Modular float drum system

Claim 2

A modular float drum assembly for use in supporting a floating structure comprising: at least two one-piece, plastic molded float drum modules, each drum module having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; rigidizing means integrally formed in each module to rigidize each module against deformation, said rigidizing means including a generally flat first wall segment contiguous with said top wall, a generally flat second wall segment spaced a distance away from said first wall segment and contiguous with one of said side walls, and an end wall segment interconnecting said first wall segment with said second wall segment, said first and second wall segments having essentially identical openings formed therein and aligned with one another, and an interconnecting wall segment extending about at least a portion of the peripheral edge of said openings and also interconnecting said first and second wall segments whereby a double wall construction rigidizes said module when fasteners securing said module to said floating structure are applied through said openings; and module securing means formed in one of the side walls of each module for releasably joining one module to another module in an aligned relationship where the modules are in side-by-side physical contact with one another.

Claim 3

A modular float drum assembly for use in supporting a floating structure comprising: at least two one-piece, plastic molded float drum modules, each drum module having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; rigidizing means integrally formed in each module to rigidize each module against deformation, said rigidizing means including a generally flat first wall segment contiguous with said top wall, a generally flat second wall segment spaced a distance away from said first wall segment and contiguous with one of said side walls, and an end wall segment interconnecting said first wall segment with said second wall segment, whereby a double wall construction rigidizes said module; and module securing means formed in one of the side walls of each module for releasably joining one module to another module in side-by-side aligned relationship, said module securing means including rigidizing means formed in adjacent side walls whereby a double wall construction is provided.

Claim 4

A modular float drum assembly for use in supporting a floating structure comprising: at least two one-piece, plastic molded float drum modules, each drum module having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; rigidizing means integrally formed in each module to rigidize each module against deformation, said rigidizing means including a generally flat first wall segment contiguous with said top wall, a generally flat second wall segment spaced a distance away from said first wall segment and contiguous with one of said side walls, and an end wall segment interconnecting said first wall segment with said second wall segment, whereby a double wall construction rigidizes said module; and module securing means formed in one of the side walls of each module for releasably joining one module to another module in side-by-side aligned relationship, said module securing means including rigidizing means formed in adjacent side walls whereby a double wall construction is provided.

Claim 5

A plastic float drum module for use in supporting a floating dock structure comprising: at least two one-piece float drum modules, each drum module having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; each module having first rigidizing means including generally flat first wall segments contiguous with the sides of said top wall, generally flat second wall segments spaced a distance away from said first wall segments and contiguous with two of said side walls depending from opposite sides of said top wall, and end wall segments, each end wall segment interconnecting a first wall segment with an adjacent second wall segment, whereby a double wall construction rigidizes each module; and second rigidizing means formed at least at one intersection of adjacent side walls of each module and having at least one opening extending through said adjacent side walls for releasably mating one module to another module in vertically aligned side-by-side relationship, said intersection having a double wall construction.

Claim 6

A plastic float drum module for use in supporting a floating dock structure comprising: at least two one-piece float drum modules, each drum module having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; each module having first rigidizing means including generally flat first wall segments contiguous with the sides of said top wall, generally flat second wall segments spaced a distance away from said first wall segments and contiguous with two of said side walls depending from opposite sides of said top wall, and end wall segments, each end wall segment interconnecting a first wall segment with an adjacent second wall segment, whereby a double wall construction rigidizes each module; and second rigidizing means formed at least at one intersection of adjacent side walls of each module and having at least one opening extending through said adjacent side walls for releasably mating one module to another module in vertically aligned side-by-side relationship, said intersection having a double wall construction.

Claim 7

A modular float drum assembly for use in supporting a floating dock structure comprising: at least first and second one-piece plastic molded float drums, each molded drum having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; rigidizing means integrally formed adjacent said top wall of each drum for securing said drums to said floating structure; and connecting means for releasably mating in side-by-side physical contact the face surface of one of said side walls of only said first drum with the face surface of one of said side walls of only said second drum whereby said molded plastic first and second drums can be joined with said top wall of said first drum being in generally the same plane as the top wall of said second drum.

Claim 8

A modular float drum assembly for use in supporting a floating dock structure comprising: at least first and second one-piece plastic molded float drums, each molded drum having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; rigidizing means integrally formed adjacent said top wall of each drum for securing said drums to said floating structure; and connecting means for releasably mating in side-by-side physical contact the face surface of one of said side walls of only said first drum with the face surface of one of said side walls of only said second drum whereby said molded plastic first and second drums can be joined with said top wall of said first drum being in generally the same plane as the top wall of said second drum.

Claim 9

A modular float drum assembly for use in supporting a floating structure comprising: at least two one-piece float drum modules, each drum module having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; each drum module having a load bearing, rigidizing flange section at opposite sides of said top wall, said flange section including a generally flat top wall segment, a generally flat bottom wall segment, and a contiguous edge wall segment at the ends of said flange's top wall segment and bottom wall segment to provide a spacing therebetween whereby the rigidity of said float module is increased, said first side wall of said drum module spaced inwardly from at least a portion of said edge wall segment of one of said flanges and contiguous with said bottom wall segment of one of said flanges, said second side wall of said drum module similarly spaced inwardly over at least a portion of said edge wall segment of the other flange and contiguous with said bottom wall segment of said other flange; and module connecting means for releasably mating one of said side walls of one drum module with the same one of said side walls of another drum module, such that said one side wall is in substantial physical contact with said one side wall of said other module along the length thereof, whereby the modules are mated in a vertically aligned side-by-side manner.

Claim 10

A modular float drum assembly for use in supporting a floating structure comprising: at least two one-piece float drum modules, each drum module having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls extending between said top and bottom walls to define a buoyant enclosure contained therein; each drum module having a load bearing, rigidizing flange section at opposite sides of said top wall, said flange section including a generally flat top wall segment, a generally flat bottom wall segment, and a contiguous edge wall segment at the ends of said flange's top wall segment and bottom wall segment to provide a spacing therebetween whereby the rigidity of said float module is increased, said first side wall of said drum module spaced inwardly from at least a portion of said edge wall segment of one of said flanges and contiguous with said bottom wall segment of one of said flanges, said second side wall of said drum module similarly spaced inwardly over at least a portion of said edge wall segment of the other flange and contiguous with said bottom wall segment of said other flange; and module connecting means for releasably mating one of said side walls of one drum module with the same one of said side walls of another drum module, such that said one side wall is in substantial physical contact with said one side wall of said other module along the length thereof, whereby the modules are mated in a vertically aligned side-by-side manner.

Claim 11

A polyethylene float drum module for use in a modular float drum assembly to buoyantly support a structure comprising: a box-like structure having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls defining a buoyant enclosure surrounded thereby; said top wall having at two of its opposite sides a load bearing flange section, said flange section having generally flat top wall segments, generally flat bottom wall segments and contiguous edge wall segments therebetween at the ends of said flanges' flat wall segments to define a pair of rigid flange sections, each having a double wall segment, said top wall further defined by a plurality of channel shaped, alternately spaced, first and second ribbed sections formed in said top wall, said first ribbed sections extending above said flange's top wall segment a greater distance than said second ribbed sections; said first and second side walls extending away from said top wall and intersecting said bottom wall, said first and second side walls having a plurality of channel shaped, alternatively spaced third and fourth ribbed sections extending from said flange section to said bottom wall whereby said module is rigidized by said ribbed sections and said side flange sections; and fastening means associated with one of said side walls to attach one module to another in a releasably mated, flange aligned, side-by-side relationship by bringing, the side wall of one module into confronting, physical contact with the side wall of another module.

Claim 12

A polyethylene float drum module for use in a modular float drum assembly to buoyantly support a structure comprising: a box-like structure having a top wall, a bottom wall and contiguous first, second, third and fourth side walls defining a buoyant enclosure surrounded thereby; said top wall having at two of its opposite sides a load bearing flange section, said flange section having generally flat top wall segments, generally flat bottom wall segments and contiguous edge wall segments therebetween at the ends of said flanges' flat wall segments to define a pair of rigid flange sections, each having a double wall segment, said top wall further defined by a plurality of channel shaped, alternately spaced, first and second ribbed sections formed in said top wall, said first ribbed sections extending above said flange's top wall segment a greater distance than said second ribbed sections; said first and second side walls extending away from said top wall and intersecting said bottom wall, said first and second side walls having a plurality of channel shaped, alternatively spaced third and fourth ribbed sections extending from said flange section to said bottom wall whereby said module is rigidized by said ribbed sections and said side flange sections; and fastening means associated with one of said side walls to attach one module to another in a releasably mated, flange aligned, side-by-side relationship by bringing, the side wall of one module into confronting, physical contact with the side wall of another module.

Claim 13

A floating dock system comprising: a main walkway including first and second longitudinally extending, generally parallel side stringers having a length approximately equal to the desired length of said walkway, at least one transversely extending cross-brace in between and secured to said stringers, a plurality of transversely extending slats secured to the top side of said stringers, means to secure one end of said stringers to ground to prevent said dock from floating away; and a modular float drum assembly secured to the bottom of said stringers to maintain said slats out of the water, said assembly including at least a first and second float drum module, each drum module having a ribbed top wall, sidewalls depending from said top wall, a rigidizing flange section at one end of said top wall, dock fastening means securing the bottom side of one stringer to said flange section of one drum module and the bottom side of the other stringer to said flange section of the other drum module, and module fastening means securing a side wall of one drum module to a side wall of the other drum module so that each of the joined side walls is in at least partial co-planar contact with one another in an aligned side-by-side relationship.

Claim 14

A floating dock system comprising: a main walkway including first and second longitudinally extending, generally parallel side stringers having a length approximately equal to the desired length of said walkway, at least one transversely extending cross-brace in between and secured to said stringers, a plurality of transversely extending slats secured to the top side of said stringers, means to secure one end of said stringers to ground to prevent said dock from floating away; and a modular float drum assembly secured to the bottom of said stringers to maintain said slats out of the water, said assembly including at least a first and second float drum module, each drum module having a ribbed top wall, sidewalls depending from said top wall, a rigidizing flange section at one end of said top wall, dock fastening means securing the bottom side of one stringer to said flange section of one drum module and the bottom side of the other stringer to said flange section of the other drum module, and module fastening means securing a side wall of one drum module to a side wall of the other drum module so that each of the joined side walls is in at least partial co-planar contact with one another in an aligned side-by-side relationship.