Patent Application
20090180837
Dock systems are used on bodies of water to secure watercraft and/or facilitate activities including sunbathing, diving, and fishing. Dock systems generally include a platform, a roof, and a support that connects the platform and roof.
The platform generally provides a structural framework for buoyant material and decking. The buoyant material provides floatation for the platform and thus the dock system. The buoyant material may be Styrofoam material, polyethylene containers, drums, or any material known in the art for providing floatation. The decking provides a convenient surface for walking on the platform as well as surface area to accommodate other items on the platform such as storage lockers, chairs, and other equipment associated with water activities. The decking may be wood, aluminum, or any other synthetic material known in the art.
The roof provides shelter from the elements for the dock, equipment, and/or watercraft. In addition, the roof generally provides additional structural support for the platform and remainder of the dock system by dampening wave action across the dock system, thus reducing the wear and tear associated with constant exposure to the environment.
Traditional dock systems are constructed predominantly of wood. Although less expensive to manufacture, docks constructed of wood require substantial maintenance to protect the wood from deterioration caused by constant exposure to the elements. For example, wood surfaces require periodic painting and surface conditioning to maintain the desired appearance and protect the surface from warping and deterioration. Although paint and other chemical preservatives can improve the appearance and extend the life of the wood, the application of paint and chemical preservatives is costly, requires substantial labor, and often produces undesirable environmental effects.
Docks systems may also be constructed of metal. Metal dock systems often include C-shaped frames and trusses designed to maximize strength while reducing weight. The visible C-shaped structural members often present a less desirable aesthetic appearance than structural members made of wood. In addition, the C-shaped structural members create nesting places for birds, insects, and other pests which further decrease the aesthetic appearance of the dock system. Moreover, waste from birds, insects, and other pests often falls on the dock system, watercraft, and equipment stored on the dock system, causing damage and further unsightly appearances.
Although metal dock systems are generally considered stronger and more durable than wood dock systems, metal dock systems typically require more expensive materials and higher manufacturing costs than for wood dock systems. For example, metal dock systems typically require higher skilled labor to cut and assemble the components than for wood dock systems. In addition, metal dock systems typically require expensive and environmentally hazardous paint to prevent rust in a marine environment and maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Therefore the need exists for an improved dock system that lasts longer than a traditional wood dock system, can be constructed and maintained relatively inexpensively, and presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the consumer.
Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
The present invention provides a dock system having a platform. The platform includes a frame member having a top surface and defining an opening and a cross-member inserted into the opening. The cross-member has a dimension approximately equal to the opening. Particular embodiments may further include a stringer having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface of the stringer is proximate to the cross-member, and the second surface of the stringer is approximately coplanar with the top surface of the frame member. The frame member may include first and second segments, wherein the first and second segments define the opening. The first segment may be substantially parallel to the second segment, or the first segment may substantially perpendicular to the second segment.
In additional embodiments, the frame member may be aluminum, and the dock system may further include a roof. The roof may include a truss member that defines an enclosed volume, a first attachment tab connected to the truss member, a second attachment tab connected to the first attachment tab, and a support connected to the second attachment tab. The truss member may also be aluminum.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention provides a dock system having a roof. The roof includes a truss member that defines an enclosed volume, a first attachment tab connected to the truss member, a second attachment tab connected to the first attachment tab, and a support connected to the second attachment tab.
In particular embodiments, the truss member may be aluminum, and the dock system may further include a platform. The platform may include a frame member having a top surface and defining an opening and a cross-member inserted into the opening. The cross-member has a dimension approximately equal to the opening. Particular embodiments may further include a stringer having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface of the stringer is proximate to the cross-member, and the second surface of the stringer is approximately coplanar with the top surface of the frame member. The frame member may include first and second segments, wherein the first and second segments define the opening. The first segment may be substantially parallel to the second segment, or the first segment may substantially perpendicular to the second segment.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a dock system having a platform and a roof. The platform includes a frame member having a top surface and defining an opening and a cross-member inserted into the opening. The cross-member has a dimension approximately equal to the opening. The roof includes a truss member that defines an enclosed volume, a first attachment tab connected to the truss member, a second attachment tab connected to the first attachment tab, and a support connected to the second attachment tab. Particular embodiments may further include a stringer having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface of the stringer is proximate to the cross-member, and the second surface of the stringer is approximately coplanar with the top surface of the frame member. The frame member may include first and second segments, wherein the first and second segments define the opening. The first segment may be substantially parallel to the second segment, or the first segment may substantially perpendicular to the second segment.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of the present invention upon review of the specification.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The present invention provides an improved dock system 10. As shown in
As shown in
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
The frame members 22 generally extend along the perimeter of the framework for the platform 12, although the frame members 22 are not necessarily continuous along or coterminous with the entire perimeter of the platform 12. The frame members 22 may be any shape or size. For example, the frame members 22 may be rectangular, oval, square, or any other shape. Regardless of the particular shape used, each frame member 22 defines an opening 30. The opening 30 is specifically sized to be approximately equal to at least one dimension of the cross-members 24. Ideally, the size of the opening 30 exactly matches at least one dimension of the cross-members 24; however, an acceptable tolerance within the scope of the present invention is ¼ inches, and preferably less than ⅛ inches. In this manner, the cross-members 24 may be inserted into the opening 30 defined by the frame member 22 for assembly. The frame members 22 may also be sized so that the distance 32 between the top of the frame member 34 and the top of the opening 36 is approximately equal to at least one dimension of the stringers 26. Ideally, the distance 32 between the top of the frame member 34 and the top of the opening 36 exactly matches at least one dimension of the stringers 26; however, an acceptable tolerance within the scope of the present invention is ¼ inches, and preferably less than ⅛ inches. In this manner, the stringers 26 may be located on top of or proximate to the cross-members 24, and the top of the frame members 34 is approximately coplanar with the top of the stringers 38.
The embodiment shown in
The embodiment shown in
It should be understood that
Referring to
The roof 14 provides shelter from the elements for the dock, equipment, and/or watercraft. In addition, the roof 14 generally provides additional structural support for the platform 12 and remainder of the dock system 10 by dampening wave action across the dock system 10, thus reducing the wear and tear associated with constant exposure to the environment.
The roof 14 may include a cover 50, trusses 52, and attachment tabs 54 to connect the roof 14 to the support structures 16. The size and number of trusses 52 depends on the size, shape, and intended use for the roof 14 and/or platform 12. For example, the trusses 52 may extend along the perimeter of the roof 14, although the trusses 52 are not necessarily continuous along or coterminous with the entire perimeter of the roof 14. In addition, the trusses 52 may extend inward from the perimeter of the roof 14 to provide additional support for the cover 50. The trusses 52 may be any shape or size. For example, the trusses 52 may be rectangular, oval, square, or any other shape. Regardless of the particular shape used, each truss 52 defines an enclosed volume 56. In addition, the trusses 52 may include a corrugated or rippled surface pattern to improve the overall aesthetic appearance. As a result, the trusses 52 present a more aesthetically pleasing appearance than conventional C-shaped structures. In addition, by avoiding the conventional C-shape, the trusses 52 prevent birds, insects, and other pests from forming nests or otherwise residing in the trusses 52 which further enhances the aesthetic appearance of the dock system 10.
Various materials and methods are known in the art for assembling the trusses 52, support structures 16, 58 and cover 50. For example, as shown in
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
