Abstract:
A portable dock structure for the temporary docking of boats, particularly of pontoon or houseboats and the like, the dock structure having a gangway having an anchor end adapted for securing the structure to the shore of a body of water and having a boat end adapted for affixing to a boat, a flotation device on the gangway adjacent the boat end whereby the boat end can be first floated from the shore out into the water and the anchor end then secured to the shore and then the boat end affixed to a boat to thereby provide a stable passageway between the boat and the shore.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants Pending Ser. No. 10/154,004 of same title filed on May 23, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field  
           [0003]    This invention concerns a unique structure for providing a temporary dock between the shore and a boat, especially a pontoon or house boat, wherein the dock structure is lightweight and easily handleable and portable.  
           [0004]    2. Prior Art  
           [0005]    Applicant is unaware of any prior art which is anticipatory of the presently claimed invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The invention in one of its preferred and broad embodiments comprises a portable dock structure for the temporary docking of boats, particularly of pontoon or houseboats and the like, said dock structure comprising a gangway section having an anchor end adapted for securing to the shore of a body of water and having a boat end adapted for affixing to a boat, flotation means on said gangway section adjacent said boat end whereby said boat end can be first floated from said shore out into said water and said anchor end then secured to said shore and then said boat end affixed to a boat to thereby provide a stable passageway between said boat and said shore.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings of preferred embodiments wherein the various figures are not drawn to scale or in actual proportions, and wherein certain structures are broken away or sectioned for clarity, wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of the present dock structure as affixed to a shore and to a houseboat,  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the depiction of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view with portions sectioned, of one embodiment of the boat end second bracket means as mounted on a cooperating joint component affixed to a boat;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the dock structure as employing a sliding section, extension ladder type construction;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a side view, partially sectioned along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4 of a portion of the dock structure of FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a side view of the boat end of the dock structure showing a variation of the second bracket means and a cooperating joint structure affixed to a boat;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a view as in FIG. 6 showing another variation of the second bracket means and cooperating joint structure affixed to a boat;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of joint structure which may be used to connect together sections of the gangway or handrail;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a front view of a preferred joint structure affixed to a boat and in its open, unlocked position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a front view of the joint structure of FIG. 9 in its closed and locked position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a side view of the joint structure of FIG. 10 in its closed and locked position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a top view of the joint structure of FIGS. 10 and 11 in its closed and locked position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the first bracket means;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 14 is a side view of a most preferred embodiment of the present dock structure;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  in FIG. 14; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  in FIG. 14. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings and with reference to the claims hereof, the present portable dock structure comprises a gangway generally designated  10  having an anchor end  12  adapted for securing to the shore  14  of a body of water  16  and having a boat end  18  adapted for affixing to a boat  20 , and flotation means  22  on said gangway adjacent said boat end.  
         [0025]    The gangway is substantially rectangular in configuration and comprises an elongated substantially rectangular floor  23  having a pair laterally spaced side edge portions  24 ,  26 , a pair of support beam means  28  and  29  are affixed to said edge portions and extend the full length thereof. The floor  23  and the beam means are of lightweight material, preferably aluminum. A pair of first bracket means  30  are affixed on said anchor end for receiving stake means  36 , preferably very loosely, thru aperture  34  therein for removable attachment of said anchor end to said shore while allowing up and down movement of said best end. A second bracket means  32  is provided on said boat end for removable attachment of said gangway to a boat.  
         [0026]    In the embodiment of FIG. 13 a vertical section  33  of each bracket  30  is pivotally mounted on a support beam by pin  35  and an outwardly, substantially horizontal foot section  37  is apertured as at  34  to receive the stake  36 . The pivot mechanism allows the dock to easily pivot up and down a sufficient distance to accommodate any drop, e.g., seasonal in water level. It is noted that for further stabilizing anchor end  12  of the dock, foot sections  37  may be extended laterally out from the dock sides any desirable further distance.  
         [0027]    The floor  23  can be of any lightweight material and construction including a solid or meshed aluminum sheet or the like, but preferably is of expanded metal sheet aluminum having apertures  38  formed with serrated edges  40 . Floor  23  and said beam means  28  and  29  which preferably are of square or rectangular aluminum tubing, are preferably sectioned and hinged at one or more locations such as  42  along their lengths to provide union means for the sections and allow the dock structure to be folded into a compact unit which can be readily transported on or in a vehicle.  
         [0028]    The second bracket means generally designated  32  provides a first component  44  (an apertured plate in FIG. 3) of a mechanical joint  45  on said boat end wherein a cooperating second component  46  (a stud in FIG. 3 having a lock pin  47 ) of the joint is mounted on a boat, and wherein said components are readily detachable.  
         [0029]    The joint  45  provides a hinge means to accommodate up and down movement of said boat. The floor and said beam means may comprise two or more sections such as  48  and  50  which are either hinged as at  52  or longitudinally slidably mounted together as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 whereby said structure can be selectively elongated or shortened.  
         [0030]    The beam means  28  and/or  29  may be provided with longitudinally spaced third bracket means  53 , and wherein handrail means  54  are provided with posts  55  adapted to be inserted into sockets  56  in said third bracket means. The flotation means  22  preferably is provided with cooperating attachment components such as hooks and eyes or bunge cord  57  or the like for allowing quick connection and disconnection of said flotation means from said structure for transportation of said structure in a vehicle or the like. The flotation means preferably comprises Styrofoam or the like foamed polymer, or it can be an inflatable elastomeric device. It is preferably provided with cooperating connecting means.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS.  9 - 12  a pair (or more) of said first components, i.e., rod or shaft members  44  are affixed to said boat end  18 , e.g., by laterally spaced stud means  93 , said shaft members being laterally spaced outwardly from the gangway boat end and oriented substantially horizontal and parallel thereto, and wherein said second component  46  comprises a saddle means  94  affixed to said boat and extending outwardly therefrom, each said saddle means being formed with a slot  95  into which said shaft sections can be dropped. Mounted on each saddle means is a clamping means  49  for securing said shaft sections within said slots. This clamping means comprises a stud  51  affixed to projection  93  and having a threaded upper end for threadedly receiving a tightening knob  58 . A bushing  59  is slidably mounted on stud  51  and is welded to a clamping piece  60 . As shown in FIG. 9, when bushing  59  with piece  60  are lifted up and pivoted around the stud (clockwise as shown by dotted line in FIG. 12), the shaft sections can be dropped down into slots  95 . When bushing  59  and piece  60  are then rotated counterclockwise to the locking position where  60  drops down into a recess  61  in saddle means  94 , knob  58  is tightened against the upper end of bushing  59  to lock  60  against shaft section  44 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 the second bracket means, e.g.,  94 , preferably is affixed to a plate  62  which may have an upper section  64 , both of which are bolted or screwed to the front deck portion of the boat as at  66 .  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 8, a type of joint useful herein, particularly for joining tubular railing sections  67  and  68 , comprises a stud  69  welded as at  70  to section  67  and hand pushed into section  68 . A bolt such as  72  locks  68  and  69  together.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS.  14 - 16 , the most preferred construction for attaching boat end  18  of the gangway to the boat is shown as a comprising adjustable horizontal supports  71 ,  73  slidably, adjustably mounted on a pair of stanchions  74 ,  76  affixed to sockets such as  78  on the gangway end by pins  80  or the equivalent. These stanchions are provided with apertures  82  which are adapted to be aligned with aperture  84  in bearing members  86  such that a pin  80  or equivalent means can be inserted therethrough to fix the height of supports  71 ,  73  such that they will lie on the boat deck  88  or other permanent, generally horizontal fixed portion of the boat, with the gangway  10  and flotation means  22  floating on the water in a substantially horizontal posture. These height adjustment structures allow the dock to be positioned and fixed to the shore by staking or the like, with the boat end of the dock extending out into the water.  
         [0035]    The height of the supports  71 ,  73  can then be adjusted to rest on the boat deck by a person standing on the boat end of the dock or by a person on the boat deck. With height adjustment made, tie lines such as  90  or the like affixed to plate members  91  on the gangway can be pulled tight to railings  92  or other structures on the boat to maintain proper contact of said supports with the deck.  
         [0036]    So as not to abuse design features of the boat, elastomeric cushion material such as  89  is preferably affixed to boat contact portions of the supports and adjacent structures. It is noted that additional apertures  84  are provided in the other sides of bearing members  86  to allow either or both supports to be oriented at 90° to that shown such as to accommodate irregular shaped mooring portions of a boat, if needed.  
         [0037]    It is noted that the present structure of adjustable support members which simply rest on the boat deck or equivalent platform means of a boat allows the boat to be readily slid out from under the supports after the tie lines are released.  
         [0038]    This invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications will be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.