Patent Application
20140326171
Not applicable to this application
Not applicable to this application
Not applicable to this application
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to the field of active tourism and the nautical industry. More specifically, it relates to floating installations of docking stations for touristic or non-cargo seagoing vessels, which are out at sea, that is, they are separated from land, not being in contact with the coastline.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays tourism, in particular the nautical industry which attracts a considerable percentage of tourists, is considered one of the most important sectors affecting the economy. Consequently, touristic marinas or docking stations represent a field of great importance due to their potential to attract tourism as well as national and international investors.
Touristic marinas are essentially used to safeguard, dock and provide all kinds of services to recreational, sporting or touristic seagoing vessels. However, due to the increased concern about environmental protection as well as the lack of coastline space, these marinas have been affected.
Nowadays touristic marinas, despite being located in a body of water, have a direct connection to the coastline. This brings about environmental damage such as deforestation, loss or deterioration of biodiversity and erosion of the coastline itself. As well, such structures can limit public use and access of beaches due to privatization of the areas to be used specifically for seagoing vessels. There has been an increase in the use and construction of floating structures set out at sea due to the aforementioned effects of structures connected to the coastline. However, such structures located out at sea are usually for the purpose of oil extraction, energy generation and storage. So far there are no structures located out at sea that are adequate to build a touristic marina that requires little to no maintenance.
It was found in the prior art that U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,355 B1 to Lekhtman discloses an entertainment centre comprised of aquatic and terrestrial modules all of which are interconnected for the purpose of recreational activities. The downfall of this proposed centre is that it damages biodiversity at the time when it is constructed and assembled.
It was also found in the prior art that U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,538 to Matsui discloses a floating structure for multiple uses. Such structure is comprised of individual floating units made of steel which can be joined with one another, creating a structure with one or more levels or tiers. The patent specifically mentions that the floating structure can serve the purpose of an airport and or an energy source plant. However, besides having the capability of docking certain vessels, the patent does not disclose containing the necessary technical needs of a touristic marina or the specific design structures for the housing, docking and protection of seagoing vessels.
Similarly, European Patent Number EP 1,713,685 B1 to Ostreng discloses a floating unit where seagoing vessels can dock by means of a ramp and rollers which allow the movement of the vessels towards the floating unit which itself is elevated from the body of water allowing the vessels to dry. The patent focuses on the docking of seagoing vessels in a way that it maintains them dry and not on the construction of a floating marina that is detached from the coastline.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,182,034 B2 to H. Brine discloses a floating system that allows seagoing vessels to dock. This docking station adjusts to the wind and tide weather conditions by having an anchor with a floating buoy which secured by ropes. The buoy allows for the adjustment to the wind and tide conditions. This system brings about issues surrounding the instability of the dock and the potential for damage to seagoing vessel as they attempt to dock.
There is a strong need for a touristic marina or floating docking station without any structures on land that offers a solution to the disadvantages previously mentioned.
It is therefore a primary purpose of this invention to provide a fixed offshore floating marina with no attachment to the coastline.
Another purpose of this invention is to provide a floating marina that allows the docking of multiple seagoing vessels, as well as a place for recreational activities.
Furthermore, this invention aims to provide a floating marina that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
Other purposes and advantages of the floating marina will become evident to the reader and it is intended that these purposes and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
A potential embodiment of the disclosure is that of a floating marina or floating port which will be located out at sea and detached from the coastline, comprised of a dock fitted with the required structures to house multiple seagoing vessels of different lengths. Particularly, it comprises at least one straight docking structure and at least one round docking station inside of which there is a circular platform where recreational activities can take place. Said infrastructures described above are preferably supported by piles which are cemented to the bottom of the body of water where the floating marina is located.
The general purpose of the invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a piloted and stable floating marina that is detached from the coastline, consequently preserving the biodiversity of the area and having the necessary spaces for the docking of multiple seagoing vessels of all lengths. Additionally, having a platform where recreational activities can take place.
The novel aspects that characterize the preferred embodiment and are present both in its structure and purpose will become better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a side view of a pile and rollers
b is a front view of one of the rollers
c is a top view of the mounting support of the touristic marina (pile and rollers).
The following structure is being described and illustrated herein as a preferred embodiment of the invention, that is, by way of example and not by way of limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention.
With reference to the above drawings and as shown in
The floating dock infrastructure 5 and 6 are preferably constructed of polystyrene blocks, which are covered in a layer of reinforced concrete for added protection, but could also be made of other construction materials from which floating marinas are made. Later, the modules are assembled into the desired polygonal shape and structurally linked by means of beams of pine, which have previously been treated with soluble salts to maintain their integrity and prevent erosion by the marine environment. Final assembly of the infrastructure is carried out by means of screws and fittings in grade 304 stainless steel and/or galvanized by immersing while hot. Other similar assembly mechanisms may be used that are resistant to water conditions.
The foundation of the touristic marina 4 is preferably performed by fixing the infrastructure on to piles 8 that are cemented to the floor or bottom of the body of water to achieve proper embedment; these are preferably manufactured with A-36 steel pipes, and protected against corrosion by an anticorrosive epoxy layer made of coal tar that is 16 mm thick.
The cementing of the piles 8 is preferably performed by means of a siphoning system positioned at the tip of the pile. However, the last meter of the cementing process is also preferably recommended to be carried out by the method of tapping, to thereby achieve the required embedding. Alternatively, the cementing of the marina to the sea bed or floor of the body of water can be accomplished by any means that provide support and stability for the structure.
To achieve greater stability of the touristic marina, 4 the piles 8 preferably will be linked by means of a system of pontoons, which will themselves be secured by utilizing sliding rolls. The touristic marina will also preferably have a system of rollers 9 made of polyethylene, which will rotate on the surface of the pile thereby absorbing changes in the tidal levels.
The potential embodiment of the disclosure contains all the necessary structures to dock a maximum of 100 boats of different lengths ranging from 30′ to 120′ in size. The straight dock 5 has perpendicular spaces 11 for the berthing of vessels, which is connected by a fixed ramp 10 to the round dock 6 that has spaces 12 for the berthing of vessels around its periphery; each dock has well defined areas for each vessel. Some of the ideal services provided at the touristic marina will preferably include: running water, electricity in 110v and 220v with different amperage, a fire extinguishing service, cable television, telephone and internet service, and a sanitary sewer system which will be collected by means of a barge equipped with special pumps for extracting waste water from the vessels. These services will be provided from land using submarine cables and water pipes anchored to the floor or bed of the body of water.
The circular platform 7, whose purpose will be to offer a center for recreational activities, will include but not be limited to, an armed steel infrastructure and a two-story building. Within this structure there may be a terrace that will house pools, as well as chairs, tables, umbrellas and a lounge-like facility, whose structure will preferably be made of stainless steel or aluminum with a polyethylene finish and nautical fabric.
The ground floor of the two-story building on the circular platform 7 will preferably offer the following services: a reception desk, a store with marine and nautical items, a convenience store, internet services, lockers, women's and men's washroom facilities, storage space, a machine room, and stairs. The upper floor of the building could offer the following services: catering, a bar, a lobby, and a kitchen and office space.
The present application claims priority from the provisional application with the reference number 61/766,759 presented on FEB. 20, 2013 and titled “Floating docking station for modes of water transportation.”
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61766759 | Feb 2013 | US |
