Article of manufacture for improving safety on floating docks
An article of manufacture for improving the safety on floating docks alongside fixed landing decks or piers with a barrier affixed to the edge of the landing deck, fastening mechanism to mount the barrier to the landing deck, weights affixed to, or embedded into, the bottom part of barrier to ensure contact with the floating dock, and a guiding mechanism such as ropes affixed to landing deck and floating dock to ensure that barrier will always reconnect with the floating dock in case of separation.
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the field of marine safety and more specifically to an article of manufacture for improving safety on floating docks. Floating docks are a standard feature along the coast line and on lakes and rivers. Access is usually provided by gangways or ramps that rest on the floating dock, or via stairs or ladders from an stationary adjacent structure such as a landing deck, pier or house. This combination of stationary landing deck or pier and floating dock is very common along the US East Coast.
The floating dock is held in place via dock brackets which allows for vertical movement whereas keeping the floating dock at a defined distance from the landing deck. This gap is usually in the range of 3-6″ between the two platforms. Depending on the water level in a lake or river or the tidal hub on the coast line, the landing deck is usually designed to be a certain height above the floating dock. As a result there will be gap between the lower end of the landing deck and the surface of the floating dock. Waves will cause vertical movement of the floating dock and increase or decrease this gap. Depending on the size of the gap and the magnitude of vertical movement, any object reaching into this gap will get caught by this scissor-like contraption. This is a significant safety hazard for people and animals alike which has not been addressed so far.
Guard rails as disclosed for example in patents U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,259 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,432 are a common feature of decks and walkways and would address this safety hazard if installed on the side of the floating dock that faces the landing deck and at a minimum distance from the edge of the floating dock. Safety guards as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,022 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,824 are commonly used on loading docks and could be used on floating docks as well. The guard rails or barriers would need to be designed in a way that does not allow people or animals to reach through and could be, for example, made of a tight mesh or a solid surface. The major disadvantage of these barrier solutions is that the safety hazard is not fully addressed. At lower water levels objects can still be caught between the top of the rail or barrier and the landing deck. Another disadvantage of a guard rail or rigid barrier is that it will rise with the floating dock when water levels are rising and create an unsightly new tripping hazard.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary object of the invention is to provide a safety device for floating docks which prevents objects to fall into or to extend body parts through the gap between floating dock and landing deck.
Another object of the invention is to provide a safety device for floating docks which works for rectangular, curved and angular floating docks.
Another object of the invention is to provide a safety device for floating docks that follows the motion of floating docks without manual adjustment of the device.
Another object of the invention is to provide a safety device for floating docks that is both a visual and physical barrier.
A further object of the invention is to provide a safety device for floating docks that can be integrated into the design of landing decks and floating docks.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an article of manufacture for improving the safety on floating docks comprising: a barrier affixed to the edge of the landing deck, a fastening mechanism to mount the barrier to the landing deck, several weights affixed to, or embedded into, the bottom part of barrier to ensure contact with the floating dock, and a guiding device such as elastic ropes or wires affixed to landing deck and floating dock to ensure that the barrier will always reconnect with the floating dock in case of separation.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
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In accordance with the present invention,
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Another embodiment of this fastening device under this invention is shown in
The flexible barrier can be strenghtened by using a combination of elastic ropes (16) that are attached to the landing deck (2) and floating dock (3) and run through the flexible barrier (6) as shown in
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While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An article of manufacture for improving the safety on floating docks comprising:
- a barrier affixed to the landing deck;
- a fastening mechanism to mount the barrier to the landing deck;
- weights affixed to, or embedded into, the bottom part of the barrier to ensure contact with the floating dock;
- and guiding devices affixed to landing deck and floating dock to ensure that the barrier will always reconnect with the floating dock in case of separation.
2. The barrier of claim 1 wherein the barrier is made of flexible material.
3. The barrier of claim 2 wherein the material is textile fabric, impregnated textile fabric, plastic membranes, flexible composite material, or metal mesh.
4. The barrier of claim 3 wherein the barrier material is colored or patterned.
5. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a hook, clip, screw, nail or bolt.
6. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a rail.
7. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 wherein the fastener includes an extender that ensures a minimum distance of deck and barrier.
8. The extender of claim 7 wherein the extender is made of flexible material such as rubber, plastic, plastic foam, or rubber or plastic tubes.
9. The extender of claim 8 wherein the extender has a round shape
10. The weights of claim 1 wherein the weights are in compartments, embedded in, or are attached to the bottom of the barrier.
11. The weights of claim 10 wherein the weights are liquids, sand, gravel, stones, or metal in the form of pellets, rods, disc and other shapes.
12. The guiding devices of claim 1 wherein these devices are elastic ropes, cords or wires.
13. The guiding devices of claim 12 wherein the device material is colored or patterned.
Type: Application
Filed: May 7, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2015
Inventors: Thomas Engelhardt (Chapel Hill, NC), Gary Edward Drumheller (Chapel Hill, NC)
Application Number: 14/271,553