Abstract:
A modular floating dock system utilizing steel frame modules that are interconnected to form the dock system desired, the modules preferably having a concrete deck and pontoons or floats with the modules being interconnected with high strength bolts with a primary shock pad being interposed between adjacent modules.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a modular floating dock and in particular to a novel steel frame and interconnection system that can be incorporated into a variety of floating docks having different decks and floats. 
   Typical floating docks for marinas are constructed with modules that are interconnected to provide a walkway for access to docked boats and may include a network of primary and secondary walkways connected to fingers that define separate boat slips. 
   While usually assembled in protected harbors to minimize wave and swell action that may damage boats docked at the floating dock, the network must be strong enough to withstand damage from occasional storms. Since a floating dock network may be assembled over a substantial area, the interconnection system is subject to wind forces as well as wave action. To accommodate the compound forces, the network must necessarily have a degree of flexibility in the interconnection of modules. In prior systems, wooden stringers fastened along the sides of deck modules would interconnect adjacent modules and provide a degree of flexibility to the overall system. Wooden stringers, however, are not structurally uniform at the time of installation and structurally degrade from the elements during use. 
   Rigid interconnections are subject to tremendous localized and repetitious forces and eventually fail. Therefore, an interconnection that is sturdy but allows limited stress relieving flexing is preferred. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The interconnection system for floating docks of this invention is designed for the type of modular pontoon docks typically used in marinas or in other dock environments for smaller watercraft, typically private boats and yachts. A floating dock rises and falls with the water level to provide convenient ingress and egress to the watercraft stationed at the dock. This feature makes the floating dock particularly useful in tidal environments where daily tidal changes are easily accommodated by a floating dock. In the improved interconnection system of this invention, the strength of a steel frame platform is combined with an inexpensive steel connector for interconnecting adjacent modules. 
   In the preferred embodiments, welding is minimized to eliminate weakened locations subject to fatigue. The preferred embodiments are designed for use with a concrete deck which can be poured during fabrication to add to the structural integrity of the finished module. These and other features of the preferred embodiments are described in greater detail in the Detached Description of the Preferred Embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a typical floating dock module of this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an underside view of the floating dock module of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the steel deck frame for the floating dock module of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the steel deck frame of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an end elevational view of an end member of the steel deck frame of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the end member of  FIG. 5   
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the end member of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is across sectional view of a clip assembly for a concrete deck of the dock module taken on the lines  8 - 8  in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of an end connector for interconnecting adjacent dock modules taken on the lines  9 - 9  in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of the end connector taken on the lines  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a segmented part of a corner of the deck frame. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the modular floating dock frame and interconnection system is shown and designated by the reference numeral  10 . The frame and interconnection system  10  is shown incorporated into a typical floating dock module  12  which includes a deck assembly  14 , pontoons or floats  16  and spacers  18 . The spacers can be either pressure treated wood or steel channel, located as necessary, to support the pontoons. It is to be understood that, while four pontoons  16  are shown with cross-beam spacers  18 , other arrangements may be utilized to float and support the connected deck assembly  14 . Customarily, some utility pathway or chase (not shown) for water and power is provided under the deck for the convenience of the dock users. In a floating dock system, a plurality of floating dock modules  12  are interconnected in a manner to provide the desired marina layout. 
   The deck assembly  14  is fabricated with a steel frame assembly  20  and, in the preferred embodiments, with a concrete deck  22 . Other deck compositions may be utilized with minor modifications to the frame assembly  20 . Use of concrete assists in improving the structural integrity of the finished deck assembly. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the steel frame assembly  20  for each dock module  12  has two elongated side members  24  formed of twenty foot length, eight inch channels with the flat sides  26  inwardly positioned. The elongated channel members  24  are connected to end members  28  formed of one-half inch by five inch plate with bent or welded end tabs  30  as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . The end plate members  28  if bent are preferably formed at a metal fabricator to achieve a uniformity in the length of the end plate members  28 . Preferably, the end tabs  30  can be welded to the end member lengths  32  for accurate sizing with some acceptable loss in structural integrity. 
   Between the end plate members  24  on one foot centers are reinforcing rods  34  (one shown). The reinforcing rods  34  are connected to a series of clips  36  that are secured to the side members  24  as shown in the enlarged view of  FIG. 8 . The clips  36  in one embodiment are segments of angle iron with a receiving hole  38  to receive a bent end  40  of the rod  34  and a bolting hole  42  to accommodate a seven-eighths inch bolt  44  which secures the clip  36  to the flat side  26  of the channel member  24  with a nut  46 . Use of a single bolt  44  allows the clip  36  to pivot and invert to position the rods  34  at the optimal depth for the concrete deck  22  when poured. Typically, the concrete of the deck  22  can vary from 2-½″ to 4″. Alternately, the reinforcing rods  34  can be welded to the clips  36 . The nut  46  is preferably a double nut to provide an anchor for an outer bumper stringer (not shown) that fills the channel side  48  of the channel member  24 . Alternately, the double nut  46  can be employed to anchor dock fingers or other collateral apparatus to the side of the dock modules  12 . 
   To interconnect the dock modules  12  to one another, a clip assembly  50  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is utilized. The devised interconnection system for connecting adjacent dock modules  12  to one another, end to end, must be simple and strong. Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , each clip assembly  50  has a right angle interconnector clip  52  with two bolting holes  54  on once face  55  that allows the interconnector clip  52  to connect to the end tab  30  of the end member  28  through holes  56  in the end tab  30  and holes  58  in the channel member  24  by bolts  60  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   On the other right angle face  62  of the interconnector clip  52 , a large hole  64  permits a one-inch bolt  66  to connect the clip  52  to a connector clip  68  on an adjacent module  70  as shown in part in  FIG. 9 . 
   To accommodate stresses from wave action and other forces, the interconnection assembly includes a primary shock pad  72  of EPDM rubber or other similar material interposed between adjacent modules  12 , and a pair of seating pads  74  between the bolt washers  76  for the interconnecting bolt  66  and fastening nut  78 . 
   Since the primary interconnection is openly provided at each side by two large bolts installed on the outside of the deck assembly, the interconnection of adjacent modules becomes a relatively easy task. 
   As shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 11 , the clip assembly  50  is shown with the right angle interconnector clip  52  installed and connected to one of the side members  24  and to the end tab  30  of the end member  28 . Because the interconnector end clip  52  is nested in the outwardly directed channel of the elongated side member  24 , it is easily accessed during the assembly of the dock system when interconnecting adjacent modules. 
   While, in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.