Floating dock

• US 5,081,946 A
• Filed: 09/11/1990
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas W. Nannig, Urban R. Nannig
• Original Assignee: Douglas W. Nannig, Urban R. Nannig
• Inventors: Nannig, Urban R., Nannig, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US07/580,481
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 405/219, 114/264, 114/266, 114/267
• US Class Current: 114/264
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/34 Pontoons floating bridges E01D15/14

Abstract

A floating dock section is attachable to adjacent sections to provide floating dock structures of various configurations. The sections are formed by coating polymer foam with a polyurethane elastomer so as to seal the polymer foam. A decking is affixed to the coated foam with an adhesive which may be a polyurethane elastomer and extending downwardly from the decking are edge members that tightly grip the polymer foam. The entire structure is coated when assembled by applying a polyurethane elastomer of somewhat denser material and the decking itself may be suitably roughened to avoid slippage.

Claims

1. A floating dock, comprising

(a) a floatation member constituting a monolithic element formed of a foamed polymer, the member having a generally rectangular plan, having vertical sides, corners at the junction of adjacent sides and having a flat top surface, the member being formed with a rabbet having a vertical surface that terminates at the said top surface and a horizontal surface that terminates at the said vertical sides, recesses formed in the floatation member extending downwardly from the horizontal surface of the rabbet at the corners;

and

(b) a dock assembly including a deck plate that rests on the said top surface of the floatation member and includes side wall members that extend downwardly from the deck plate and embrace the vertical sides of the floatation member, the side wall members being spaced from the vertical surface of the rabbet to define a utility service space

each of said recesses in the floatation member defining a space with the side wall members, the side wall members being provided with ports giving access to the rabbet and the said spaces.

2. A floating dock as recited in claim 1 wherein the side wall members are provided with embedded fasteners to accept cooperating members and allow interconnection of dock structures.

3. A floating dock as recited in claim 1, wherein the side wall members are provided with fasteners allowing the dock to be connected to a similar dock, each fastener including an element with an aperture extending outwardly from the side wall members.