US3662559A

US3662559A - Anchorage for boat docks

Info

Publication number: US3662559A
Application number: US879383A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wesley K Swift
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-24
Filing date: 1969-11-24
Publication date: 1972-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-16

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an anchorage for boat docks (piers, wharves and the like) for small boats and pleasure water craft, which anchorage can be positioned and retained in position without consideration of the nature of the surface of the water bed. Further, the anchorage can be placed into position with the use of the small boat, a wrench, and a level only. This method of positioning an anchorage can be utilized to stabilize a plurality of piers and then as the base for the attachment of prefabricated members to form any desired form or design of dock or wharf. The installation of the anchorage does not require any type of pile driving to securely fasten the anchorage to the surface of the water bed.

Description

United States Patent Swift [451 May 16, 1972 54] ANCHORAGE FOR BOAT DOCKS 3,345,825 10/1967 Parker ..61/48 Inventor: Wesley K swift, 3434 19th Ave, Moline 3,518,834 4 7/1970 Gnaedmger et a1 ..61/53.6

61265 Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro [22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1969 Att0rneyH. Vincent Harsha [21] Appl. N0.: 879,383 [57] ABSTRACT v This disclosure relates to an anchorage for boat docks (piers, I52] U.S.Cl wharves and the like) for Small boats and pleasure water craft 1 I 1 7 27/42 which anchorage can be positioned and retained in position i 'f i 61/48 4653 6 53 without consideration of the nature of the surface of the water I 1 o are bed. Further, the anchorage can be placed into position with the use of the small boat, a wrench, and a level only. This method of positioning an anchorage can be utilized to stabilize [56] References cued a plurality of piers and then as the base for the attachment of UNITED STATES PATENTS prefabricated members to forrn any desired form or design of dock or wharf. The installation of the anchorage does not 1,421,857 7/ 1922 Store "61/46 require any type f pile driving to securely fasten the 2,6816 S g anchorage to the surface of the water bed. 3,074,23 1 1 e o ian.. 3,074,239 1/1963 Mustard ..61/48 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAYIB I972 V 3.662.559

' sum 1 or 3 INVENTOR. WESLEY K. SWIFT BWMM ATTORNEY I PMEMTEm-m 16 1972 SHEET 2 [IF 3 INVENTOR. WESLEY K. SWIFT FIG. 2

ATTORNEY PMEMTEDMAY 16 I972 'SHEET '3 OF 3 FIG. 2A

IO 0 O D O] INVENTQR. WESLEY K.SWlFT V MM ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to this invention, docks and anchorages for small boats have required some type of manual or mechanical means for driving piles or posts into the water bed and then attaching the facility or dock thereto. The facility or dock is then used for the access or securing of small craft thereto. These dock facilities have been subject to damage caused by normal or abnormal rise and fall of water levels, and indeed have been irreparably damaged by pressure, rot, rust, etc.

Another prior method for securing a dock facility has been to have a center section of the dock float and be secured to a second section attached to the shore above the water line. This permits only limited freedom for the one section to float as the water level changes, and this dock is subject to the same damages as the anchored floats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention permits almost unlimited vertical motion of the dock or anchorage with no movement in the horizontal plane. Thus, the dock is free to move with the water level and is not subject to the damages from pressure mentioned above.

This invention provides a permanent anchorage with predetermined strength qualities, made of materials which are not subject to rot, rust and the other normal damages arising from submersion in water. This invention also provides for the attachment of floating sections on the fixed anchorage. These floating sections are connected to the fixed sections so they move in a vertical plane while being retained in the horizontal plane by the anchorage.

It is a feature of this invention that the anchorage for the facility which may be called either a wharf, a dock or a pier, is anchored to the floor of the body of water, the bed of the lake or river, and the anchored portion serves as the retaining member for the floor of the dock. The anchored portion permits movement in the vertical plane and restricts motion in the horizontal plane.

It is a further feature of this invention that the anchorage has a long life and is not subject to movements due to the activity of the water in any plane. It is still another feature of this invention that any irregularities in the surface of the water bed are utilized to improve the holding power, whereas prior to this invention the surface has created many problems. The placement of the dock has often been dictated by the surface of the water bed. Another feature of this invention is to make permanent but light-weight docks available even in remote areas.

Another feature of this invention is that by the proper use of reinforcement and with the flexible base, it is possible to have an anchorage that takes advantage of the terrain to improve the stability of the anchorage.

It is yet a further feature of this invention that a single person can install the total facility with only the hand tools available, Le. a wrench and level. The invention also provides for storage or removal of sections or the addition of further sections without the necessity of changing the anchored portions.

It is an important feature of this invention that the perpendicular members are held in position by stabilizing means until the liquid setting substance such as concrete has formed a solid mass to retain them. These pads or stabilizers are adjustable and connected to the vertical members in such a way that they can be utilized on any irregular surface and at any depth.

It is another feature that there are supporting stabilizing collars which are adjustable on the vertical members and permit the floating sections to move with the water yet provide stability at a predetermined level to the pier sections when persons walk on the surface of the dock. If the support is not needed, then these collars may be adjusted to permit complete flotation of the dock.

This invention also provides for a multiple yoke stabilizer which can connect sections of pier to stabilize these pier sections into one solid pier. Thus, any reasonable number of pier sections can be attached to the anchorage of this invention, the horizontal movement controlled, and the stability of the sections stabilized by the interdependency of the respective parts.

Accordingly, it is among the many objects of the invention to provide constructions and methods embodying one or more of the features herein set forth. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects are apparent from this description and/or the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1-1A are schematic drawings of the anchor members of this invention;

FIGS. 2-2A are details of the construction of a dock or pier section of this invention showing the alternate methods by which support is given the pier sections; and,

FIG. 3 is an overall plan of some of the dock designs possible utilizing the principles of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there is disclosed a vertical piling 10. This pipe or piling should preferably be of a noncorrosive material and have sufficient strength to retain the dock sections in position and prevent horizontal movement thereof. In a typical situation this pipe 10 should be at least 3 inches in diameter. This pipe 10 has a threaded member 1 l which couples to a second pipe section 12. The second pipe section 12 has a plurality of orifices 20. These orifices permit the flow of concrete without stoppage which may occur if only the open end of the pipe is utilized. There is a bag 13 made of nonporous material and which must not be rigid, secured to the pipe 12 by means of a seal or clamp 14. The bag 13 encloses the orifices 20. The clamping means may be any well known type, such as the type used for holding hoses in automobiles in position, or any other type which will provide the requisite water-tightness. The bag 13 can enclose the area between two spaced-apart vertical pipes or may enclose only a single pipe. As shown in FIG. I, the

structural members

15 and 16 will effectively maintain the pipes 10 in a predetermined spaced-apart relationship. In addition it will improve stability if the structural member 16 is extended beyond the base of the pipe by several inches and such extension member 17 improves stability against side movement of the anchorage.

As shown in FIG. 1A, if each pipe has its own individual bag 13, then the

members

15 and 16 may be dispensed with and a metal or other rigid material member 18 would be utilized to assure stability of the single pipe. The single pipe could be used when the design of the dock or anchorage did not require strength inherent in the double design. If the single section pipe is used, then member 18 should be held in position by a plurality of spacer rods 19. If two single pipes 10 are used as shown in FIG. 1A, then it is necessary that any required spacial relationship be maintained by an external member 15, external to the bags.

There are included within the nonrigid bag certain orifices 20 for the dispersal of the liquid material, that hardens with the passage of time, such as concrete, from the pipe 12 into the bag. These orifices permit concrete in a fluid state to flow evenly into the bag and surround the structural members enclosed in the bag. The concrete is free to seek its own level and then to fill the pipe 10 after the bag is full. If no orifices are provided, the concrete may close the opening before the bag is sufficiently full. As the

bag

13 or 21 is filled to required capacity, it will assume the shape of the floor of the water bed, and the concrete will fill the pipes 10. As the pipes 10 are filled with concrete, the strength of the pipes is that of the pipe and the concrete may be reinforced by members 22.

To provide for total stabilization against drift or movement during the installation and/or pouring of the concrete into the pipes to fill the bags, there are provided a plurality of stabilizing pads or members 23. These members are permitted to rest on the floor of the water bed and then secured in position by means of adjustable collars 24. When the collars are secured to the pipes, the pipes are securely supported in a stabilized condition until the bag is filled and the concrete hardened. These pads need not be made of noncorrosive material as the final stability does not require that they continue to function. These pads normally form an isosceles triangle with the pipe at one side.

In FIG. 2 there is depicted a detailed construction of dock hardware sections which are adaptable for use with the anchorages of this invention, thus providing a new and novel dock or wharf construction which is easy and simple. These sections are provided with a fabricated tube and angle section which is designed to ride up and down on the outside diameter dimension of pipe 10. in the final construction of the pier, these tube angle parts are held in predetermined relationships by members 32. Crossbars 33 may be prefabricated with the vertical members for attaching floor joists. Both angle sections 31 and crossbars 33 may contain predetermined holes for easy attachment of the floor joists. In addition, the collars 26 provide for limiting the vertical movement of flotation sections into the water. This will provide stability for persons walking on the dock sections.

FIG. 2A shows the details of the exterior tube and angle section 41 where the tube 43 is shown attached to the exterior of the frame members 32.

In FIG. 3 a stabilizing yoke 37 is shown as connecting a series of piers 35 to a common wharf section 39. This yoke 37 is necessarily a strong noncorrosive material and extends beneath the surface of the water to a depth of 3 or 4 feet or at least beyond the depth of the pleasure craft that may utilize the dock. By means of fittings and uprights 38 perpendicular to it, yoke 37 is attached to the outer floor joists or stringers of each pier by a bolting plate. Thus, yoke 37 stabilizes the plurality of piers as one pier. This feature of the pier formation is utilized with the anchorage of this invention to provide a complete pier system at any location without the necessity of pilings being driven into the water bed.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms, which may be used, all come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An anchorage for boat docks, comprising a pipe,

first means attached at one end of said pipe for rigidly maintaining a predetermined angular relationship between said pipe and the surface of the earth,

a bag of nonporous material attached to said one end of said pipeand enclosing said first means, said bag being filled with a material heavier than water, and

stabilizing means attached to said pipe externally of said bag for maintaining said pipe in a vertical position prior to the filling of said bag.

2. An anchorage for boat docks in accordance with claim 1, and including means for attaching a platform to said anchorage to permit only substantially vertical motion of said platform.

3. An anchorage for boat docks, comprising a plurality of pipes,

a plurality of rigid brace members connected between said pipes and extending therebeyond, said brace members serving to hold said pipes in a predetermined spaced relationship,

a bag of nonporous material attached to one end of said pipes, said bag being filled with a material heavier than water,

a plurality of orifices in each of said pipes and enclosed by said bag, and

means attached to each of said pipes externally of said bag for stabilizing said pipes with relationship'to the surface of the earth.

4. In combination, boat dock hardware comprising a plurality of fixed pipes having orifices therein at the submerged ends thereof, a plur ity of brace members interconnecting said pipes for holding said pipes in a predetermined spaced-apart relationship,

a bag of nonporous material attached to the submerged ends of said pipes, said bag being filled with a substance having a specific gravity greater than that of water, with said brace members being surrounded by said substance,

stabilizing means attached to each said pipe externally of said bag for maintaining each pipe in a vertical position, and

a floating member secured in slidable relationship to said pipes, said floating member thus being free for vertical movement with the water while being restrained against horizontal movement.

5. The method of installing a boat dock, comprising securing a bag of nonporous material around the open end of each of a plurality of pipe members so as to enclose, respectively, each said pipe end and a laterally-disposed stabilizing means attached thereto,

submerging each of said pipe ends and said respective enclosing bags,

stabilizing said pipes vertically by means of respective second stabilizing means external of said bags,

filling said pipes and respective bags with a fluid settable composition, and

installing on said pipes a floating platform free for vertical movement relative thereto.

6. The method of installing a boat dock, comprising securing a bag of nonporous material around the open ends of a plurality of pipe members so as to enclose said pipe ends and laterally-disposed stabilizing means extending therebetween,

submerging said pipe ends and said enclosing bag,

stabilizing said pipes vertically by means of respective second stabilizing means external of said bag,

filling said pipes and said bag with a fluid settable composition, and

Claims

1. An anchorage for boat docks, comprising a pipe, first means attached at one end of said pipe for rigidly maintaining a predetermined angular relationship between said pipe and the surface of the eArth, a bag of nonporous material attached to said one end of said pipe and enclosing said first means, said bag being filled with a material heavier than water, and stabilizing means attached to said pipe externally of said bag for maintaining said pipe in a vertical position prior to the filling of said bag.

3. An anchorage for boat docks, comprising a plurality of pipes, a plurality of rigid brace members connected between said pipes and extending therebeyond, said brace members serving to hold said pipes in a predetermined spaced relationship, a bag of nonporous material attached to one end of said pipes, said bag being filled with a material heavier than water, a plurality of orifices in each of said pipes and enclosed by said bag, and means attached to each of said pipes externally of said bag for stabilizing said pipes with relationship to the surface of the earth.

4. In combination, boat dock hardware comprising a plurality of fixed pipes having orifices therein at the submerged ends thereof, a plurality of brace members interconnecting said pipes for holding said pipes in a predetermined spaced-apart relationship, a bag of nonporous material attached to the submerged ends of said pipes, said bag being filled with a substance having a specific gravity greater than that of water, with said brace members being surrounded by said substance, stabilizing means attached to each said pipe externally of said bag for maintaining each pipe in a vertical position, and a floating member secured in slidable relationship to said pipes, said floating member thus being free for vertical movement with the water while being restrained against horizontal movement.

5. The method of installing a boat dock, comprising securing a bag of nonporous material around the open end of each of a plurality of pipe members so as to enclose, respectively, each said pipe end and a laterally-disposed stabilizing means attached thereto, submerging each of said pipe ends and said respective enclosing bags, stabilizing said pipes vertically by means of respective second stabilizing means external of said bags, filling said pipes and respective bags with a fluid settable composition, and installing on said pipes a floating platform free for vertical movement relative thereto.

6. The method of installing a boat dock, comprising securing a bag of nonporous material around the open ends of a plurality of pipe members so as to enclose said pipe ends and laterally-disposed stabilizing means extending therebetween, submerging said pipe ends and said enclosing bag, stabilizing said pipes vertically by means of respective second stabilizing means external of said bag, filling said pipes and said bag with a fluid settable composition, and installing on said pipes a floating platform free for vertical movement relative thereto.