically on decking support
connectors 17 removably secured to the top end of the deck
support stringers 14 and by connectors 18 also removably
secured to the side rails 11 and 11'. A feature of the
floating dock structure of the present invention, and as
more clearly seen from Figure 2, is that the dock structure
provides underfloor passages 19 which are adapted to receive
service conduits, such as the conduit 20, having an outside
diameter of up to five inches which, heretofore, has not
been available with existing aluminum extruded floating dock
structural designs.
[00030] With further reference now to Figures 3A to 6, it
can be seen that the hollow aluminum extruded side rails 11
and 11' define a top reinforced structural hollow portion 21
formed above the lower tubular portion 13. The side rails
11 and 11' have a top wall 22, an exterior side wall 23, a
bottom wall 24 and an interior side wall 25 which is spaced
inwardly from the exterior side wall by bracing walls which
are constituted by the top wall 22, the bottom wall 24, an
intermediate bracing wall 26 and a diagonal bracing wall 27.
The diagonal bracing wall 27 extends from about mid-length
of the exterior side wall portion 23' in the top reinforced
structural portion 21, to a lower end of the interior side
wall portion 25' in the top reinforced structural portion
21, to,terminate at a top edge 28 of the lower tubular
portion 13. As is more clearly shown in Figure 4, the mid-
length portion of the exterior side wall portion 23' of the
top structural portion 21 has a thickened wall portion 29.
All of these walls are integrally formed by the one-piece
extrusion.
[00031] The lower tubular portion 13 is substantially of
rectangular cross-section and the interior side wall portion
25" thereof defines an outwardly extending connecting
channel 30 therealong defined between spaced-apart
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connecting flanges 31 and 31' projecting from opposed ends
of the interior side wall portion 25". The connecting
channel 30 defines a cross-member receiving channel to which
the cross-members are welded, as shown in Figures 2 and 3A,
by welds 32.
[00032] As shown in Figure 5, the cross-members 12 are
each formed by a single piece elongated hollow aluminum
extrusion. Each cross-member 12 has a top wall 35, opposed
spaced-apart side walls 36 and 36' and a bottom wall 37.
One of the side walls, herein side wall 36, has an inwardly
curved lower wall section 38 terminating in the bottom wall
37 whereby the bottom wall defines a connecting flange wall
portion 39 and part of the tubular portion. The inwardly
curved lower wall portion 38 is shaped to define an access
space 40 between the connecting flange portion 39 and the
inwardly curved lower wall portion 38 to receive connecting
bolts, such as connecting bolt 41, to secure floating
casings thereto. The connecting flange 42 of the casings is
hereinshown secured to the cross-member 12. Holes 43 are
provided in the connecting flange wall portion 39 to receive
the bolt connectors 41 therethrough.
[00033] It can therefore be seen from Figure 5 that the
cross-members are shaped to form an anti-torquing tubular
structural, hollow rigid portion, defined between the top
wall, the side walls and a portion of the lower wall to
provide structural anti-torquing rigidity while at the same
time providing a connecting flange. In known prior art
metal decking structures, some of the cross-members were
provided by C-shaped metal beams having opposed parallel
walls and a connecting side wall and such do not offer
sufficient anti-torquing structural rigidity when the docks
are occupied by large yachts which can impart large impact
forces on the side rails of the dock. The improved cross-
member design of the present invention overcomes such
problems.
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[00034] As shown in Figure 6, the elongated deck support
stringers 14 are also hollow extruded aluminum stringers of
substantially rectangular cross-section and define a flat
top wall 45, a flat bottom wall 46 and opposed side walls
47. Connecting slots 48 are integrally formed along the
stringers and extend in parallel spaced relationship from
each of the top wall 45 and bottom wall 46 whereby to
receive in sliding or snap-fit connection therewith, the
decking support connectors 17. By providing these
connecting slots 48 in the side walls adjacent opposed end
walls 45 and 46, the stringers can be secured to the cross-
members with either the top wall 45 or bottom wall 46 welded
to the cross-pieces thus making it a fool-proof installation
of these stringers onto the cross-members.
[00035] Referring again to Figure 4, it can be seen that
the interior side wall and particularly the interior upper
side wall portion 25'of the side rails 11, 11', projects
inwardly upwards whereby an integrally formed deck
supporting connecting channel 50 may be formed in a top
portion of this interior wall portion 25' and supported by
the angulated interior wall portion 25' which at a lower end
connects to the top edge of the lower tubular reinforced
portion 13. This deck support connecting channel 50 is
shaped to receive a decking support isolating connector 18
of the type illustrated in Figure 9A whereby to support
decking floor members such as the decking member 16 and
isolated from the aluminum extruded side rail. The
configuration of the deck supporting connecting channel 50
permits the docking support isolating connector 18 to be
easily positioned therein and retained captive once a
decking member is supported or connected thereto. It can
also be seen that because the interior wall portion 25' is
angulated from the lower connecting wall 50' of the
connecting channel 50, the load is transferred downwardly
into the top edge of the lower tubular structural portion 13
and to the cross-members connected thereto. Accordingly,
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the load on the connecting channel 50 is transmitted to the
top edge connection 28 as well as in the lateral load from
the exterior side wall 23 created by impact force onto the
side rail by docking watercrafts. Pumper 80, as shown in
Figure 7A, are secured to the exterior side wall 23, as
shown in Figure 7A, by lag bolts 81 which extend through the
reinforced or thickened wall portion 29 of the side rail.
[000361 As shown in Figures 8A to 9B, there are decking
support isolating connectors adapted to be removably secured
to the deck support connecting channels, herein connectors
18 and 18', as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, and to the top
end, either top or bottom walls 45 and 46, of the stringers
14 and as illustrated by the connectors 17, 17' and 27"
illustrated in Figures 8A to 8C. These support isolating
connectors are interchangeable connectors of different
configurations to provide for a height adjustment between
the top wall 22 of the side rails 11 and 11' and the top
face or top wall of the cross-members 12 whereby to
accommodate decking floor members, such as concrete decking
tiles 53 and 53', as shown in Figures 7A and 7B of different
thicknesses. The tile as shown in Figure 7A has a thickness
of one inch (1 inch) whereby the tile of Figure 7B has a
thickness of one and a half inches (13~ inches). To
accommodate these tiles of different thicknesses, the
support wall surface 64 of the decking support isolating
connectors 17 and 18 need to be adjusted in height. The
decking connectors are formed from extruded insulating
material, herein a PVC plastic material, to isolate the
decking floor members, herein the concrete tiles, from the.
metallic deck support stringers and the metallic side rails.
The PVC material provides both isolation from direct contact
and noise suppression.
(000371 As shown in Figures 8A to 8C, the decking support
connectors 17, 17' and 17" have a flat supporting top wall
54, opposed parallel side walls 55 and opposed connecting
flange walls 56. The flange walls 56 terminate with
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internally facing connecting rib 57 dimensioned for snap-fit
retention into the connecting slots 48 of the deck support
stringers 14, shown in Figure 6. The decking support
connector 17', as shown in Figure 8C, is of a type adapted
to support a flat decking slab 53" thereover, as shown in
Figure 7C, and such slab could extend from the opposed side
rails 11 and 11' or across two or more stringers 14. The
decking support connector 17 shown in Figure 8A is herein
provided with a central vertical flange wall 58 projecting
from the top wall 54 and disposed for longitudinal alignment
with the elongated deck support stringers 14. When
supporting rectangular or square concrete tiles, as shown in
Figure 7A, these tiles are dimensioned to span and be
supported by adjacent parallel ones of the deck support
stringers with the vertical. flange wall 58 being disposed
between opposed side edges 60 and 60' of the concrete tiles
53, as shown in Figure 7A, to eliminate friction. It is
pointed out that Figure 7A does not show the decking support
connector 18 but such is shown in Figure 3A on which is
supported the opposed end of the concrete tile 53.
[00038] As shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the thickness of
the support wall 54 of the decking support isolating
connector is different whereby to support tiles of different
thicknesses. In this particular case, as illustrated by the
connectors of Figures 8A and 8B, and as shown in Figures 7A
and 7B, the thickness of the support wall of the connectors
permits concrete tiles of two different thicknesses to be
supported.
[00039] As shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the decking support
connectors 18 and 18' are configured to define a decking
floor member support section 63 having a flat top support
wall 64 and an inwardly spaced vertical projecting wall 65
projecting above the support wall 64. The vertical
projecting wall 65 has at least one, herein a pair of
angulated flexible flanges 66 projecting at an angle towards
one another and towards the top wall 64 of the deck
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supporting connecting channel portion 63. A channel
connecting base portion 67 is provided under the support
connecting channel 63 to be received in the channel 68
defined by the lower wall 50' of the channel 50. The
flexible flanges 66 are disposed for contact with an end
edge, herein the end edge 60' of the concrete tile 53, shown
in Figure 7A, to provide for lateral bracing and shock
absorption if the tiles are displaced laterally. Again, as
with respect to the decking support connectors 17, the
decking floor member support section 63 can be provided of
different thicknesses as shown between the connectors of
Figures 9A and 9B to accommodate concrete tiles or other
tiling material of different thicknesses.
[00040] The decking floor members 16, as shown in Figure
2, are concrete tiles which have a flat top surface which
may be casted with rib formations, not known but obvious to
a person skilled in the art, to provide an anti-slipping
surface and the bottom surface is formed with transverse
concave formations 70 to receive and retain conduits 20
thereunder.
[00041] Referring again to Figure 4, it can be seen that
the top walls 22 of the side rails 11 are provided with
integrally formed elongated connecting channels 71 and 71'
each having a slot opening 72 and opposed recess cavities 73
under opposed side edges of the slot opening. This
connecting channel provides for the removable connection of
dock accessories such as cleats, etc., not shown but obvious
to a person skilled in the art. The top wall 22 may also be
formed with an elongated slot 74 of arcuate cross-section
for snap-fit retention of an elongated illuminating ribbon
75 of substantially circular cross-section and having
encapsulated therein a plurality of light emitting diodes 76
(LEDs) to provide a night boundary demarcation of the
floating dock structure. Alternatively, a simple
illuminating ribbon insert, formed of fluorescent material,
may be inserted in the slot 74 to provide demarcation when
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illuminated from above, as such docks are usually equipped
.with light posts secured thereto.
[00042] The exterior side wall 23 of the side rails 11,
il' as hereinshown are provided with integrally formed
elongated connecting channels 80, 80' and 80" for the
connection to an anchoring system or other connectors for
dock accessories. It is also provided with an elongated
slot 81 for the retention of an elongated illuminating
ribbon such as the ribbon 75 shown in the top wall to
provide night indication of the side rails.
[00043] As shown in Figures 1 and 3B, the end cross-member
12' of the floating dock structure is secured recessed from
the ends 81 of the side rails 11 and il' whereby to
accommodate a deck connecting flange 82 which is provided
for interconnection of the floating dock structure to
another floating dock structure or to a shore anchoring
system as is also obvious to a person skilled in the art.
[00044] With further reference to Figures 2 and 4, it can
also be seen that the side rails 11 and il' are provided
with a lower flange receiving channel 85 whereby to receive
the connecting flange 42 of a floatation casing 86 of the
type shown in Figure 2. These connecting flanges 42 are
formed integral about the floatation casing 86 and are also
connected to some of the cross-members 12, as shown in
Figure 5.
[00045] It is within the ambit of the present invention to
cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment
described herein, provided such modifications fall within
the scope of the appended claims.
