US3779192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular concrete floatation unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-09
•
Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1991-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A modular floatation unit useful in the construction of floating piers, boat houses, work platforms, docks, marinas, and the like, readily articulated and of particular utility in water bodies with frequent level changes. The modular floatation unit is comprised of the combination of a reinforced concrete channel slab having an upper flat side and a hollow or concave side, blocks of cellular foam or plastic wrapped in a protective covering or coated with a protective film packed within the hollow or concave side of the said slab, and an open wood frame secured to the underside of the concrete slab to hold the wrapped or coated blocks of cellular foam or plastic in place. The center of gravity of the modular floatation unit is located at a point wherein, in water, the upper flat side of the concrete slab will float above the surface, and provide a deck or walkway as well as protection for the wrapped blocks of cellular foam or plastic. The wood frame will be submerged where it will protect the blocks of cellular foam or plastic against impacts, and it is itself protected against deterioration.
Inventors
- 👤 P Gonzalez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:24
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/34; B63B35/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A modular floatation unit useful in the construction over water of floating piers, boat houses, work platforms, docks, marinas, and the like, comprising the combination of: a reinforced concrete channel slab having an upper flat side, a maximum of two parallel aligned side walls secured to the edges of said upper flat side, enclosing end walls and up to one intermediate wall providing a box-like member with a hollow underside, said side and end walls extending below the surface of said water when said floatation unit is floated, and an open bottom, cellular plastic foam packed within and completely filling the hollow underside of said reinforced concrete channel slab, and an open wood frame secured to the under-side of the concrete channel slab which holds the cellular plastic foam in place within the hollow under-side of the concrete channel slab, the center of gravitY of the aggregate structure which is located at such point that the flat upper surface of the concrete channel can be floated above the surface of the water, while the wood frame lies totally submerged in the water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A modular floatation unit useful in the construction over water of floating piers, boat houses, work platforms, docks, marinas, and the like, comprising the combination of: a reinforced concrete channel slab having an upper flat side, a maximum of two parallel aligned side walls secured to the edges of said upper flat side, enclosing end walls and up to one intermediate wall providing a box-like member with a hollow underside, said side and end walls extending below the surface of said water when said floatation unit is floated, and an open bottom, cellular plastic foam packed within and completely filling the hollow underside of said reinforced concrete channel slab, and an open wood frame secured to the under-side of the concrete channel slab which holds the cellular plastic foam in place within the hollow under-side of the concrete channel slab, the center of gravitY of the aggregate structure which is located at such point that the flat upper surface of the concrete channel can be floated above the surface of the water, while the wood frame lies totally submerged in the water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wood frame is pretreated with a preservative to suppress deterioration due to fungi or other living organisms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cellular plastic foam is comprised of blocks, and the blocks are wrapped with a protective film substantially unreactive to acids, corrosives, detergents, organic solvents, gasoline and the like.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the blocks of cellular plastic foam are of monocellular structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the protective film is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reinforced concrete channel slab constituting a portion of the modular floatation unit is precast, and provided with end walls and side walls, the latter containing openings which lessen the mass of the said slab.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a plurality of the modular floatation units are secured together in parallel relationship by bolts which are passed through the side walls of adjacent units.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of the end walls of the modular floatation unit is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart eye bolts through which a bar can be passed to secure a plurality of modular floatation units together in series.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein an end wall of the modular floatation unit is sloped inwardly and the opposite end wall is vertically oriented.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a plurality of the modular floatation units are secured together in end-to-end relationship via passage of a bar through the said spaced-apart eye bolts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
206 words
A modular floatation unit useful in the construction over water of floating piers, boat houses, work platforms, docks, marinas, and the like, comprising the combination of a reinforced concrete channel slab which includes an uppe flat side, a maximum of two parallel aligned side walls secured to the edges of said upper flat side, enclosing end walls, and an intermediate inner wall in parallel relationship to said end walls which divides the underside of the channel into two compartments in tandem relationship one with regard to the other, said side and end walls extending below the surface of said water when said floatation unit is floated, blocks of cellular plastic foam packed within and completely filling the two com-partments on the under-side of the said reinforced concrete channel slab, and open wood frames secured to the under-side of the concrete channel slab over each of the compartments to hold the blocks of cellular plastic foam in place within said compartments within the concrete channel slab, the center of buoyancy of the modular floatation unit being located such that the flat upper surface of the concrete channel can be floated above the water to provide a deck surface, while the frames are totally submerged within the water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
206 words
A modular floatation unit useful in the construction over water of floating piers, boat houses, work platforms, docks, marinas, and the like, comprising the combination of a reinforced concrete channel slab which includes an uppe flat side, a maximum of two parallel aligned side walls secured to the edges of said upper flat side, enclosing end walls, and an intermediate inner wall in parallel relationship to said end walls which divides the underside of the channel into two compartments in tandem relationship one with regard to the other, said side and end walls extending below the surface of said water when said floatation unit is floated, blocks of cellular plastic foam packed within and completely filling the two com-partments on the under-side of the said reinforced concrete channel slab, and open wood frames secured to the under-side of the concrete channel slab over each of the compartments to hold the blocks of cellular plastic foam in place within said compartments within the concrete channel slab, the center of buoyancy of the modular floatation unit being located such that the flat upper surface of the concrete channel can be floated above the water to provide a deck surface, while the frames are totally submerged within the water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the reinforced concrete channel slab is precast, and the side walls thereof are provided with openings which lessen the mass of the said slab.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the blocks of cellular plastic foam are wrapped with a protective plastic film substantially unreactive to acids, corrosives, detergents, organic solvents, gasoline, and the like.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the outside face of each end wall of the modular floatation unit is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart eye bolts through which a bar can be passed to secure a plurality of the modular floatation units together in series, one end wall of the modular floatation unit is sloped inwardly and the opposite end wall is vertically oriented.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein a plurality of the modular floatation units are bolted together in parallel vIa bolts which pass completely through the width of the said units.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |