Modular dock float

Claim 2

In a floatable modular dock having a plurality of interconnected adjacent dock sections for floatation of a body of water having a bottom, means for interconnecting adjacent dock sections, comprising: first and second mating connectors for mounting to first and second adjacent dock sections, respectively, said first and second mating connectors having portions which interfit with each other when in mating relation to prevent relative vertical motion between the adjacent dock sections to which they are connected; and an elongated rigid member of sufficient length for having a portion for embedment in the bottom and another portion extending vertically therefrom to slidably engage both of the first and second mating connectors when in mating relation at a point spaced laterally from both adjacent dock sections, said other portion of the rigid member when slidably engaged with both of the mating connectors, securing them together in mating relation and restraining the adjacent dock sections to which they are connected from motion along the surface of the water while allowing vertical motion of both connected adjacent dock sections along the length of the member.

Claim 3

The dock section connecting means of claim 1 in which the interfitting portions of each of said first and second mating connectors has mating means, the mating means of said first connector interfitting with the mating means at said second connector and each of said mating means having an opening therethrough with an axis perpendicular to the dock section which is aligned with the opening at each of the other mating means when the first and second connectors are in mating relation for concurrently receiving said other portion of the elongated member to secure together the mating connectors.

Claim 4

In a floatable modular dock having a plurality of interconnected adjacent dock sections for floatation on a body of water having a bottom, means for interconnecting adjacent dock sections, comprising: mating connectors on adjacent dock sections, each set of said mating connectors including a first portion secured to a dock section and extending outwardly from a side thereof, a second portion secured to an adjacent dock section and extending outwardly from a side thereof, a pair of rings at the end of the first extending portion and having a space therebetween, a third ring at the end of the second extending portion, said third ring being receivable in the space between the pair of rings when the connectors are brought into mating relation whereby vertical axes of all three rings coincide, the mating relation of said three rings preventing relative motion of the adjacent connected dock sections along said coincident axes, and an elongated rigid member for both securing together the mating connectors and for restraining the connected dock sections from motion along the surface of the water while allowing motion of the mating connectors secured thereby along the length thereof.

Claim 5

In a floatable modular dock having a plurality of interconnected adjacent dock sections for floatation on a body of water having a bottom, means for interconnecting adjacent dock sections, comprising: mating connectors on adjacent dock sections, each set of said mating connectors including a first portion secured to a dock section and extending outwardly from a side thereof, a second portion secured to an adjacent dock section and extending outwardly from a side thereof, a pair of rings at the end of the first extending portion and having a space therebetween, a third ring at the end of the second extending portion, said third ring being receivable in the space between the pair of rings when the connectors are brought into mating relation whereby vertical axes of all three rings coincide, the mating relation of said three rings preventing relative motion of the adjacent connected dock sections along said coincident axes, and an elongated rigid member for both securing together the mating connectors and for restraining the connected dock sections from motion along the surface of the water while allowing motion of the mating connectors secured thereby along the length thereof.

Claim 6

The dock of claim 3 wherein said elongated member includes a rod having one portion received through all three rings to join the connectors and another portion for being embedded in the bottom to secure the dock sections to thE bottom while allowing for vertical movement of said dock sections with respect thereto.

Claim 7

In a floatable rigid dock having a plurality of sides respectively meeting at a corresponding number of corners, means to secure the dock for preventing pivotal motion thereof, comprising: connector means located adjacent each corner and secured to the dock, each connector having an axis substantially perpendicular to the dock; and an elongated member associated with each connector having a first portion secured to the bottom of a body of water in which the dock is floating and a second portion extending along said axis, each connector being slidably secured to its associated elongated member portion for only vertical motion along the length thereof thereby restraining each side of the dock from other than parallel vertical motion and including means for mating in interfitting relation with a like connector means of another dock for securing the docks together to a common elongated member.

Claim 8

In a floatable rigid dock having a plurality of sides respectively meeting at a corresponding number of corners, means to secure the dock for preventing pivotal motion thereof, comprising: connector means located adjacent each corner and secured to the dock, each connector having an axis substantially perpendicular to the dock; and an elongated member associated with each connector having a first portion secured to the bottom of a body of water in which the dock is floating and a second portion extending along said axis, each connector being slidably secured to its associated elongated member portion for only vertical motion along the length thereof thereby restraining each side of the dock from other than parallel vertical motion and including means for mating in interfitting relation with a like connector means of another dock for securing the docks together to a common elongated member.

Claim 9

In a floatable rigid dock having a plurality of sides respectively meeting at a corresponding number of corners, means to secure the dock for preventing pivotal motion thereof, comprising: connector means located adjacent each corner and secured to the dock, each connector having an axis substantially perpendicular to the dock; and an elongated member associated with each connector having a first portion secured to the bottom of a body of water in which the dock is floating and a second portion extending along said axis, each connector being slidably secured to its associated elongated member portion for only vertical motion along the length thereof thereby restraining each side of the dock from other than parallel vertical motion and adapted to mate with a like connector means of an adjacent dock for securing the docks together to a common elongated member, one of said connector means having first and second spaced members for slidably engaging said vertical member and the other connector means having a third member for slidably engaging said vertical member and disposed between said first and second spaced members when said connector means are in mating relation, said mating relation of said three members preventing relative vertical motion between said adjacent connected dock sections along said vertical member.

Claim 10

In a floatable rigid dock having a plurality of sides respectively meeting at a corresponding number of corners, means to secure the dock for preventing pivotal motion thereof, comprising: connector means located adjacent each corner and secured to the dock, each connector having an axis substantially perpendicular to the dock; and an elongated member associated with each connector having a first portion secured to the bottom of a body of water in which the dock is floating and a second portion extending along said axis, each connector being slidably secured to its associated elongated member portion for only vertical motion along the length thereof thereby restraining each side of the dock from other than parallel vertical motion and adapted to mate with a like connector means of an adjacent dock for securing the docks together to a common elongated member, one of said connector means having first and second spaced members for slidably engaging said vertical member and the other connector means having a third member for slidably engaging said vertical member and disposed between said first and second spaced members when said connector means are in mating relation, said mating relation of said three members preventing relative vertical motion between said adjacent connected dock sections along said vertical member.