Patent ID: 8176868

Claim:
A coupling to engage and retain two adjacent buoyant marine bodies in a side to side abutting relationship, said coupling comprising: a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, one each on one of said two adjacent buoyant marine bodies; at least said first coupling portion including a downwardly directed receiving recess that includes at least one bearing surface that faces away from a plane of abutment of said two marine bodies and that increases in distance away from said plane of abutment from top to bottom; and a locking bar to be retained by said second coupling portion in a manner to allow it to move vertically thereto and to project from said second coupling portion for engagement with said first coupling portion, said locking bar including a receiving surface to abut with said bearing surface, wherein relative movement of said two marine bodies together causes said locking bar to drop down said receiving recess thereby holding said two marine bodies together, in more restrained juxtaposition, wherein there are two locking bars per recess, a shorter upper locking bar, and a longer lower locking bar.