Abstract:
A floating dock section that is secure, economical and durable and can be coupled together with a similar type section by a connecting member that fits into a socket of the dock section. Each connecting member has flanges that fit into receiving sockets of two adjacent dock sections to form a dock of a preferred configuration so that the dock sections can be arranged in a plethora of configurations. Modular pieces for end posts and other accessories can be added. The bottom surface of the dock section includes a plurality of rectangularly shaped closely spaced apart troughs that are in a parallel alignment with one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to floating docks, and, in particular, to durable polyethylene dock sections that are formed to provide a rigid, strengthened top surface that maintains its shape and provides a superior support and feel for persons walking on the section. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Floating marine docks formed of sections are commonly used as a means of providing access to and mooring for boats or as swimming or fishing platforms. Modular or sectional docks are frequently employed for constructing docks of various sizes and configurations. In the past, Styrofoam has commonly been used as the basis for docking modules. These modules, however, are unstable, cumbersome, hazardous to the environment, and are, therefore, limited in their applications. This creates a need for a buoyant modular dock made almost entirely of molded polyethylene or other environmentally stable materials. 
     In addition, the apparatus connecting modular docks together must be secure enough and strong enough to withstand high stress. Some prior art docks have secured floating dock sections together with joists, locking pins, mounting plates, springs and other fasteners, but each suffers from its own disadvantages. U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,055 utilizes rubber connectors that fit into sockets positioned at the top and bottom edges of the dock sections. To maintain flotation of the &#39;055 patent dock sections if they are damaged so that they become filled with water, the sections are formed with a plurality of frustoconically shaped pylons that trap air for assisting in supporting the sections in the water. 
     The lateral and vertical movement that results from the action of wind and waves against floating docks puts considerable stress on the connecting apparatus which must be highly durable. Furthermore, the top surface of the dock sections must be supported to present a firm feel to a user. In addition, the amount of flexing of the top surface should be minimized to reduce the potential of stress cracking. A need exists, therefore, for a modular floating dock with a high strength connecting apparatus that is durable enough to be used in a variety of settings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a durable modular floating dock section that can be utilized to form a variety of dock configurations for boating, swimming, fishing, and various other functions. The individual dock sections include a plurality of closely spaced apart parallel aligned troughs that are arranged in a transverse relationship to the length of the sections. The sections can be connected together by using a connecting member to form a variety of design configurations. The connecting member is comprised of two flanges that each fit into a complementary receiving socket on two adjacent dock sections. The connecting member and dock sections can be further secured together by a bolt and nut. Other modular pieces, such as a pole bracket, can be connected to the dock sections in a similar fashion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a preferred embodiment of the components of a floating dock of the present invention formed of two dock sections and three connecting members that are used to secure the dock sections together. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of one of the connecting members shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the connecting member of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the connecting member of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of one of the dock sections of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of one of the dock sections of FIG. 1 taken along the line  6 — 6  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pole bracket that can be attached to a dock section. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention involves a floating dock  10 , as shown in FIG. 1, comprised of at least two dock sections  11  of the present invention. Preferably, the sections  11  are connected together by three connecting members  12  to provide a wobble free connection therebetween. However, it should be recognized by those skilled in the art that a single connecting member  12  could be used where conditions allow. Each dock section  11  is, in the preferred embodiment, a one piece molded body and may be of any shape, although a square or rectangular shape is preferred. The dimensions of each dock section  11  can vary depending upon its intended location and design. In the preferred embodiment, each section  11  is generally rectangular in shape, forty-five inches long, thirty inches wide, ten inches high and weighs approximately fifty pounds. 
     The dock sections  11  can be constructed of any suitable material, but preferably they are made of molded polyethylene, because it possesses strength and durability, is resistant to gas, oil and other contaminants and is also stable on the water. Each dock section  11  is generally hollow. The wall thickness of the dock sections  11  can vary, but a range of one-eighth inch in protected areas to three-eighth inch in exposed areas like outside corners, and with a wall thickness on the top (walking) surface of approximately one-fourth inch, is preferred. 
     Spaced about the perimeter of the dock sections  11  are a plurality of receiving sockets  13 . It is preferred that the sockets  13  are uniformly spaced along the sides and ends of each dock section  11  so that two sections can be connected together in a variety of ways. The dock sections  11  can have any appropriate number of sockets  13 , although in the preferred embodiment, three such sockets are located along the long side of the dock section  11  and two sockets are located along the short side. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  the connecting members  12  are used to attach the dock sections  11  together and are complimentary in shape to the sockets  13 . Each connecting member  12  has a body  15  with at least two flanges  16 , and each flange  16  is received in and interlocks with a receiving socket  13 . Each flange  16  has an inwardly tapered post section  17  adjacent to which is a top recess  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the body  15  further includes two side members  19  that are somewhat similar in shape to the flanges  16  and extend from opposite sides thereof. Each side member  19  is notched to form a recess  20 , and the flanges  16  have lower ledge portions  24  that are spaced from the side members  19  to form bottom recesses  25 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the top of each post section  17  contains a threaded bore  26  molded therein. Securing means, such as a bolt (not shown), can then be positioned through holes  28  in the top of the dock section  10  and secured in the bores  26 . This serves to semi-permanently secure the dock section  10  and its associated connecting member  12  together. 
     As shown best in FIG. 5, the sockets  13  each comprise a central, vertically oriented, tapered recessed portion  30  that is complementary in shape to one-half of a connecting member  12 , as described below so that they fit together in an interlocking relationship. At the top of each socket  13  is a top overhang  31  intended to fit into the top recess  18  of one of the connecting members  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the sockets  13  further comprise two bottom overhangs  32  that interlock with the bottom recesses  25  of one of the connecting members  12 , and two side overhangs  33  that interlock with the recesses  20  in the side members  19  to thereby provide an efficient, effective and durable means for interlocking the dock sections  10  together. 
     To increase the structural strength of the dock sections  10 , a number of parallel aligned troughs  35  and  36  (FIG. 5) of a generally rectangular shape extend from the bottom upward toward the top of each dock section  10 . These troughs  35  and  36  each define a cavity in the dock section  10 , so that air is captured within the trough  35  when the dock section  10  is positioned in the water. The sides of the troughs  35  and  36  also provide structural support against downward or lateral pressure applied to the dock sections  11  and minimize flexing of the top surface of the sections  11 . In the preferred embodiment, the troughs  35  and  36  comprise a total of five and extend along the bottom of the dock section  10 . 
     There are three of the troughs  35 , which are shorter than the troughs  36  and extend between the receiving sockets  13  on their respective sides. There are two of the long troughs  36  that are unencumbered by the receiving sockets  13  so as to extend from side to side. In the preferred embodiment, the short troughs  35  are approximately nineteen inches long, four inches wide and nine and one-half inches deep, and the long troughs  36  are approximately twenty-five inches long, four inches wide and nine and one-half inches deep. Accordingly, a majority of the bottom of the dock sections  11  is formed from the troughs  35  and  36 . As shown by FIGS. 5 and 6, the ceilings of the troughs  35  and  36  are formed with transverse ribs  37  to improve the flow of plastic during molding and productability of the sections  11 . The top of each dock section  11  is formed with a plurality of parallel aligned, spaced apart elongated indentations  38  (see FIG. 1) that span each section  11 , which indentations are located in an alignment between each of the troughs  35  and  36  to further minimize the amount of flexing of the dock section top surface and thereby reduce the potential of stress cracking. 
     To stabilize the dock  10 , it is highly preferable to utilize one or more stabilizing poles (not shown) to brace the floating dock. Each stabilizing pole can be secured to the dock by the use of a pole bracket  40  as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each of the members  40  is comprised of a flange section  41  and a pole section  42  that contains a pole hole  43 . The flange section  41  is similar in shape to the flanges  16 . Thus, each pole bracket  40  can be secured in one of the receiving sockets  13 . Other types of attachments and accessories, such as gangways, ladders, boat moorings, and floating dry docks for watercraft (all not shown) can also be attached to the dock by the use of members that interlock with the receiving sockets  13 . 
     In application, the dock sections  10  are connected together with the use of connecting members  12  into a desired configuration. Any dock section  11  can easily be secured to the shore through the use of arms, cables, gang planks or other means. The present invention thus provides a complete floating dock that does not require additional elements for use, such as boat bumpers or wood planking, or additional parts for assembly. The polyethylene dock sections  11  are durable, stable and have a long life. The shape of the flanges  16  and receiving sockets  13  ensure that the dock sections  11  will remain securely attached by the connecting members  12  so that the dock sections  11  will not separate during use. The connecting members  12  also result in a tight fit and a very small gap between the dock sections  11 , and this increases the ease and safety of walking on the dock  10 . 
     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.