Boat dock assembly

A boat dock assembled from portable sections hingedly connected to each other and provided with foldable and adjustably extensible leg assemblies. Each section is formed from tread retaining decking members made of extruded metal sections interconnected in close parallel spaced relation by interlocking elements. Pivotally separable half-shell foot elements are connected to the leg assemblies for stabilized support of the dock sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to the construction and installation of boat dock 
assemblies. 
The formation of boat docks from portable sections pivotally interconnected 
with each other and having foldable and adjustably extensible legs, is 
well known. Prior U.S. patents relating to such dock assemblies known to 
applicant consist of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,948,121, 3,043,109, 3,380,257, 
3,568,451, and 3,620,027. Each of such prior art docking arrangements have 
a limited purpose or utility or a special construction designed to meet 
certain specific requirements. It is therefore an important object of the 
present invention to provide an exceptionally versatile method of erecting 
a boat dock to meet different requirements by use of a plurality of unique 
portable dock sections that are readily assembled and installed without 
requiring entry into the water or requiring use of special tools and 
fasteners. 
Another object is to provide a novel construction for portable dock 
sections made of interchangeable parts assembled without use of fasteners 
to meet different dimensional requirements. 
Yet another object is to provide a dock assembly that may be firmly 
stabilized in position despite installational variations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention various docking arrangements are 
formed from the assembly of portable dock sections interconnected by hinge 
devices that accommodate up 230.degree. relative angular displacement, 
each hinge device being concealed below a tread retaining formation 
substantially bridging the space between the adjacent dock sections above 
the hinge device. Each dock section is formed by decking members 
interconnected in close parallel spaced relation by spacer interlock 
elements having gripping arms engaged with adjacent decking members below 
upper tread retaining portions thereof. The decking members are 
interconnected with transversely extending side rail members enclosing 
liquid retaining chambers or cavities adapted to be filled with water to 
stabilize the dock assembly after it is installed in place. Hydraulically 
and/or mechanically adjustable leg assemblies support the dock sections 
above the water and are provided with pivotally separable clam-like shells 
as foot elements to form a firm footing as well as to facilitate removal 
or retraction from any location. The dock sections may be transported to 
and pivotally assembled in place without entering the water by pivotally 
lowering each section in sequence into position. By use of a rope and 
winch arrangement, outer dock sections may be elevated out of the water 
and disassembled for removal. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical 
boat dock assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 10. In the 
arrangement shown, the dock assembly includes five elongated dock sections 
12 extending along a straight path, as viewed from above in FIG. 2, from 
dry land 14 out over a body of water 16. A sixth dock section extends 
laterally from the side of one of the dock sections over the water and is 
interconnected therewith by a corner cross walk member 18 as shown in FIG. 
2. The dock sections 12 are hingedly interconnected with each other and 
each has a pair of extensible leg assemblies 20 connected thereto at one 
longitudinal end as shown in FIGS. 1. A brace 22 is associated with each 
leg assembly to support the assembled dock assemblies in their elevated 
positions as shown. It should of course be appreciated that other dock 
arrangements may be formed by the assembly of different numbers of dock 
sections 12 to meet different dock requirements. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in particular, the construction of a 
typical dock section 12 will become apparent. Each dock section is 
assembled from a plurality of parallel spaced decking members 24 
interconnected with a pair of side rail members 26. The length and number 
of decking members may be varied while the side rail members are cut to 
the length of the dock section. The decking and side rail members thus 
form the basic components of the dock section and are fabricated as 
metallic extrusions of uniform and constant cross-section as more clearly 
seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Spacer locking elements 28 interconnect adjacent 
decking members 24 at their longitudinal ends in close parallel spaced 
relation to each other as shown in FIG. 3 while interlock elements 30 
interconnect the decking members 24 with the side rail members 26 at right 
angles as shown in FIG. 4. 
Each decking member 24 as more clearly seen in FIG. 3 includes a tread 
retaining portion 32 from which a pair of side retainer projections 34 and 
an intermediate retainer projection 36 extend upwardly alongside of a pair 
of curved recesses 38 in which a pair of treads 40 are seated, the treads 
being made of wood, carpeting or some other material presenting a suitable 
friction surface for walking purposes. A pair of supporting ribs 42 depend 
from the tread retaining portion 32 from which a pair of grip arms 44 
extend at right angles thereto in generally parallel spaced relation below 
the portion 32. Sawtooth grip formations 46 project toward each other from 
the grip arms 44 and the tread portion 32 for engagement with mating 
formations on elastically deflectable arms 48 and 50 associated with one 
of the spacer locking elements 28 aforementioned as more clearly seen in 
FIG. 5. The assembled decking members 24 are supported on a tube or 
support beam 52 which extends substantially the entire length of the dock 
section so as to structurally rigidify assembly of decking members. 
Each spacer locking element 28 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 5 and 7 
includes a tubular portion 58 of rectangular cross-section having 
generally parallel vertical sides 60 from which the grip arms 48 and 50 
extend. The locking elements 28 interconnect adjacent decking members at 
the ends abutting the side rail members 26 as shown in FIG. 4. Each 
interlock element 30 includes a web 62 from which a pair of elastically 
deflectable grip arms 64 and 66 extend. The web 62 abuts the rectangular 
portion 58 of a spacer element 28 with its grip arms projecting 
therethrough as shown in FIG. 4 so as to engage grip teeth on the abutting 
side rail member 26 in order to interconnect the assembled decking members 
with the side rail members. 
Each side rail member 26 also includes a tread retaining portion 68 having 
tread retainer projections for holding three treads 70 as shown in FIG. 4. 
An outer side 72 interconnects the tread portion 68 with a bottom 74 to 
which an inner side 76 is connected. The side 76 is connected to the tread 
portion 68 by a grip receiving portion 78 forming a support ledge for the 
assembled locking element 28 and 30. The interconnected sides, bottom and 
portions 68 and 78 of the side rail member also enclose a liquid retaining 
chamber 80 adapted to be either filled with water or drained. When 
drained, the side rail members 26 form part of a relatively lightweight 
dock section capable of being manually carried and assembled in place. 
Once installed in a dock assembly, the chambers 80 formed in the side rail 
members 26 may be filled with water to stabilize the assembly. 
The dock sections are pivotally interconnected with each other by hinge 
assemblies 82. As shown in FIG. 3, the adjacent longitudinal ends of the 
dock sections are closed by end plates 84 and 86 associated with the hinge 
assembly 82. The end plates are locked to decking members at the ends by 
grip arms 88 and 90 projecting therefrom. A curved bearing arm 92 projects 
from plate 84 and is received within a cavity formed between arms 94 and 
96 projecting from plate 86 to establish a hinge connection accommodating 
up to 230.degree. relative angular movement between the adjacent dock 
sections. The bearing arms 92, 94 and 96 underlie a tread retaining 
formation formed integrally with the arms 94 and 96 and projecting from 
plate 86. Thus, the tread 100 will substantially bridge the space between 
the longitudinal ends of adjacent dock sections occupied by the hinge 
assembly 82 to protect and conceal the hinge connection. A similar hinge 
assembly 82' as shown in FIG. 4 interconnects a dock section at one 
longitudinal end with the side rail member 26 when two dock sections are 
interconnected at right angles to each other. The hinge assembly 82' is 
the same as 82 except that plate 84' is secured to side 72 without any 
grip arms. 
Each dock section is supported by a pair of leg assemblies 20 as 
aforementioned. One type of leg assembly 20 shown in FIG. 9 includes a 
bracket 102 secured to the side rail member to support it at a 5.degree. 
angle to a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the leg assembly. A 
connector 104 is pivotally connected by pivot bolt 106 to the bracket 102 
and is in turn pivotally connected by pivot bolt 108 to an outer tubular 
housing 110 to which the brace 22 is connected as shown in FIG. 1. The 
pivot bolt 108 also extends through an upper head 112 from which a 
hydraulic cylinder 114 is suspended within the housing 110. A piston rod 
116 is displaceable from the lower end of cylinder 114 and is connected by 
pin 118 to a curved foot element 120 through an extensible sleeve 119. On 
short legs, the foot element 120 may be connected directly to the piston 
rod through a pin without any sleeve 119. The foot element has an anchor 
rod 122 connected thereto for insertion into the earth so as to firmly 
anchor the leg assembly in place. The element 120 provides a sufficiently 
large bearing surface to resist shifting and tilting of the leg assembly. 
The piston rod 116 has a piston element 124 connected to the upper end 
thereof as shown in FIG. 10. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the upper 
end of the cylinder 114 through a passage 126 in the head 112. The head is 
therefore connected by conduit section 128 and elbow 130 to a valve 132 
having an inlet fitting 134 through which a quick disconnect coupling 136 
may connect the valve to a water pump (not shown) through conduit 138. 
Water drawn from the body of water 16 may therefore be pumped into each 
leg assembly 20 for extension thereof to a desired length by displacement 
of the piston element 124 in order to firmly anchor each dock section in 
place through its foot element 120. To lower a dock section, the valve 132 
may be opened to release fluid and shorten the leg assembly. 
Leg assemblies 20' supporting some dock sections may be provided with 
another type of foot assembly 140 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The 
extensible element 142 of the leg assembly 20' has a pair of connecting 
wing elements 144 welded to the lower end thereof in alignment with each 
other. Each wing element 144 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 146 to 
a half-shell element 148. The curved shell elements 148 form a clam-like 
configuration in the solid line position shown in FIG. 12 to provide a 
firm bearing support for the leg assembly. The shell elements 148 may 
pivot to the position shown by dotted line in FIG. 12 to facilitate 
withdrawal of the foot assembly from the earth in which it is embedded 
when disassembling the dock. 
FIGS. 16 and 17 show another form of leg assembly 20" which may be utilized 
for support of some dock sections. The leg assembly 20" is also 
extensible, but by mechanical means. A bracket 150 is secured as by 
welding to the bottom 74 of the side rail member 26 associated with the 
dock section. A connector 152 is connected by a pair of aligned fastener 
assemblies 154. An outer tubular housing 156 is secured as by welding to 
the connector 152 and depends therefrom. A tubular extensible element 158 
abuts the connector 152 in its fully retracted position as shown in FIG. 
16, the lower end of the extensible element 158 being connectible to a 
foot assembly by means of a connecting bolt 160. An internally threaded 
nut element 162 is mounted in axially fixed position within the element 
158. An elongated screw element 164 threadedly extends through the nut 
element 162 and is connected at its upper end within connector 152 to an 
actuating shank 166 by means of a cotter pin 168. The actuator shank 
extends through aligned openings in the bracket 150 and the bottom 74 of 
the side rail member into chamber 80 and terminates at its upper end at 
section 170 adapted to be grasped by a tool for rotation of the screw 
element 164. Access to actuator section 170 is provided by means of an 
opening 172 formed in the tread portion 32 of the side rail member. A plug 
40 is accordingly removed to expose opening 172 when it is desired to 
either extend or retract the extensible element 158. Rotation of the screw 
elememt 164 causes axial displacement of the nut 162 and the element 158 
axially fixed thereto. 
Some of the dock sections are provided with bumper assemblies generally 
referred to by reference numeral 174 in FIGS. 1 and 8. Each bumper 
assembly includes a clamp assembly 176 secured to the bottom 74 of the 
side rail member 26 as shown in FIG. 8, the clamp assembly being operative 
to detachably anchor the end portion of a curved bumper rod element 178 
that extends outwardly and upwardly in spaced relation to the side rail 
member and then curves downwardly. The portion of the bumper rod 178 
spaced outwardly from the side rail member is covered with a suitable 
impact absorbing material 180. The outer side 72 of the side rail member 
26 may also have secured thereto a retainer bracket 182 holding a 
plurality of parallel bumper ribs 184 in order to provide impact 
protection for the dock section between the bumper assemblies 174. 
FIG. 18 illustrates the manner in which a dock section 12 is added onto a 
previously anchored dock section when assembling a dock assembly. The 
disassembled dock section as shown by dotted line is transported by a 
wheeled cart 185 to the end of the anchored dock section and is hooked 
onto it to form the hinge assembly 82 by tilting the cart. The hingedly 
assembled dock section is then lowered into the water by pivotal 
displacement thereof off the cart as shown by arrow 187 in FIG. 18. 
FIG. 13 illustrates the manner in which a dock section 12 is removed. A gin 
pole 186 is secured to the longitudinal end portion of an anchored dock 
section so as to position thereabove a guide 188 for a rope 190 connected 
at one end to the dock section being raised out of the water. The other 
end of the rope 190 extends from a manually operated winch assembly 194 
detachably secured to the previously anchored dock section. As more 
clearly seen in FIG. 15, the gin pole 186 is received at its lower end 
within a sleeve 198, which is connected by a bolt assembly 200 to a 
mounting bracket 202 welded to a bearing plate 196 resting on the treads 
40 of the dock section. A pair of prongs 199 welded to the plate 196 
depend therefrom between adjacent decking members 24 in straddling 
relation to the support tube 52. The winch assembly 194 aforementioned 
includes a rope sheave 204 on which the rope 190 is wound or unwound, the 
sheave being rotated by means of a crank handle 206 interconnected with 
the sheave through suitable gearing (not shown). The sheave and gearing 
are mounted by means of a bracket 208 secured to a rearwardly inclined 
support plate 210. The support plate 210 is secured to a base plate 212 
and support post 214. As more clearly seen in FIG. 14, the base plate 212 
is secured by a fastener assembly 216 to an anchor plate 218 that rests on 
top of the decking members 24. A vertical L-shaped anchor fin 220 is 
secured as by welding to the anchor plate 218 and depends therefrom 
between the adjacent decking members and is held assembled in place by a 
lower element 222 to embrace the support tube 52. Thus, the winch assembly 
194 may be firmly anchored in place for performing its function. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, 
falling within the scope of the invention.