The field of the invention relates to sectional floating docks, and more particularly, relating to a latch system for releasably connecting a pair of floating dock sections together.
Floating docks are common and typically comprise a plurality of individually floating sections which sections are joined together to form a unitary structure and which may also be joined to a retaining wall or other structure for location and access purposes.
These sections will float but are often very heavy and extremely unwieldy whether in the form of a square or that of a substantially elongated rectangle.
Floating docks are subject to a wide variety of typical motions and stresses some of which are quite powerful yet with little motion while others are powerful and accompanied with large momenta. In many cases, floating dock sections do not float evenly even in calm water and are subject to substantial motion in all 3 directions.
This 3D motion is most difficult to handle when the sections are being installed or, alternatively, broken down for transport or storage during an off-season. Installation and removal are often conducted in inclement parts of the year when the likelihood of relative motion is very high and by individuals working alone or at best in a small group.
Over their lifetime such sections are likely to acquire a tilt in more than 1 direction making their installation and removal even more difficult.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable hinging latch for secure and permanent engagement of floating dock sections.
It is a further object to provide for inter-engagement and latching of sections which are smooth and provide for reduced risk and error resulting with the engagement providing free hinging rotation about a single horizontal axis across the width of the dock sections.
In general, in one aspect, a floating dock hinging latch for releasably interconnecting a pair of floating dock sections in an adjoined spaced relation for relative hinging motion is provided. The floating dock hinging latch includes first and second female latch portions secured to a lateral side of a first dock section in a horizontally spaced relationship. Each of the first and second female latch portions have a channel that extends in a direction perpendicularly outwardly from the lateral side of the first dock section. First and second male latch portions are secured to a lateral side of a second dock section in a horizontally spaced relationship. Each of the first and second male latch portions have a horizontally oriented hinge pin extending generally parallel to the lateral side of the second dock section. The first female latch portion is hingedly engaged with the first male latch portion by the hinge pin of the first male latch portion extending through the channel of the first female latch portion. And the second female latch portion is hingedly engaged with the second male latch portion by the hinge pin of the second male latch portion extending through the channel of the second female latch portion.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.
The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings:
Releasable dock sections 100 and 200 are separable floating sections with main axes 101 and 201 respectively, as shown in
Corresponding male latch portions 204 are similarly permanently secured to adjacent dock section 200 along a corresponding lateral edge thereof so as to provide a corresponding hinging axis 207 for the releasable hinging latch 1 of the preferred embodiment upon latching.
Section 100 is shown in
Corresponding dock section 200 is shown in
Each of female latch portions 104 includes a rotatable pawl 110 (
Correspondingly each of male latch portions 204 include a base plate 210 (
As a 1st step in the method of the preferred embodiment, dock sections 100 and 200 are preferably manually drawn together so that latch portions 104 and 204 are in closer proximity to one another than is shown in
In
As a 2nd step in the method of the preferred embodiment, dock sections 100 and 200 are moved into an adjacent position for attachment as shown in
As the 3rd step in the method of the preferred embodiment, the dock sections as further shown in
Completion of the releasable hinging latch of the invention occurs at the 4th step in the method as spacings 103 and 203 are reduced to a minimum and hinging axis 107 is brought fully into alignment with corresponding hinging axis 207 whereupon latch pawls 110, preferably in unison, rotate about axis 111 and capture hinge pins 205. Dock sections 100 and 200 are latched together in alignment vertically and horizontally as shown in
Receivers 115 each include an elongated channel 117 extending horizontally and nominally along the water surface along x-axis 101.
Further preferably, each of channels 117 include a bulbous internal receptacle 118. Channels 117 are preferably formed into receivers 115 and are aligned horizontally and vertically so as to provide free hinging axis 107 for a corresponding hinge pin 205 similarly secured to dock section 200.
Preferably, pawl 110 is formed of a planar material with a substantial thickness 129 as much as a half-inch, more or less. Pawl 110 is loosely contained at a separation within spaced apart side walls 115.
In
Latch portions 104 and 204 are further engaged with receiver channel 307 as distance 502 is further reduced as at 502b. As distance 502 is reduced from 502a through 502b pin 205 preferably engages with rotatable pawl 110 along surface 312 and causes rotation of pawl 110 counterclockwise about axis 102 in direction 313 into an upstanding position as shown in
Most preferably, at distance 502b pin 205 engages with pawl 110 sufficiently to provide a passage for pin 205 within channel 307 beyond pawl nose 315 but not in engagement with bulbous end 308.
Decreasing distance 502 towards zero, that is, full engagement of the latch portions, pin 205 continues in passage 307 into bulbous end 308 wherein it engages with pawl surface 316 driving pawl 110 in a clockwise direction about axis 111. Preferably axes 111 and 207 overlie one another at a distance 502 of zero with pin 205 secured in pawl 110 at catchment 311.
Full engagement of the latch portions 104 and 204 into the releasable hinging latch of the invention is shown in elevation in
Most preferably, both pawl surface 316 and pawl surface 317 are clockwise over vertical at small angles 318 and 319 respectively. Preferably angle 318 is larger than angle 319 so as to provide an inward taper for catchment 311.
In
In accordance with the 1st step of the method of the preferred embodiment dock section 200 (not shown in
In conjunction with the 1st step, dock section 200 is manipulated to rotate about the z-axis (
In accordance with the 2nd step of the method, the dock sections are further manipulated so as to bring axis 202 into alignment with hinge axis 304 while hinge pins 403 are brought further into female receiver channels 307 (
In accordance with the 3rd step of the method, the pawls 110 are rotated counter-clockwise so as to permit passage of corresponding hinge pins 403 beyond corresponding pawl tips 315 respectively. In a preferred embodiment, pawls 110 are weighted or biased (
In accordance with the 4th step of the method, shown in
Preferably, hinge pins 403 are captured within respective tapered catchments 311 and float about pawl axis 102 within bulbous end 308 while maintaining surfaces 316 and 317 in contact with pin 403.
In
As shown in
Alternatively, pawl 303 may be enlarged as at 501 or relieved as at 502 in elevation view, as shown in
As will be seen by persons skilled in the art, the releasable floating dock hinging latch of the invention is not limited to those embodiments described.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/137,272, filed Mar. 24, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20030140837 | O'Neil | Jul 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160281770 A1 | Sep 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62137272 | Mar 2015 | US |