U.S. patent application number 13/647036 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-11 for dock protector for use with a floating dock.
The applicant listed for this patent is Clifford F. Lill. Invention is credited to Clifford F. Lill.
Application Number | 20130087089 13/647036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48041234 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130087089 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lill; Clifford F. |
April 11, 2013 |
Dock Protector For Use With A Floating Dock
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a dock
protector apparatus. The apparatus includes an elongated pipe and a
flange. A floating dock includes at least one floating dock section
coupled to mooring pipes secured to a river or lake bed. The
mooring pipes are slidably coupled and to the dock section by pipe
sleeve assemblies that enable the dock section to slide vertically
along the mooring posts. A dock protector apparatus is inserted
within an interior cavity of each mooring pipe. Under tidal surge
conditions, the decking may reach a vertical position above a top
end of the mooring posts. In order to present the deck section from
becoming decoupled from the mooring posts, the dock protector
apparatus extends upwardly and remains coupled to both the mooring
posts and the dock section, thereby maintaining an essentially
laterally-rigid mooring between the dock section and the mooring
post.
Inventors: |
Lill; Clifford F.; (Mount
Pleasant, SC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lill; Clifford F. |
Mount Pleasant |
SC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48041234 |
Appl. No.: |
13/647036 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61544463 |
Oct 7, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/263 ;
114/230.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 21/00 20130101;
B63B 2021/001 20130101; B63B 35/34 20130101; B63B 2221/24 20130101;
E02B 3/064 20130101; E02B 3/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/263 ;
114/230.13 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/44 20060101
B63B035/44; B63B 21/00 20060101 B63B021/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for securing a floating dock section to a mooring
post, the apparatus comprising: an elongated member having a
longitudinal axis and configured to be slidably inserted within an
interior cavity of the mooring post; and a flange member affixed to
the elongated member along the longitudinal axis and near a top end
of the elongated member, wherein the flange member is configured,
upon reaching a top end of the mooring post, to prevent the further
the insertion of the elongated member into the cavity of the
mooring post beyond a predetermined length.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flange member is affixed
along the longitudinal axis approximately 41/2 inches from the top
end of the elongated member.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cap member
applied over the top end of the elongated member.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cap member comprises one
or more materials selected from the group consisting of vinyl
plastics, foam plastics, silicone plastics, and rubber
compounds.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the elongated member
comprises a cylindrical pipe; and the cap member is a vinyl end cap
having an applied inner diameter of approximately 11/4 inches and
having a length of approximately 4 inches.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises
a cylindrical pipe.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical pipe is a
hollow steel pipe and the flange member is a ring-shaped, sheet
steel stamping.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the cylindrical pipe
and the flange member are hot-dip galvanized.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical pipe has an
inner diameter of approximately 1 inch.
10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flange has an outer
diameter of approximately 3.5 inches
11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical pipe is
approximately 60 inches in length.
12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flange member is a 12
gauge sheet steel stamping.
13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flange member is affixed
to the cylindrical pipe as a welded member.
14. A floating dock system comprising: at least one floating dock
section including a frame, decking attached to an upper surface of
the frame, and one or more floats coupled to an underside of the
frame for floatably supporting the frame; one or more mooring posts
configured to be secured relative to a bed underlying a body of
water; one or more pipe sleeve assemblies each fixedly coupled to
the floating dock section and slidably coupled to one of the one or
more mooring posts, whereby the floating dock may be slidably
movable along longitudinal axes of the one or more mooring posts
according to a tidal condition of the body of water; and one or
more dock protector elements each including an elongated member
having a longitudinal axis and a flange member affixed to the
elongated member along the longitudinal axis and near a top end of
the elongated member, wherein a lower portion of the elongated
member of each of the one or more dock protector elements is
slidably inserted within an interior cavity of a corresponding one
of the one or more mooring posts; wherein while an upper surface of
the decking of the dock section is at a first predetermined
position below a top end of the one or more mooring posts, the
elongated member of each dock protector reaches a
maximally-inserted position in the cavity of the mooring post and
the flange member abuts the top end of the mooring post, and
wherein while an upper surface of the decking of the dock section
is at a second predetermined position above a top end of the one or
more mooring posts, the elongated member of each dock protector is
partially withdrawn from the maximally-inserted position and the
flange member abuts the upper surface of the decking of the dock
section.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system maintains a
laterally rigid coupling of the dock section to the mooring posts
at each of the first and second predetermined positions.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more dock
protector elements further comprises a cap member applied over the
top end of the elongated member of the dock protector element.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more mooring
posts and the elongated member of each of the one or more dock
protector elements comprises a cylindrical pipe.
18. The system of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical pipe of each
elongated member is a hollow steel pipe and the flange member of
each of the one or more dock protector elements is a ring-shaped,
sheet steel stamping.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each cylindrical pipe and
flange member of the one or more dock protector elements are
hot-dip galvanized.
20. A method for securing a floating dock comprising at least one
floating dock sections including a frame, decking attached to an
upper surface of the frame, and one or more floats coupled to an
underside of the frame for floatably supporting the frame, the
method comprising the steps of: securing one or more mooring posts
a bed underlying a body of water; providing one or more pipe sleeve
assemblies each fixedly coupled to the floating dock section and
slidably coupled to one of the one or more mooring posts, whereby
the floating dock may be slidably movable along longitudinal axes
of the one or more mooring posts according to a tidal condition of
the body of water; and providing one or more dock protector
elements each slidably inserted within an interior cavity of a
corresponding one of the one or more mooring posts and including an
elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a flange member
affixed to the elongated member along the longitudinal axis and
near a top end of the elongated member, wherein while an upper
surface of the decking of the dock section is at a first
predetermined position below a top end of the one or more mooring
posts, the elongated member of each dock protector reaches a
maximally-inserted position in the cavity of the mooring post and
the flange member abuts the top end of the mooring post, wherein
while an upper surface of the decking of the dock section is at a
second predetermined position above a top end of the one or more
mooring posts, the elongated member of each dock protector is
partially withdrawn from the maximally-inserted position and the
flange member abuts the upper surface of the decking of the dock
section, and whereby a laterally rigid coupling of the dock section
to the one or more mooring posts is maintained at each of the first
and second predetermined positions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/544,463,
filed Oct. 7, 2011 and entitled "Dock Protector," and is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus
for marine mooring applications. More specifically, the disclosure
relates to methods and apparatus for securing floating docks to
mooring posts under extreme tidal conditions.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is well known that the mooring of floating docks to
pilings is often complicated by changing tides. In some areas, the
vertical movement of the dock from low tide to high tide may be so
great as to cause great stress, friction and wear to both the docks
and the mooring poles which hold such docks in place. For example,
a dock may be moored to one or more mooring piles utilizing chains,
chain covered by PVC pipe segments or metal brackets. As tide
levels cycle throughout the day, both dock and pile are subjected
to wear and damage caused by the movement of each relative to the
other. In addition, waves, wake and other water disturbances may
cause additional damage to either or both of the pilings and docks
by virtue of the impacts of one against the other. In addition, a
floating dock secured to a mooring post may become dangerously
tilted, damaged and/or capsized during tide changes if the means of
securing the dock to the pile(s) does not allow for sufficient
vertical movement during extreme tide surges or swells due for
example to hurricanes and other storm activities.
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional floating dock 100. The
dock 100 as depicted includes first and second dock sections 14 and
18, respectively, but could include fewer or more sections as
desired. Additionally, other configurations for the dock 100 could
be substituted (for example, L-shaped configurations, T-shaped
configurations, multiple slip configurations, and the like). Each
section 14, 18 may include a frame 22 that supports decking 26.
Each section 14, 18 also includes one or more floats 30 coupled to
the underside of the frame 14 for floatably supporting the frame 22
and decking 26 above the water. The two sections 14, 18 may be
pivotably coupled by hinge joints 34 on the frames 22.
[0005] Section 18 as depicted further includes two substantially
identical pipe sleeve assemblies 38 (only one is shown) coupled to
the frame 22 on opposing mounting surfaces 42 of the frame 22. The
pipe sleeve assemblies 38 slidably support and retain respective
support members in the form of posts or pipes 46. As used herein
and in the appended claims, the term "pipe" is not intended to be
limited for example to only a hollow member having a generally
circular cross section. Instead, the term "pipe" can include
elongated hollow members of any cross-sectional shape.
[0006] As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, and further described
in U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,064 to Seilinger et al., which issued on
Dec. 26, 2006 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety
herein, each pipe 46 may include an auger portion 50 configured to
screw into a bed of an associated body of water (for example, a
river bed or lake bottom), thereby securing the pipes 46 in
position. Alternatively, the pipes 46 could be secured by being
driven into the river bed or lake bottom (for example, by a
conventional pile driver), or having a lower portion embedded in a
concrete block or other weighted footing configured to sit on the
river bed or lake bottom. As depicted in FIG. 2, the pipe sleeve
assemblies 38 retain the pipes 46, while providing a free-floating
fit that enables the pipe sleeve assemblies 38, and therefore the
entire dock section 18, to move vertically relative to the pipes 46
to accommodate variations in the water level. Pipe sleeve assembly
38 includes a base plate 54 and a sleeve portion 58 configured to
be removably coupled to the base plate 54 for slidably supporting
the pipe 46 in the pipe sleeve assembly 38.
SUMMARY
[0007] Briefly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a
dock protector apparatus for securing a floating dock section to a
mooring post. In a first aspect, the apparatus includes an
elongated pipe and a flange affixed to the elongated pipe near a
top end of the pipe.
[0008] The apparatus may be used as part of a mooring system for a
floating dock system that includes at least one floating dock
section having a frame, decking attached to an upper surface of the
frame, and one or more floats coupled to an underside of the frame
for floating the dock section. In addition to the dock section, one
or more mooring posts are secured to an underlying river or lake
bed, and one or more pipe sleeve assemblies are affixed to the dock
section and slidably coupled to the mooring posts. In this
configuration, the floating dock section can slide vertically along
the mooring posts to accommodate various tidal conditions
[0009] Added to this system are one or more dock protector
apparatus each inserted within an interior cavity of a
corresponding one of the one or more mooring posts. The interior
cavity of each mooring post corresponds to the shape of an outer
surface of the elongated pipe of the dock protector apparatus, and
is slightly larger to allow the elongated pipe to be slidably moved
within the cavity.
[0010] When the dock section is moving to accommodated normal tidal
conditions, the surface of the decking will generally be positioned
below a top end of the mooring posts. In this position, the
elongated member of each dock protector apparatus reaches a
maximally-inserted position in the cavity of the mooring post that
is maintained by the flange member, which abuts the top end of the
mooring post in this position.
[0011] Under tidal surge conditions in which tidal levels are
substantially higher than normally expected, the surface of the
decking of the dock section may reach a vertical position above a
top end of the mooring posts. In order to prevent the deck section
from becoming decoupled from the mooring posts, the dock protector
apparatus remains coupled to both the mooring posts and the dock
section. More specifically, as the decking of the dock section
rises, the decking makes contact with the flange member of the dock
protector apparatus and the elongated member is partially withdrawn
from the mooring post as the dock section rises. Because the
elongated member remains coupled both to the mooring post and to a
pipe sleeve assembly fastened to the dock section, this assembly
maintains an essentially laterally-rigid coupling between the dock
section and the mooring post.
[0012] In another aspect, the dock protector apparatus also
includes a closed cap member applied over the top end of the
elongated member. The cap member is preferably formed from soft
plastic such as final to facilitate more comfortable handling of
the apparatus, and to prevent foreign matter from entering a hollow
cavity of the elongated member.
[0013] In another aspect, the elongated member of the dock
protector apparatus is a hollow cylindrical pipe and the flange
member is a ring-shaped molding or stamping. Preferably, the
cylindrical pipe is a steel pipe, the flange member is a steel
stamping, and each of the pipe and the flange member are hot-dip
galvanized.
[0014] This SUMMARY is provided to briefly identify some aspects of
the present disclosure that are further described below in the
DESCRIPTION. This SUMMARY is not intended to identify key or
essential features of the present disclosure nor is it intended to
limit the scope of any claims.
[0015] The term "aspects" is to be read as "at least one aspect".
The aspects described above and other aspects of the present
disclosure described herein are illustrated by way of example(s)
and not limited in the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0016] A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may
be realized by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional floating
dock;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the
conventional floating dock of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 3A is a front schematic view of a dock protector in
accordance with aspects of the current disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 3B is a top schematic view of the dock protector of
FIG. 3A;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a floating dock subject to a
normal tide condition, according to aspects of the present
disclosure; and
[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a floating dock subject to a
tidal surge condition, according to aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0023] The illustrative embodiments are described more fully by the
Figures and detailed description. The inventions as claimed may,
however, be embodied in various forms and are not intended to be
limited to specific embodiments described in the Figures and
detailed description.
DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following merely illustrates the principles of the
disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the
art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not
explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the
disclosure and are included within its spirit and scope.
[0025] Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited
herein are principally intended expressly to be only for
pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the
principles of the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the
inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being
without limitation to such specifically recited examples and
conditions.
[0026] Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles,
aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific
examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and
functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that
such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well
as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements
developed that perform the same function, regardless of
structure.
[0027] Unless otherwise explicitly specified herein, the drawings
are not drawn to scale.
[0028] We now provide some non-limiting, illustrative examples that
illustrate several operational aspects of various arrangements and
alternative embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 3A provides a front schematic view of a dock protector
300 in accordance with aspects of the current disclosure. The dock
protector 300 as depicted in FIG. 3A comprises an insertable pipe
member 302, which may for example be formed from a length of a
conventional steel pipe having a 1 inch inner diameter and a 11/4
inch outer diameter, and extending for an overall length that is
preferably in excess of an expected vertical height difference
experienced by a given floating dock section 14, 18 between a low
tide period and a high tide period. The vertical height at the high
tide period may preferably be based on a vertical height under
storm or other extreme weather conditions. In some aspects of the
disclosure, the length of pipe member 302 may be approximately 60
inches.
[0030] FIG. 3B is a top schematic view of the dock protector 300 of
FIG. 3A. With reference to each to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a flange member
304 is positioned and fastened near an upper end of the pipe member
302 (for example, at a position 41/2 inches below the upper end of
the pipe member 302). As depicted, the flange member 304 may be
formed, for example, as a ring-shaped, sheet steel stamping having
an inner aperture with a diameter approximately equal to the outer
diameter of the pipe member 302. Under these conditions, the flange
member 304 may preferably be welded to the pipe member 302.
Alternatively, the inner aperture may have a diameter that is
slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe member 302 so
that the flange 304 may be press-fit onto the pipe member or
fastened by means of a suitable structural adhesive. Additionally,
for increased strength, the flange member 304 may be both press-fit
and welded, or press-fit and fastened by means of the structural
adhesive.
[0031] Each of the pipe member 302 and flange member 304 may
further receive a conventional surface treatment for corrosion
prevention (for example, by means of one or more of conventional
anodizing, electroless plating, electroplating and/or conversion
coating treatments). Alternatively, one or more of the pipe member
302 and flange member 304 may be formed from corrosion-resistant,
high strength plastic or composite-reinforced plastics. If formed
from steel, the pipe member 302 and flange member 304 are
preferably surface-treated by a conventional hot-dip galvanizing
process.
[0032] The dock protector 300 may also preferably include an end
cap 306 that is fitted over a top end of the pipe member 302. The
end cap 306 may preferably be secured to the pipe member 302 by
means of a friction fit, or by applying a suitable adhesive.
Alternatively, each of the an outer surface of the upper end of the
pipe member 302 and an inner surface the end cap 306 may be
provided with one of an annular ring or an annular groove which are
together mated to provide a snap-fit retention feature to the
assembled pipe member 302 and end cap 306. In applications where
the pipe member 302 is hollow, the end cap 306 prevents the
intrusion of any foreign matter into the hollow portion of the pipe
member 302. In addition, the end cap may preferably be formed from
a variety of materials including, for example, vinyl plastics, foam
plastics, silicone plastics, and rubber compounds.
[0033] FIG. 4 provides a schematic view of a section 14, 18 of a
floating dock according to aspects of the present disclosure. As
depicted in FIG. 4, two pipes 46 have been secured in a river bed
402 (for example, by a pile driver), each being retained by a pipe
sleeve assembly 38 mounted to a mounting surface 42 of a frame 22
of the section 14, 18. A lower portion of the pipe member 302 of a
dock protector 300 is inserted into an inner cavity of each pipe
46. Under a normal tide condition, a decking surface 26 of the dock
section 14, 18 rests at an approximate height 406 above the river
bed. In this position, a top end 404 of each pipe 46 extends above
the decking surface 26 of the dock section 14, 18, and a lower
surface of the flange member 304 of each dock protector 300 extends
over and rests on the top end 404 of each pipe 46.
[0034] FIG. 5 provides a second schematic view of dock section 14,
18, subject to a tidal surge under which the decking surface 26 of
the dock section 14, 18 rests at an approximate height 506 above
the river bed. In this position, the decking surface 26 has risen
vertically from the low tide position of FIG. 4 to extend above the
top end 404 of each pipe 46. In a conventional floating dock
arrangement, the dock section 14, 18 subjected to the tidal surge
would be decoupled from the pipes 46 at the height 506 and no
longer moored. Once the surge subsides and the decking surface 26
returns to the height 406 under normal tide conditions, it is
likely that the dock section 14, 18 and the pipes 46 would require
human assistance to be reassembled.
[0035] In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, and as
the decking surface 26 rises, the lower surface of the flange
member 304 of each dock protector 300 comes into contact with the
decking surface 26, causing a lower portion 508 of each dock
protector 300 to be partially withdrawn from the inner cavity of
each pipe 46. A sufficient portion of the lower portion 508 of each
dock protector 300 (preferably, for example, equal in length to at
least 50 percent of the length of the lower portion 508) remains
within the inner cavity of its mating pipe 46 to enable the dock
protector 300 and pipe 46 to provide an essentially laterally-rigid
coupling between the dock section 14, 18 and the pipes 46 during
the tidal surge. When the surge subsides and the decking surface 26
returns to the height 406, gravity operates to allow the lower
portions 508 to further re-enter the inner cavities of the pipes 46
until the decking surface 26 reaches a height below the heights of
the top ends 404 of the pipes 46 and the lower surfaces of the
flange members 304 come to rest in proximity to the top ends 404 of
the pipes 46.
[0036] At this point, while we have presented this disclosure using
some specific examples, those skilled in the art will recognize
that our teachings are not so limited. Accordingly, this disclosure
should be only limited by the scope of the claims attached
hereto.
* * * * *