Patent Publication Number: US-2012027527-A1

Title: Piling System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. ______ filed on Apr. 6, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to piles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the need for a pile that is easier to transport and is less prone to deterioration. Other advantages are also seen in the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pile. In a variant, the pile comprises a first side portion comprising first and second edges, the first side portion configured as a section of a pile. A second side portion comprises first and second edges configured to slidably engage with the respective second and first edges of the first side portion. The first edge is configured to slidably engage the second edge. When engaged, the two side portions form a substantially hollow pile and the side portions form junctions between the two side portions that are located inside the outermost boundary of the pile. 
     In another variant, the pile comprises a female slot disposed along the length of the first edge and a male member disposed along the length of the second edge configured for being slidably received into the female slot forming the junction between the two side portions. The pile may be formed by aligning the first and second side portions end on end such that a first edge of the first side portion is matched to the second edge of the second side portion and the two portions are slid together along each other&#39;s length to form the pile. 
     In a further variant, the side portions form a groove on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction. 
     In still another variant, the pile comprises a solar power electrical system comprising: a thin film solar cell mounted to the side of the pile; a battery for storing electric charge generated by the solar cell, mounted inside the hollow pile; and a least one electric load device connected to the battery and positioned in the groove. 
     In yet a further variant, the pile comprises a gap infill having an outer side and is sized and shaped to fill the groove. The gap infill is configured such that the outer side will substantially align with the outer boundary of the pile when the gap infill is inserted into the groove. 
     In another variant of the pile, when engaged the side portions form a cavity on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction. The cavity is formed from a part of the first side portion suspended over a valley formed in the second side portion. 
     In a further variant of the pile, a part of the of the second side portion is suspended over the valley in the second side portion, wherein when engaged, the side portions form a throat between the first and second side portions that leads into the cavity. 
     In still another variant, the cavity runs along substantially the entire length of the pile. The pile further comprises a carriage disposed in the cavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respective dimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls. The carriage is configured to slide within the cavity along the length of the pile. 
     In yet a further variant, the carriage is a roller carriage, comprising wheels positioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the length of the cavity. The carriage comprises a cleat connected to the carriage and disposed outside the outer boundary of the pile. 
     In another variant, the cavity runs along substantially the entire length of the pile, and the throat is formed by two side walls that leads into the cavity. The pile comprises a roller carriage disposed in the cavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respective dimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls. The carriage is configured to slide within the cavity along the length of the pile. The carriage comprises a plurality of wheels, wherein one wheel is positioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the floor of the length of the cavity, and one wheel is configured to roll against a wall of the throat. The carriage optionally has a cleat connected to the carriage and disposed outside the outer boundary of the pile. 
     In a further variant, the pile comprises a pile tip, generally conical in shape and configured to engage an end of the first and second side portions such that a tip of the pile tip points away from the side portions. 
     In still another variant, the pile comprises a mechanism between the pile tip and the side portions for locking the pile tip to the side portions comprising a male piece for being received into a slot. 
     In yet a further variant, a system for constructing a pile, comprises: at least two side portions configured as a section of a pile having a length and comprised generally as a curved surface having a substantially constant cross section along the entire length of the side portion; and a side portion connector configured for slidably interlocking with the side portions to form a hollow pile. 
     In a variant, the system comprises two side portion connectors and two side portions, wherein the side portions are identical in shape and at least one side portion connector has a channel. Each side portion is configured to slidably interlock with a side portion connector on either side of the side portion such that four junctions are formed interior to an outer boundary of the pile by assembling the two side portions with the two side portion connectors. 
     In another variant of the system, the channel disposed on the side portion connector comprises a throat that leads to a cavity and both run along the side portion connector. The side portion connector is configured such that when the pile is assembled, the cavity is disposed interior to the outer boundary of the pile. 
     In a further variant of the system, one side portion connector has a groove that runs along the side portion connector, and the side portion connector is configured such that when the pile is assembled, the groove is disposed interior to the outer boundary of the pile. 
     In yet another variant, the side portions and the side portion connectors are formed by a pultrusion process. 
     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. 
       Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side” views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply or require that the invention be implemented or used in a particular spatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of side portion of the pile; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connected directly together. 
         FIG. 3  is perspective view of a pile in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connected directly together forming a groove in the side of the pile 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connected directly together forming a cavity in the side of the pile; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connected together via side portion connector forming a cavity in the side of the pile; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connected together via side portion connector forming a groove in the side of the pile; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a roller carriage; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the roller carriage; 
         FIG. 10  is perspective view of the pile illustrating and end configured to connect to a pile tip; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the pile illustrating and end configured to connect to a pile tip; 
       The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     From time-to-time, the present invention is described herein in terms of example environments. Description in terms of these environments is provided to allow the various features and embodiments of the invention to be portrayed in the context of an exemplary application. After reading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art how the invention can be implemented in different and alternative environments. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents, applications, published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in applications, published applications and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definition set forth in this document prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a pile for supporting structures. In one variant, referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the pile  10  comprises: a first side portion  15  comprising first  20  and second edges  25 . The term “edge” refers generally to the regions of the side portion  15  referred to by letters A and B in  FIG. 1  and numerals  20  and  25 , and translated along the length of the side portion  15 . Edge does not necessarily mean the exact end of the side portion  15 , but to a general region that may include the end. 
     A second side portion  15  comprises first  20  and second edges  25  configured to slidably engage with the respective second  25  and first edges of the first side portion, wherein the first edge  20  is configured to slidably engage the second edge  25 . The side portions  15  are configured as a section of a hollow pile  10 . When engaged, the two side portions  15  form a substantially hollow pile  10  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and junctions  30  are formed between the two side portions  15  that are located inside the outermost boundary  35  of the pile. 
     In a variant, the pile has a female slot  40  disposed along the length of the first edge  20  and a male member  45  disposed along the length of the second edge configured for being slidably received into the female slot forming the junction  30  between the two side portions. The pile  10  may be formed by aligning the first and second side portions  15  end on end such that a first edge  20  of the first side portion is matched to the second edge  25  of the second side portion and the two portions are slid together along each other&#39;s length to form the pile  10 . 
     In another variant of the pile, referring to  FIG. 4 , the side portions  15  form a groove  50  on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction. 
     In a further variant, the pile comprises a solar power electrical system comprising: a thin film solar cell  55  mounted to the side of the pile; a battery  60  for storing electric charge generated by the solar cell, mounted inside the hollow pile  10 ; and a least one electric load device  65  connected to the battery and optionally positioned in the groove. For example, the electric load device may be a lamp. In another example, the electric load device may be a water pump for supply water pressure to a fire hose. The battery may be mounted inside the pile via a mounting bracket  70 . The then film solar cell  55  may be shaped to conform to the outer surface  35  of the pile  10 . 
     In still another variant, the pile comprises a gap infill  75  having an outer side  80  and is sized and shaped to fill the groove  50 . The gap infill  75  may be configured wherein the outer side  80  will substantially align with the outer boundary  35  of the pile when the gap infill  75  is inserted into the groove. 
     In yet a further variant of the pile, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , when the side portions are engaged, they form a cavity  85  on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction  30 . The cavity  85  is formed from a part  90  of the first side portion suspended over a valley  95  formed in the second side portion. 
     In another variant of the pile, a part  100  of the of the second side portion is suspended over the valley  95  in the second side portion, wherein when engaged, the side portions  15  form a throat  100  between the first and second side portions that leads into the cavity  85 . 
     In a further variant of the pile, the cavity  85  runs along substantially the entire length of the pile, and, referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8  and  9 , the pile has a carriage  110  disposed in the cavity  85  and is restrained to remain in the cavity  85  by the respective dimensions of the carriage  110  and the cavity walls. The carriage  110  is configured to slide within the cavity along the length of the pile. 
     In still another variant, the carriage is a roller carriage, comprising two pairs of lateral rollers  115 , a pair of rail rollers  120 , and a pair of groove rollers  125 . Two plates  130  and a stainless steel bar  135  serve as a structural framework for connecting all the rollers on the carriage. Optionally a cleat  140  may be connected to the plates  130 . The rollers are positioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the length of the cavity. The cleat  140  may be connected to the carriage and disposed outside the outer boundary  35  of the pile. When the pile serves as a structural element for dock, boats may tie to the cleat and the cleat may slide up and down the pile pursuant to the rise and fall of the tide, thus preventing the cleat from becoming out of reach of the boat. 
     In yet a further variant of the pile, the cavity  85  runs along substantially the entire length of the pile, and the throat  100  is formed by two side walls that lead into the cavity. The pile includes a roller carriage  110  disposed in the cavity  85  and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respective dimensions of the carriage  110  and the cavity walls. The carriage  110  is configured to slide within the cavity  85  along the length of the pile. The carriage  110  may comprise a plurality of wheels or rollers, wherein one wheel  115  is optionally positioned on the carriage  85  and sized to roll along the floor of the length of the cavity. One wheel  125  is optionally configured to roll against a wall of the throat  100 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the carriage may optionally have a cleat  140  connected to the carriage and disposed outside the outer boundary  35  of the pile. Optionally, the pile may have a roller collar ring  145  for preventing the cleat  140  from traveling past a predetermined point. Optionally, a bumper bearing cavity  150  may be formed by the roller collar ring for placement of a bumper  155 . 
     In another variant, referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , the pile optionally has a pile tip  160  that is generally conical in shape and configured to engage an end  165  of the first and second side portions such that a tip  170  of the pile tip points away from the side portions. Optionally, the pile as a mechanism between the pile tip and the side portions for locking the pile tip to the side portions. Optionally the mechanism may comprise the a slot  175  and a male piece  180  for being received in to the slot  175 . 
     In another variant, a system for constructing a pile  10  is provided. Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  13 , the system comprises at least two side portions  15  configured as a section of a pile  10  having a length and comprised generally as a curved surface having a substantially constant cross section along the entire length of the side portion  15 . A side portion connector  200  is configured for slidably interlocking with the side portions to form a hollow pile. 
     In a further variant, the system comprises two side portion connectors  200  and two side portions  15 . The side portions  15  are identical in shape and at least one side portion connector  200  has a channel  85  and wherein the each side portion is configured to slidably interlock with a side portion connector on either side of the side portion such that four junctions  30  are formed interior to an outer boundary  35  of the pile by assembling the two side portions with the two side portion connectors. 
     In still a further variant if the system, the channel is disposed on the side portion connector and comprises a throat  100  that leads to a cavity  85  and both run along the side portion connector  200 . The side portion connector  200  is configured such that when the pile is assembled, the cavity  85  is disposed interior to the outer boundary  35  of the pile. 
     In yet a further variant of the system, one side portion connector  200  has a groove  50  that runs along the side portion connector  200 . The side portion connector is configured such that when the pile is assembled, the groove  50  is disposed interior to the outer boundary  35  of the pile. The pile may be formed with various combinations of the side portion connectors shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  depending on the needs of the builder. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pile side portions and pile side portion connectors described herein are preferably formed by a pultrusion process. The pile is constructed so such that the sides of the pile are parallel. This type of construction would prevent the effects of ice-jacking if the piling is used in dock construction. The piling described herein may be used in marina construction, waterfront development, on and off shore residential property, bridges, utility poles, and many other construction applications. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise. 
     Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. 
     Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future. 
     A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. 
     The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed across multiple locations. 
     It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements. 
     Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.