The present invention relates to dollies or trolleys useful in transporting objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dolly for lifting and transporting a dock structure.
Removable docks or piers are often used in climate regions where, in the winter or off-season, the weather is cold enough to freeze surface waters around the dock. Once frozen, ice has a tendency to shift over the course of the season. If a dock is left in the ice, several different types of damage can occur, including lifting damage, where the dock is actually forced upward by fluctuating water levels, as well as expansion damage, which can exert large amounts of pressure on the decking and adjoining pilings. Thus, it is prudent to remove docks from water before the water freezes.
To that end, roll-in docks have become increasingly popular to aid in reducing the cost and effort needed to install the dock at the beginning of the season and remove the dock at the end of the season. Roll-in docks generally have an axle with wheels coupled to the axle on the lake-side end of the dock (which enters the lake first when installing). With such a design, much of the weight is forced down on the axle and wheels, thus making the entire dock structure rollable and easier to move. However, because of its weight, the dock typically requires a dolly or mechanical means for lifting and transporting the opposite, non-wheeled side.
Currently, solutions for lifting and transporting roll-in docks include a dolly utilizing a lifting plate that slides under the non-wheeled end of the dock in combination with a winch to operate the lifting and towing. Further, myriad human-powered dollies exist, but most are adapted to operate on objects like boats, snowmobiles, plates, and skids, etc. Using these dollies in dock applications could lead to cumbersome and potentially dangerous results, especially with the wide variety of dock sizes and shapes. Therefore, there is a need for a human-powered dolly adapted to lift and transport roll-in docks of varying sizes.
The device of the present application substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry. The dock dolly provides a mechanical means for easily lifting the lakeshore end of a roll-in dock in order to transport the dock into or out of the water.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the dock dolly requires only human force in order to lift and transport a roll-in dock. The dolly is designed such that when the engaging members engage the dock, the dock handle is in a generally vertical position. Only a fraction of the weight of the dock is needed to be applied to the handle in order to transfer the majority of the dock weight to the axle, thus lifting the dock and allowing it to roll easily. Further, the handle is adjustable in height to allow for increased or decreased leverage, depending on the size and positioning of the dock, as well as the environment in which the dock sits.
Additionally, the engaging members are disposable adjacent the respective sides of the dock and engaging the dock from that disposition. As result of employing side-engaging members, the dock dolly is capable of lifting and transporting many different sizes of docks. In an embodiment, the engaging members are easily slidable along the axle, thus allowing for an easy transition to a loading position wherein the dolly is engaged with the dock. Further, a square axle ensures that the two engaging arms extend from the axle at the same angle, thus providing a consistent lift between the two arms. Also, the square axle provides additional resistance against engaging arm slippage, should the integrity of the mechanical fastener that joins each arm to the axle be compromised.
In another preferred embodiment, the engaging members have a fixed distance apart and employ an aperture for capturing a bar that is extendable form side to side of the dock frame. The bar is long enough that it is capable of extending through both of the apertures.
Further, the dolly provides slip-free lifting and transporting. Each engaging arm comprises an inward-facing pin that provides the lifting point between the dolly and the dock. Further, each inward-facing pin comprises a circular lip at the end of the pin so that each engaging arm remains engaged with the dock while the dolly is lifting, thus preventing any potential slipping.
Also, the dock dolly of the present invention provides a means for easily pushing a roll-in dock. In one embodiment, each engaging arm comprises a push bracket that extends vertically from the distal end of the arm. The two parallel push brackets, when coupled with a board, create an ideal backstop for resting the end of the dock in order to push it. In another embodiment, the push bracket extends from an intermediate area along the engaging arm.
The dock dolly of the present invention is also adapted for use with an all-terrain or other vehicle, or a winch. The handle comprises one or more slotted flanges for coupling a cable from the dolly to the vehicle or winch. In one embodiment, a single slotted flange is affixed at the center of the handle. In another embodiment, two slotted flanges are affixed at the same distance from the respective ends of the handle. It is the vehicle or winch, via the coupled cable, that provides the downward and backward or forward force for moving the dolly and subsequently the dock.
Further, the dock dolly of the present invention has wheels that are specifically designed for lakeside environments. In an embodiment, the wheels are made of lightweight plastic, thus making the dolly easy to carry. Further, the tread area is wide and textured just like a dock wheel, making the dolly easily rollable on sand and other lakeside surfaces.
The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a is a front elevational view of the scope of positioning of the arms of the dock dolly of
b is a front elevational view of the arms of the dock dolly of
a is a side elevational view of the dock dolly of
b is a side elevational view of the dock dolly of
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
A dock dolly of the present invention is shown in one embodiment generally at 100 in
In one embodiment, each of the wheel assemblies 108 has a circular outer rod 116 that fits inside the wheel 114. The circular outer rod 116 is coupled to a respective inner squared tube (not shown) that fits inside the axle 102. The inner squared tube is pinned by pin 115 inside the axle 102 to hold the wheel assembly 108 in place. Washers 110a and 110b on each side of the wheel 114 prevent the wheel 114 from slipping off the axle 102. Inner washer 110b is fixed to the wheel assembly 108 along circular outer rod 116. Outside washer 110a is coupled to wheel assembly with pin 112 and prevents outer washer 110a from falling off.
Handle 104 has uprights 118 positioned on opposite ends of axle 102 in order to couple handle 104 to axle 102. Each upright 118 has an upper member 120 and a lower member 122 in order to provide adjustable height to handle 104 relative to axle 102. Lower members 122 are rigidly coupled to axle 102 at joints 128 at opposite ends of axle 102. Upper members 120 are rigidly coupled to handle 104 at joints 130 at opposite ends of handle 104. Both upper members 120 and lower member 122 have an apertured face 134 and a continuous face 132. In one embodiment of one upright 118, apertured face 134 and continuous face 132 are perpendicular to each other. In such an embodiment, the plane of continuous face 132 of upper member 120 can couple to handle 104 and the aperture faces 134 of upper member 120 and lower member 122 are then aligned flush to each other, with continuous faces 132 pointed opposite each other. Fasteners 126 positioned through apertures 124 allow for the rigid coupling of upper member 120 to lower member 122 and thereby rigidly couple handle 104 to axle 102. Handle 104 also has one or more slotted flanges 136 rigidly coupled to handle 104 for attaching a cable to dolly 100. Slotted flange 136 has flange 138 and aperture 140 within flange 138 for passing a cable.
First and second engaging members 106a and 106b couple to axle 102 by utilizing squared glands 148. The interior dimensions of the squared gland 148 are shaped just larger than the outside dimensions of the axle 102 such that each of the respective inner sides of squared gland 148 make flush contact with a respective outside side of axle 102. Fastener 150 is disposed in a threaded bore (not shown) defined in gland 148 and thereby can be brought to compressively engage the axle 102, thereby securing squared gland 148 to axle 102. By this means, the first and second engaging members 106a and 106b are secured to axle 102, by exerting force through squared gland 148 onto axle 102. Conversely, once loosened, fastener 150 releases squared gland 148 and thereby allows first and second engaging members 106a and 106b to slide freely along axle 102. In an optional embodiment, no fasteners 150 are needed.
First engaging member 106a has a transverse projecting pin 142a near the distal end of first engaging member 106a that is directed inward towards second engaging member 106b. Transverse projecting pin 142a has a circular lip 144a at the distal end. Further, first engaging member 106a has an orthogonally disposed projecting pin 146a that extends orthogonally from first engaging member 106a.
Similar to first engaging member 106a, second engaging member 106b has a transverse projecting pin 142b near the distal end of second engaging member 106b that is directed inward towards first engaging member 106a. Transverse projecting pin 142b has a circular lip 144b at the distal end. Also, second engaging member 106b has an orthogonally disposed projecting pin 146b that extends orthogonally from first engaging member 106b.
Transverse projecting pins 142a and 142b, in combination with circular lips 144a and 144b are utilized in engaging dock 200 for lifting and transporting dock 200. Transverse projecting pins 142a and 142b extend through apertures defined by side members 202 of the dock 200, and circular lips 144a and 144b engage the inner margins of the side members 202 and thereby ensure the dock 20 does not become disengaged during lifting or transport. Orthogonally projecting pins 146a and 146b are utilized in engaging dock 200 for pushing dock 200.
In operation, according to the first embodiment of dolly 100 as shown in
Referring to
To push a dock 200 (translation to the right in
A dock dolly according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 300 in
The axle 302 of dolly 300 is preferably round. As such, wheel assemblies 308, including wheels 314 can be directly coupled to axle 302 without a separate wheel bracket assembly as noted above.
Handle 304 has uprights 318 positioned on opposite ends of axle 302 in order to couple handle 304 to axle 302. Each upright 318 has an upper member 320 and a lower member 322 in order to provide adjustable height to handle 304 relative to axle 302. Lower members 322 are rigidly coupled to axle 302 at joints 328 at opposite distal ends of axle 302. Upper members 320 are rigidly coupled to handle 304 at joints 330 at opposite distal ends of handle 304. Both upper members 320 and lower member 322 have an apertured face 334 and a continuous face 332. In one embodiment of one upright 318, apertured face 334 and continuous face 332 are perpendicular to each other. In such an embodiment, the planes of both continuous faces 332 and aperture faces 334 of upper member 320 are aligned flush and overlapping the corresponding continuous faces 332 and aperture faces 334 of lower member 322. In such an embodiment, the apertured face 334 can couple to handle 304. Fasteners 326 positioned through apertures 324 allow for the rigid coupling of upper member 320 to lower member 322 and therefore handle 304 to axle 302. Handle 304 also has one or more hooks 336 rigidly coupled to handle 304 for attaching a cable to dolly 300.
First and second engaging members 306a and 306b are rigidly coupled at opposite ends of axle 302. Each of the engaging members 306a and 306b includes an aperture 305 defined proximate the distal mend thereof. Each aperture 305 includes an aperture opening 307. The aperture 305 is defined by the following noted structure. Each of first and second engaging members 306a and 306b has an orthogonal projection 342 at the distal end of a respective engaging member 306a, 306b opposite axle 302. Extending from orthogonal projections 342 on each of first and second engaging members 306a and 306b are transverse projections 344 that project back toward axle 302 in the same plane as first and second engaging members 306a and 306b.
Lifting rod 400 extends from first engaging member 306a through the dock frame 202 and dock frame chords 206, under decking material 204, to second engaging member 306b. In one embodiment, lifting rod 400 is made of heavy duty steel. Lifting rod 400 provides the contacting surface for the dock frame 202. The system of parallel engaging members 306a and 306b, orthogonal projections 342 transverse projections 344 and orthogonal members 346, coupled with lifting rod 400, provide the means for lifting and transporting dock 200. Also, each of first and second engaging members 306a and 306b has an orthogonal member 346 located intermediate each of first and second engaging members 306a and 306b. Orthogonal members 346 are utilized in conjunction with a suitable board as noted above for engaging dock 200 for applying a generally horizontal pushing force to the dock 200.
In operation, according to an embodiment of dolly 300 as shown in
Referring to
To assist in pushing a dock 200 (translation to the right in
The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are within the claims. In addition, although aspects of the present invention have been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.
Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the invention may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the invention may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the invention may comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.
Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims that are included in the documents are incorporated by reference into the claims of the present application. The claims of any of the documents are, however, incorporated as part of the disclosure herein, unless specifically excluded. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.
For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112, sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,801 filed Feb. 12, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61303801 | Feb 2010 | US |