US20100183375A1

US20100183375A1 - Light transmissive dock deck surface

Info

Publication number: US20100183375A1
Application number: US12/357,454
Authority: US
Inventors: Kim A. Zeile; Robert G. Birkeland
Original assignee: Prefix Corp
Current assignee: Prefix Corp
Priority date: 2009-01-22
Filing date: 2009-01-22
Publication date: 2010-07-22

Abstract

A marine dock deck surface includes a light transmissive portion allowing sunlight to pass through the deck surface into the water. The light transmissive portion is formed of a sunlight transparent or translucent material. The light transmissive portion may extend over substantially the entire deck surface. Alternately, the light transmissive portion may be part of an overall deck surface which includes opaque portions.

Description

BACKGROUND

Marine docks are used to enable access to moored boats and other marine vessels or watercrafts which are positioned in deep water away from a shoreline.
Docks are available in may types and configurations including, to name a few, floating docks where the individual dock sections float directly on the water surface, as well as elevated docks which rest on stanchions or piers fixed in the water bed so as to position the dock deck above the water surface.
Docks are typically formed of marine grade materials, such as wood, plastic, etc. These materials present a substantially solid, opaque surface which blocks sunlight from reaching and penetrating the water beneath the docks. The lack of sunlight results in a deterioration of the health of the marine environment in the water beneath the deck leading to a decline in marine life, aquatic plant growth and reduced oxygen levels.
Therefore it would be desirable to provide a marine dock which allows sunlight to pass through the dock to the underlying water surface and waterbeds.

SUMMARY

A marine dock deck surface includes a light transmissive portion to allow sunlight or solar radiation to pass through the deck surface into the water to prevent the deterioration of marine light and aquatic plant growth beneath the deck.
The marine deck includes at least one or more deck members with the light transmissive portion carried on the at least one deck member.
The marine deck may include a frame, with the at least one deck member mounted to the frame.
Substantially all of a plurality of deck members maybe formed of a light transmissive material.
The light transmissive portion is formed of a material which is transparent or translucent to sunlight.
In one aspect, the at least one deck member and the frame maybe formed as a one piece molded unitary deck section.
The at least one deck member maybe attachable to dock stanchions.
The at least one deck member may simulate a wood plank.
In another aspect, a marine deck includes a light transmissive portion allowing sunlight to pass therethrough. The light transmissive portion is formed of a material which is transparent or translucent to sunlight.
In another aspect, the marine may also include opaque portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one aspect of a light transmissive marine dock;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another aspect of a light transmissive marine dock deck surface;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another aspect of a light transmissive marine dock deck surface; and

FIG. 4 is a respective view of another aspect of a light transmissive marine dock deck surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

By example only, a marine dock 10 is depicted in FIG. 1 as having a deck 12 which is supported on a frame structure 14 secured to a plurality of posts, piers or stanchions 16 supported at one end in the water bed.
The dock may also include a plurality of modular or individual sections, each having a deck 12 and a frame 14. The frame 14 may be fixed to the piers or stanchions 16 by any suitable means, such as fasteners, etc.
The frame 14 may take other suitable configurations such as a plurality of individual frame members all denoted by reference number 18 in FIGS. 1 and 2 which are secured together to form a support structure for the deck 12. The members 18 may be formed of suitable marine compatible materials, such as wood, various plastics, etc.
The entire dock 10 may be formed of suitable marine compatible materials, such as wood, various plastics, etc. The deck 12 may be a single piece or multiple, separate pieces of material which are fixed to the underlying frame 14 by fasteners, adhesive, etc. Alternately, the deck 12, may be integrally molded or otherwise formed as a one-piece part of the frame 14 to form a modular one-piece deck section which can be mounted to the stanchions 16 and butted up against adjacent like constructed dock sections to form an enlarged dock of any configuration, size and shape.
By way of example only, the deck 12, as shown in FIG. 2, is formed with a plurality of simulated plants 20, which are molded in the surface of the deck 12 to stimulate transversely extending wood boards. Alternately, the planks or slates 20 may be formed as discrete pieces which are secured by fasteners, adhesive, to the underlying frame 14.
The deck 12, which may take any configuration as described above, including, but not limited to, one or more individual discrete deck members mounted on or integrally molded with the frame 14, is formed of a light transmissive material, such as a clear and transparent material or a translucent material, to allow sunlight to pass through the deck 12 to prevent the deterioration of marine life and aquatic plant growth underneath the deck 12 which is typically shielded from the sun.
Transparent materials which can be used to form the deck 12 include transparent glass or plastic, for example, which allow sunlight or solar radiation to pass therethrough without appreciable scattering. Translucent materials which can be used to form the deck 12 include translucent glass or plastic which allow sunlight or solar radiation to pass therethrough while scattering the light or solar radiation as it passes through the deck 12.
One material which may be employed for the deck 12 is clear or translucent glass. Various transparent or translucent plastics, such as polycarbonates, polyurethanes, and Lexan may also be employed.
In the case of a multiple piece dock assembly, the deck 12 may be formed of a light transmissive material and the frame 14 may be constructed of an opaque material. This arrangement also minimizes the extent of shaded areas underneath the dock 10.
Alternately, where the deck 12 is integrally molded with the frame 14, both the deck 12 and the frame 14 can be formed of a transparent or translucent material, as described above.
In another alternate configuration, a marine dock deck surface or section 30, shown in FIG. 3, is similar to the unitarily molded deck 12 shown in FIG. 2 but is formed of discrete light transmissive portions 32 and 34 for example which alternate or are interspaced with opaque deck surface portions 36, 38 and 40, for example. The interspersing of the light transmissive sections or portions 32 and 34 and the opaque portions 36, 38 and 40 are shown only by example in FIG. 3 as the light transmissive portions 32 and 34 may be located at any position along the deck section 30, such as side by side at one end of the deck section 30, or at opposite ends with the opaque portions 36, 38 and 40 closely space together or abutting and located between the spaced light transmissive sections 32 and 34.
In addition, the deck 30 shown in FIG. 3 depicts the light transmissive sections 32 and 34 the opaque sections 36, 38 and 40 as in the form of simulated wood planks which extend from both longitudinal sides of the deck 30. This is by way of example only as it will be understood that the light transmissive portions 32 and 34 as well as the opaque portions 36, 38, and 40 may be configured to be only a center plant or intermediate portion of each simulated plank.
This can be accomplished by the use of an insert molding process where a light transmissive material is injected into one portion of a mold configured to form the deck 30 adjacent to a portion of the same mold which receives an opaque material. A step insert molding process, where each step involves the injection of a light transmissive or an opaque material into one or more molds may also be employed.
Referring now to FIG. 4 there is depicted another aspect of a deck 41 in which the deck 41 is depicted by way of example only as a one piece unitary member which can be formed of plastic or other material. The deck 41 includes a peripheral frame 42 which can be attached to the stanchions 16. The peripheral frame 42 includes at least one centrally located window or opening 44 which extends completely through the frame 42 from a top deck surface 46 to a bottom deck surface 48. The light transmissive deck surface or portion 50 is fixed in the window 44 in the frame 42. The deck section 50 is formed of a light transmissive material, such as glass, plastic.
The deck 41 may be formed of multiple components, such as a multiple piece frame 42 in which the individual frame sections are joined together by fasteners, etc. to form the desired frame shape. The light transmissive deck surface 50 may also be formed of one or more sections which are separately mounted in the window 44 in the frame 42 and fixed thereto by fasteners, adhesive, inter-locking surfaces, etc.
Alternately, the frame 42 and light transmissive deck surface 50 may insert molded together into one piece unitary member.
Further, a light transmissive deck, as described above, can be retrofit onto an existing dock frame and/or stanchion. Such a deck can be mounted on an existing dock frame or, if integrally molded with a frame, directly on to the existing stanchion.
Thus, there is disclosed a marine dock a deck surface formed of a light transmissive material to allow sunlight to pass through the deck surface.

Claims

1. A marine deck comprising:

a light transmissive portion allowing sunlight to pass therethrough.

2. The marine deck of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one deck member, the light transmissive portion carried on the at least one deck member.

3. The marine deck of claim 2 wherein:

the at least one deck member is attachable to dock stanchions.

4. The marine deck of claim 2 wherein:

the at least one deck member simulates a wood plank.

5. The marine deck of claim 2 further comprising:

a frame, the at least one deck member mounted to the frame.

6. The marine deck of claim 5 wherein:

the at least one deck member includes a plurality of deck members mounted to the frame.

7. The marine deck of claim 6 wherein:

the light transmissive portion is carried by at least one of the deck members.

8. The marine deck of claim 6 wherein:

substantially all of the plurality of deck members are formed of a light transmissive material.

9. The marine deck of claim 5 wherein:

the at least one deck member and the frame are formed as a one piece molded unitary deck section.

10. The marine deck of claim 1 wherein:

the light transmissive portion is formed of a material transparent to sunlight.

11. The marine deck of claim 1 wherein:

the light transmissive portion is formed of a material translucent to sunlight.

12. A marine deck comprising:

a deck section having a light transmissive portion allowing sunlight to pass therethrough.

13. The marine deck of claim 12 wherein:

the light transmissive portion is formed of a material which is one of transparent and translucent to sunlight.

14. The marine deck of claim 12 wherein:

the deck section further includes opaque portions.