Releasable floating dock hinging latch

A floating dock hinging latch releasably interconnects a pair of floating dock sections in an adjoined spaced relation for relative hinging motion. The floating dock hinging latch includes a pair of female latch portions secured to the side of one floating dock section and a pair of male latch portions secured to the side of the other floating dock section. The female latch portions and male latch portions are releasably engaged with one another to hingedly connect the floating dock sections by moving the floating dock sections toward one another across the surface of the water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to sectional floating docks, and more particularly, relating to a latch system for releasably connecting a pair of floating dock sections together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Floating docks are common and typically comprise a plurality of individually floating sections which sections are joined together to form a unitary structure and which may also be joined to a retaining wall or other structure for location and access purposes.

These sections will float but are often very heavy and extremely unwieldy whether in the form of a square or that of a substantially elongated rectangle.

Floating docks are subject to a wide variety of typical motions and stresses some of which are quite powerful yet with little motion while others are powerful and accompanied with large momenta. In many cases, floating dock sections do not float evenly even in calm water and are subject to substantial motion in all 3 directions.

This 3D motion is most difficult to handle when the sections are being installed or, alternatively, broken down for transport or storage during an off-season. Installation and removal are often conducted in inclement parts of the year when the likelihood of relative motion is very high and by individuals working alone or at best in a small group.

Over their lifetime such sections are likely to acquire a tilt in more than 1 direction making their installation and removal even more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable hinging latch for secure and permanent engagement of floating dock sections.

It is a further object to provide for inter-engagement and latching of sections which are smooth and provide for reduced risk and error resulting with the engagement providing free hinging rotation about a single horizontal axis across the width of the dock sections.

In general, in one aspect, a floating dock hinging latch for releasably interconnecting a pair of floating dock sections in an adjoined spaced relation for relative hinging motion is provided. The floating dock hinging latch includes first and second female latch portions secured to a lateral side of a first dock section in a horizontally spaced relationship. Each of the first and second female latch portions have a channel that extends in a direction perpendicularly outwardly from the lateral side of the first dock section. First and second male latch portions are secured to a lateral side of a second dock section in a horizontally spaced relationship. Each of the first and second male latch portions have a horizontally oriented hinge pin extending generally parallel to the lateral side of the second dock section. The first female latch portion is hingedly engaged with the first male latch portion by the hinge pin of the first male latch portion extending through the channel of the first female latch portion. And the second female latch portion is hingedly engaged with the second male latch portion by the hinge pin of the second male latch portion extending through the channel of the second female latch portion.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1depicts a pair of floating but heavy dock sections100and200in outline, both of which are shown as deployed and floating but neither in close proximity nor connected. Dock sections100and200, when secured together, form a multi-part floating dock structure which may be as little as two, or many, individual floating sections each releasably and hingedly joined to an adjacent section or to a retaining wall or access point for relative rotation with the releasable dock latch1of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Releasable dock sections100and200are separable floating sections with main axes101and201respectively, as shown inFIG. 1, in fully separated condition and oriented as floating evenly, ready for attachment. A pair of female latch portions104, each with an elongated female receiver105, are permanently secured to dock section100along a single lateral edge so as to provide a common hinging axis107. Female latch portions104are preferably secured at or near the lateral extremities of dock section100along a separable lateral edge and may be as much as 3-6 feet apart or further. Hinging axis107is preferably parallel or generally parallel to the surface of the water.

Corresponding male latch portions204are similarly permanently secured to adjacent dock section200along a corresponding lateral edge thereof so as to provide a corresponding hinging axis207for the releasable hinging latch1of the preferred embodiment upon latching.

Section100is shown inFIG. 1with a 3-dimensional z-y-x coordinate axis108depicted mid-way between female latch portions104with the y-axis aligned with hinge axis107and the x-axis101aligned with a main longitudinal dimension101of dock section100. These axes are shown as horizontal (x and y) and vertical (z) for ease of illustration but this condition is not typical in use.

Corresponding dock section200is shown inFIG. 1with 3-dimensional z′-y′-x′ coordinate axes208centrally located between male latch portions204. Axis y′ is shown aligned with hinge axis207while the x′-axis is aligned with a main longitudinal dimension201of dock section200with the z′-axis shown as vertical. Axes x′-y′-z′208of section200are shown as displaced from the corresponding x-y-z axes of section100in all 3 dimensions and about all 3 axes to reflect the relative positions of sections100and200in conditions of actual use. Typically the sections100and200will be in relative motion with respect to each other at all times and the relative spacings103and203will be significantly different from side to side.

Each of female latch portions104includes a rotatable pawl110(FIG. 3) secured for rotational movement about a common axis of rotation107(FIG. 3) to a pair of upstanding sidewalls each of which is formed as part of a base plate116.

Correspondingly each of male latch portions204include a base plate210(FIG. 6), a pair of upstanding walls211and a transversely aligned hinge pin205. Latch portions204are secured to dock section200so as to provide a common hinging axis207preferably aligned with hinge pins205.

As a 1st step in the method of the preferred embodiment, dock sections100and200are preferably manually drawn together so that latch portions104and204are in closer proximity to one another than is shown inFIG. 1, all as shown inFIG. 2. This drawing together may be accomplished manually by a single person installer in suitable conditions.

InFIG. 2, spacings103and203are each relatively smaller than these spacings as depicted inFIG. 1as the releasable hinging latch is being made ready for attachment by the installer. InFIG. 2the dock sections100and200remain misaligned about all three axes of motion, as along axes101and201, but are preferably most significantly misaligned relative to the z-axis.

As a 2nd step in the method of the preferred embodiment, dock sections100and200are moved into an adjacent position for attachment as shown inFIG. 3. Spacings103and203have been reduced to a minimum and vertical misalignment of the respective horizontal y-axis has been eliminated by manual action upon proximate hinge pin205being engaged within proximate female receiver105of female latch portion104.

As the 3rd step in the method of the preferred embodiment, the dock sections as further shown inFIG. 3are manually moved into a closely adjacent position for attachment of distal hinge portions104and204by reducing spacing103to a minimum and eliminating vertical misalignment of the respective horizontal y-axis upon proximate hinge pin205being engaged within proximate female receiver105of proximate female latch portion104.

Completion of the releasable hinging latch of the invention occurs at the 4th step in the method as spacings103and203are reduced to a minimum and hinging axis107is brought fully into alignment with corresponding hinging axis207whereupon latch pawls110, preferably in unison, rotate about axis111and capture hinge pins205. Dock sections100and200are latched together in alignment vertically and horizontally as shown inFIG. 4for relative hinging motion about only the horizontal Y-axis.

FIG. 5is an exploded view of the female latch portion104is shown. Base plate116is securely fastened to dock section100along a lateral edge as by bolting through apertures in base plate116. An opposing pair of elongated female receivers115are permanently secured as by welding to the face of plate116so as to extend primarily along a horizontal x-axis as inFIG. 1and provide for a second primarily horizontal and hinging y-axis107extending along a lateral edge of dock section100and nominally parallel to the water surface (not shown).

Receivers115each include an elongated channel117extending horizontally and nominally along the water surface along x-axis101.

Further preferably, each of channels117include a bulbous internal receptacle118. Channels117are preferably formed into receivers115and are aligned horizontally and vertically so as to provide free hinging axis107for a corresponding hinge pin205similarly secured to dock section200.

Preferably, pawl110is formed of a planar material with a substantial thickness129as much as a half-inch, more or less. Pawl110is loosely contained at a separation within spaced apart side walls115.

FIG. 6is an exploded view of the male latch portion204is shown. Base plate210is securely fastened to dock section200along a lateral edge as by bolting through apertures formed in base plate210. An opposing pair of extension walls211are permanently secured as by welding to the face of plate210so as to extend primarily along a horizontal x-axis as at208inFIG. 1and provide for a primarily horizontal and hinging y-axis207extending along a lateral edge of dock section200and nominally parallel to the water surface (not shown). Walls211include a hinge pin205therebetween extending horizontally and nominally along the water surface along hinging y-axis207.

InFIG. 7the latch portions104and204ofFIGS. 5 and 6are shown engaging as perFIGS. 1 to 4inclusive.FIG. 7shows the latch portions104and204in alignment in all 3 dimensions x-y-z so that axes107and207are parallel and initially spaced apart a distance502. In accordance with the method of the invention latch portions104and204are brought closer into engagement along direction209and209a. Initially, pin205is brought into initial engagement with receiver channel307at a reduced distance502a.

Latch portions104and204are further engaged with receiver channel307as distance502is further reduced as at502b. As distance502is reduced from502athrough502bpin205preferably engages with rotatable pawl110along surface312and causes rotation of pawl110counterclockwise about axis102in direction313into an upstanding position as shown inFIG. 7.

Most preferably, at distance502bpin205engages with pawl110sufficiently to provide a passage for pin205within channel307beyond pawl nose315but not in engagement with bulbous end308.

Decreasing distance502towards zero, that is, full engagement of the latch portions, pin205continues in passage307into bulbous end308wherein it engages with pawl surface316driving pawl110in a clockwise direction about axis111. Preferably axes111and207overlie one another at a distance502of zero with pin205secured in pawl110at catchment311.

Full engagement of the latch portions104and204into the releasable hinging latch of the invention is shown in elevation inFIG. 8. Pawl110is fully rotated clockwise about axis102so that axes107and207are aligned in all 3 dimensions. Preferably pawl110and pin205are slightly over center of axis102. Additionally, pawl110may be fully rotated about axis102against stop318on back plate116.

Most preferably, both pawl surface316and pawl surface317are clockwise over vertical at small angles318and319respectively. Preferably angle318is larger than angle319so as to provide an inward taper for catchment311.

InFIG. 9, the releasable hinging latch of the preferred embodiment is shown disengaged and with rotation of hinge pin403about both the z and the x axis in relation to the x-y-z axis shown for female latch portion300. The orientation of latch portion400and pin403is typical of a floating dock installation where the dock sections start out misaligned as well as disengaged one from the other.

In accordance with the 1st step of the method of the preferred embodiment dock section200(not shown inFIGS. 7-9) is manipulated so that proximate male latch portion204(FIG. 7) is brought into vertical alignment between both arms302of female receiver307.

In conjunction with the 1st step, dock section200is manipulated to rotate about the z-axis (FIG. 9) to bring male latch portion400into proximity with female latch portion300.

In accordance with the 2nd step of the method, the dock sections are further manipulated so as to bring axis202into alignment with hinge axis304while hinge pins403are brought further into female receiver channels307(FIG. 9).

In accordance with the 3rd step of the method, the pawls110are rotated counter-clockwise so as to permit passage of corresponding hinge pins403beyond corresponding pawl tips315respectively. In a preferred embodiment, pawls110are weighted or biased (FIG. 12) so that they may be tipped up and remain tipped up until the 4th step of the method.

In accordance with the 4th step of the method, shown inFIG. 7, axes304and202are brought fully into alignment and pawls110are driven clockwise substantially in unison by contact between pin403and pawl surface316.

InFIGS. 10 and 11respectively, a plan view and an elevation of the preferred embodiment of another of the releasable hinging dock latches of the invention. Pawl110has a significant width330throughout, most preferably about half-inch. Female receivers307are spaced apart sufficiently, preferably three-quarter inch, to accommodate non-binding rotation of pawl110while engaging hinge pin403.

As shown inFIG. 11, pawl110remains fully rotated counter-clockwise by nose315contacting pin403or in a preferred embodiment by remaining in a tipped up position, as inFIG. 12, or in the suspended position, shown inFIG. 11, until pin403comes into alignment with axis202, at which point the pawl110is permitted to pivot downwards under its own weight into engagement with pin403for a secure latchment or driven down by advancement of pin205(FIG. 7) against surface316.

Alternatively, pawl303may be enlarged as at501or relieved as at502in elevation view, as shown inFIG. 12, whereby pawl110may remain more securely, fully rotated, or tipped up under its own weight until engagement occurs.

As will be seen by persons skilled in the art, the releasable floating dock hinging latch of the invention is not limited to those embodiments described.