Floating dock structure and method for fabricating the same

Claim 1

In a dock structure: a walkway to be supported above the surface of a body of water, said walking including a plurality of rigid structural members each having a generally C-shaped cross sectional shape formed by a web having two parallel edges and flanges extending from respective said edges in perpendicular integral relation to said web, said web having first and second rows of web holes therein, said rows being disposed on opposite sides of the center line of said web in symmetry of the center line, the web holes in each said row being disposed at uniform intervals and the web holes in said first row being transversely aligned with web holes in said second row, said flanges each having a row of flange holes therein, said flange rows being uniformly spaced from said web edges, the flange holes being uniformly spaced apart along said rows and the flange holes in one said row being transversely aligned with the flange holes in the other said row, said structural members being assembled in a rectangular configuration to form a rectangular frame, there being at least first and second said structural members disposed in parallel spaced apart relation and constituting side members and at least two structural said members extending between said side members in perpendicular relation thereto and constituting transverse members, the webs of said transverse members having at the ends thereof integral fastening plates which extend perpendicularly of said webs and having plate holes disposed for registry with said web holes in said side member, a plurality of fasteners extending through said plate holes and said web holes in said side members for joining said side members and said transverse members in rectangular configuration, a gusset plate for reinforcing the intersection of said transverse member with said side member, said gusset plate having first and second mutually perpendicular rows of gusset holes that are spaced at intervals for registry with said flange holes in adjacent said structural members, a plurality of gusset fasteners extending through said gusset holes and said flange holes for joining said gussets to said flanges, and a rigid sheet secured to said rectangular frame remote from said gussets to form a walkway surface.

Claim 10

A method for fabricating a floating dock structure of the type having a walkway to be supported above the surface of a body of water and comprising the steps of providing a plurality of rigid structural members each having an identical generally C-shaped cross sectional shape formed by a web having opposite parallel edges and an integral flange extending perpendicularly from each of the edges, forming first and second rows of web holes in the webs in uniform spaced relation with the rows symmetrical of the center line of the web and with individual holes in each of the rows transversely aligned with each other, forming in each of the flanges a row of uniformly spaced apart flange holes with individual holes in one flange being transversely aligned with individual holes in the other flange, supporting a first one of the C-shaped structural members on a horizontal surface so that the flanges extend upward from the web, placing at least second and third C-shaped structural members on the first member in upstanding relation thereto with the flanges of the first member and the flanges of the second and third members in coplanar relationship, providing first and second gusset plates each of which has two mutually perpendicular rows of mounting holes that are spaced from one another by a distance equivalent to that between the flange holes in the C-shaped structural members, fastening the gussets between the first member and the second and third members by registering the mounting holes with the flange holes and installing fasteners in the registered holes, placing a fourth C-shaped structural member on the upper ends of the second and third members with the flanges in coplanar relation, providing third and fourth gussets substantially identical to the first and second gussets, and fastening the third and fourth gussets at the intersection of the fourth member and the second and third members by registering the gusset mounting holes with the flange holes and installing fasteners through the registered holes and fastening a rigid plate over said fastened C-shape structural members to form a walkway surface.

Claim 11

A method for fabricating a floating dock structure of the type having a walkway to be supported above the surface of a body of water and comprising the steps of providing a plurality of rigid structural members each having an identical generally C-shaped cross sectional shape formed by a web having opposite parallel edges and an integral flange extending perpendicularly from each of the edges, forming first and second rows of web holes in the webs in uniform spaced relation with the rows symmetrical of the center line of the web and with individual holes in each of the rows transversely aligned with each other, forming in each of the flanges a row of uniformly spaced apart flange holes with individual holes in one flange being transversely aligned with individual holes in the other flange, supporting a first one of the C-shaped structural members on a horizontal surface so that the flanges extend upward from the web, placing at least second and third C-shaped structural members on the first member in upstanding relation thereto with the flanges of the first member and the flanges of the second and third members in coplanar relationship, providing first and second gusset plates each of which has two mutually perpendicular rows of mounting holes that are spaced from one another by a distance equivalent to that between the flange holes in the C-shaped structural members, fastening the gussets between the first member and the second and third members by registering the mounting holes with the flange holes and installing fasteners in the registered holes, placing a fourth C-shaped structural member on the upper ends of the second and third members with the flanges in coplanar relation, providing third and fourth gussets substantially identical to the first and second gussets, and fastening the third and fourth gussets at the intersection of the fourth member and the second and third members by registering the gusset mounting holes with the flange holes and installing fasteners through the registered holes and fastening a rigid plate over said fastened C-shape structural members to form a walkway surface.