Floating dock

Claim 2

In a float structure formed of a plurality of adjacently arranged interconnected float units, each float unit comprising an enclosed, substantially rectangular shell structure fabricated from a concrete material with opposed sides with sidewalls and ends with end walls, a top and a bottom, a means of interconnecting said float unit, comprising: flange structures on said float units comprising a portion of said sidewalls horizontally projecting from said sidewalls and extending the length of said sidewalls, said flange structures having a horizontal top mounting surface and a horizontal bottom mounting surface spaced from said top surface; connection members for connecting at least two of said float units together with ends abutting, said connection members comprising upper stringers mounted against said top mounting surface of said flange structures and lower stringers mounted against said bottom mounting surface of said flange structures, said stringers extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the flange structures of at least two adjacent float units; and, fastening means each vertically extending through said flange structures and the upper and lower stringers for securing said upper stringers, said flange structures and said lower stringers together in compression.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises bolts and nuts which sandwich said upper stringers, said flange structures and said lower stringers together.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fastening means comprises further tubular elements each being embedded in said flange structure extending between said top mounting surface and said bottom mounting surface through which said bolts extend.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tubular elements are secured to structural reinforcing elements imbedded in said flange structure.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 comprising further buffer rails fastened against said upper stringer and said lower stringer.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stringers are fabricated from a wood material.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 having further a lightweight float material wherein said shell structure encompasses said float material.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 comprising further reinforcing straps mounted against said top mounting surface and the bottom mounting surface of said flange structures, said straps extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the flange structures of at least two adjacent float units between said flange structures and said stringers.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 comprising further reinforcing straps imbedded in said concrete shell structure transversely across said float units having a first end portion intersecting the reinforcing straps mounted against the top mounting surface on one side of the float units and a second end portion intersecting the reinforcing straps mounted against the top mounting surface on the other side of the float units.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fastening means extend through said reinforcing straps at said intersections.

Claim 12

A float structure comprising: a plurality of adjacently arranged interconnected float units, each float unit comprising an enclosed, substantially rectangular shell structure with opposed sides with sidewalls and ends with end walls, a top and a bottom; a means of interconnecting said float units, comprising flange structures on said float units having a portion of said sidewalls horizontally projecting from said sidewalls and extending the length of said sidewalls, said flange structures having a horizontal top mounting surface and a horizontal bottom mounting surface spaced from said top surface, connection members for connecting at least two of said float units together with ends abutting, said connection members comprising upper stringers mounted against said top mounting surface of said flange structures and lower stringers mounted against said bottom mounting surface of said flange structures, said stringers extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the flange structures of at least two adjacent float units and fastening means including rod elements each vertically extending through said flange structures between said top mounting surface and said bottom mounting surface and through the upper and lower stringers for securing said upper stringers, said flange structures and said lower stringers together in compression.

Claim 13

A float structure comprising: a plurality of adjacently arranged interconnected float units, each float unit comprising an enclosed, substantially rectangular shell structure with opposed sides with sidewalls and ends with end walls, a top and a bottom; a means of interconnecting said float units, comprising flange structures on said float units having a portion of said sidewalls horizontally projecting from said sidewalls and extending the length of said sidewalls, said flange structures having a horizontal top mounting surface and a horizontal bottom mounting surface spaced from said top surface, connection members for connecting at least two of said float units together with ends abutting, said connection members comprising upper stringers mounted against said top mounting surface of said flange structures and lower stringers mounted against said bottom mounting surface of said flange structures, said stringers extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the flange structures of at least two adjacent float units and fastening means including rod elements each vertically extending through said flange structures between said top mounting surface and said bottom mounting surface and through the upper and lower stringers for securing said upper stringers, said flange structures and said lower stringers together in compression.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fastening means comprises further tubular elements each being embedded in said flange structure extending between said top mounting surface and said bottom mounting surface through which said rod elements extend.