Pole bracket for a dock

A pole bracket for a dock assembly has with a c-shaped opening for receiving the pole, on which a dock section may be mounted. For the pole bracket for a dock, one side of the bracket allows for attachment to a dock section, while the other and opposing side of the bracket allows for one of the poles, which supports dock section to be received therein secure the dock section in a desired position. The pole bracket for a dock may be attached to a dock section or a dock bracket on the section.

This invention relates generally to a pole bracket for a dock and more particularly, to a pole bracket for a dock, which is secured to a dock section and clamps easily to a mounting pole secured in the desired body of water.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT

This application relates to an improvement usable with U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,700 by the same inventor, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Every boat owner, with a property having water frontage desires, to have a dock. With the dock, the boat owner has control of the time and place for putting the boat in the water. With such control, the boat owner can greatly increase the enjoyment that comes with owning a boat.

Construction of a dock is a major project. Much work in the water is required. The special tools and equipment required to support this work in the water add greatly to the cost of producing a dock. Any device, which reduces the cost or simplifies the construction of a dock, can provide many great advantages.

Typically poles are secured within the body water and adjacent to or on the short for a dock. The poles are positioned so sections of a dock may be attached thereto with pole brackets. Pole brackets tend to complicate dock construction.

Likewise, there is an advantage for the owner of a marina which services a number of boats to have at least one dock. As the number of docks increases, cost savings and efficiency of construction become more important.

In order to reduce the cost of building a dock, it is very desirable to simplify attaching of the dock sections the desired support poles mounted in the body of water and reduce the required time now required for dock construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a pole bracket for a dock, which facilitates attaching of a dock to a pole secured in bed of the body of water or adjacent to short of the body of water.

A further objective of this invention is the provision of a pole bracket for a dock, which reduces wind interference during dock installation.

Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a pole bracket for a dock, which greatly reduces installation problems.

A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a pole bracket for a dock, which is easily installed.

Another objective of this invention is the provision of a pole bracket for a dock, which is easily stored.

Yet another objective of this invention is the provision of a pole bracket for a dock, which is easily supported.

These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a pole bracket for a dock assembly with a housing having c-shaped opening for receiving the pole, to which a dock section of dock assembly may be secured.

Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the pole bracket for a dock, one side of the bracket allows for attachment to a dock section, while the other and opposing side of the bracket allows for one of the poles, which supports dock section to be received therein secure the dock section in a desired position. The pole bracket for a dock may be attached to a dock section by bolts, or by welding, or by other means that can sufficiently attach such brackets to a dock section.

A desired material of construction for the pole bracket for a dock is aluminum, titanium, carbon or low-alloyed steel, stainless steel, or other material that is suitable for machining, forming, stamping, or casting such that the shape of the pole bracket for a dock can be produced. The desired material of construction for the pole bracket for a dock is plate able to withstand the pressures that are exerted on the pole bracket for a dock when a strong wind blows against the dock section.

Referring now toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, at least one double bolt long pole bracket100of this invention is used around water102and connects dock assembly110to support pole112. Double bolt long pole bracket100cooperates with the dock bracket114(shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,700) to secure dock assembly110, formed from dock sections116in a desired or proper position. Water102may be a lake, a river or any other body of water where a dock may be used.

Dock bracket114may be as shown or any other dock bracket shown in the cited patent. Dock section116has dock bracket114mounted thereon by dock bolts104, or any other suitable fashion shown in the cited patent.

AddingFIG. 3,FIG. 4, andFIG. 5to the consideration, double bolt long pole bracket100of this invention has a housing120with a securing side124, adapted to be secured to a dock section160. Securing side124may also be welded, glued, bolted or otherwise secured to dock bracket114.

Oppositely disposed from securing side124is pole receiving side126. Receiving side126has c-shaped pole receiving jaw128, in order accept support pole112at a desired position, without sliding the double bolt long pole bracket100over an end of support pole112, and permits securing of dock assembly110, when used in combination with a plurality of the long pole double bolt long pole bracket100, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2.

Pole receiving jaw128has an arcuate arm130oppositely disposed from a flattened arm132. Flattened arm132includes a level portion134, which facilitates insertion of support pole112into pole receiving jaw128. Within level portion134are two threaded apertures136having a securing bolt138in each one. As the support pole112is placed into pole receiving jaw128, each bolt138may be tightened to contact the support pole112. In this manner, double bolt long pole bracket100is secured to the support pole112, thereby holding the dock assembly110in a desired position.

Still consideringFIG. 6,FIG. 7,FIG. 8andFIG. 9, mounting plate202is welded, glued or otherwise mounted on securing side124. Within the mounting plate202, are plate apertures204adapted to secure mounting plate202to the dock bracket114or the dock section116through the plate apertures204.

Turning now toFIG. 6,FIG. 7,FIG. 8andFIG. 9, supporting pole receiving jaw128has a flattened support lip140at an edge thereof oppositely disposed from the flattened arm132. Support lip140cooperates with flattened arm132to permit support pole112to be received therein without sliding the pole bracket100over the top of support pole112.

With the consideration ofFIG. 10, the variety in the structure of double bolt long pole bracket100(FIG. 1) is shown. Mounting plate202is optionally between dock bracket114and housing120with a variety of plate fasteners212. There are also a variety of fasteners210connecting the dock section116to the dock bracket114.

This application taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings being combined; provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.

Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.