Floating wharf or pier for ship mooring

Abstract: Floating wharf or pier for boat or ship mooring, comprising a body (1) having a cell-like hollow structure defining floatation chambers whose volume is accessible from outside and defines corresponding storage compartments (2). Admittance into each storage compartment (2) is provided by a respective upper hatch (7) and an inner ladder (8)

Description: The present invention is related to floating wharfs or piers for boat or ship mooring, of the type comprising a body having a hollow structure defining therewithin at least one floatation chamber and at least one storage compartment accessible from the outside. A floating pier of the above-mentioned type, designed for servicing cargo ships, in known from "NAVY TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN", vol.9, no.3, March 1984, pages 31-37. A marina floating wharf having floatation chambers accessible from the outside is also generally known from US-A-3,977,344 The object of the present invention is to provide a marina floating wharf of the above-referenced type, designed so as to carry out a novel, unique and useful function in connection with exploitation of the space occupied by the wharf itself within the environment of marinas or commercial harbours. According to the invention, this object is achieved primarily by virtue of the fact that said hollow structure of the body consists in its entirety of a cell-like construction with transverse and longitudinal structural bulkheads partitioning the whole inner volume of floating wharf into a plurality of side-by-side identical floatation chambers each and every of which constitutes a respective storage compartment accessible through a respective upper admittance hatch and a respective inner ladder. The cell-like body of the floating wharf or pier according to the- invention is preferably manufacture according to naval engineering techniques, and may be made of any suitable material (metal, plastic materials, composite materials, concrete-iron, etc). The invention will now be disclosed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, purely provided by way of non limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinally sectioned, diagrammatic and partial view showing an embodiment of the floating wharf or pier according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a transverse section along line II-II of figure 1. Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally designates a floating wharf or pier according to the invention intended to be employed for ship or boat mooring within marinas or commercial harbours. The example shown in drawings actually depicts a modular element adapted to be composed with same modular elements so as to make up a floating wharf or pier having a desired lenght. Naturally the general arrangement and size of the shown modular element may be widely varied as a function of the installation and use needs. The sloating wharf or pier modular element 1 is formed by a body having a hollow structure, preferably manufactured according to naval construction techniques and made of any suitable material, for instance metal, plastic material, composite material, concrete-iron etc. The body 1 has a cell-like configuration with transverse and longitudinal structural bulkheads 3,4, respectively, delimiting a plurality of floatation chambers 2 by means of which the body 1, when placed in use in the water, substantially stands such as depicted with respect to the waterline designated as L. According to the fundamental feature of the invention, the floatation chambers 2 are accessible from outside and make corresponding storage compartments available. These storage compartments 2 are thus incorporated within the volume of the floating wharf or pier 1 and can be employed for the most different uses, such as for instance temporary depositing of riggings, appliances, equipment, etc by the users of the boats moored thereto. To such effect, to each storage compartment 2 a respective upper admittance hatch or door 7 is associated, which may be for instance swinging and possibly provided with a lock closure not shown, so as to provide access through a corresponding aperture 6 formed on the upper wall 5 of the floating wharf or pier body 1. Moreover each storage compartment 2 is provided, in correspondance of the respective admittance opening 6, with an inner ladder 8. The floating wharf or pier body 1 is provided inferiorly, in a generally conventional way, with eyebolts or rings 9 for anchoring thereof to dead weights placed at the bottom of the marina or harbour. Naturally the details of construction and the embodiments may be widely varied with respect to what has been disclosed and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: Marina floating wharf for boat mooring, comprising a body (1) having a hollow structure defining therewithin at least one floatation chamber (2) and at least one storage compartment (2) accessible from the outside, characterised in that said hollow structure of the body (1) consists in its entirety of a cell-like construction with transverse and longitudinal structural bulkheads (3,4) partitioning the whole inner volume of floating wharf into a plurality of side-by-side identical floatation chambers (2) each and every one of which constitutes a respective storage compartment (2) accessible through a respective upper admittance hatch (7) and a respective inner ladder (8). Floating wharf according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (1) is manufactured according to naval construction techniques. Floating wharf according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the body (1) is made of metal. Floating wharf according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the body (1) is made of plastic material. Floating wharf according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the body (1) is made of composite material. Floating wharf according to any claims 1-5, characterised in that the body (1) is made of concrete-iron. Floating wharf according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (1) is provided inferiorly with anchoring members (9) to dead weights.

Inventors: SALIS GIORGIO, SALIS, GIORGIO
Applicants: SALIS GIORGIO, SALIS, GIORGIO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E02B3
IPC codes: E02B3