Abstract: An inflatable seal for use in an adjustable dockboard unit for sealing the unit against the flow of air therethrough into and/or out of the building in which the dockboard is being used.

Abstract: In the pier mooring for a boat a rectangular inner section is provided which serves as the land connection. A first short side and an outer part of the pier mooring is affixed to a second outer short side of the inner part of the structure. The outer part is formed as a parallel trapezium with the non-parallel side forming an angle of between 70 to 120 degrees. The non-parallel sides are provided with extensions which have outer ends which employ locking structure to affix the boat to be moored therebetween by means of lines running from the outer ends to either end of the boat.

Abstract: A semi-rigid floating marina adapted for use in both ocean and inland waterways including a submerged structural frame interconnected to a floating surface structure by a plurality of rigid and flexible members. The marina is readily portable in nature to accommodate the changing water level and varying boundaries of inland waterways. A variable buoyancy anchor and an in-situ method of forming the same is provided which allows the anchor to be selectively submerged or buoyed from the bottom of the waterway.

Abstract: In a system for interconnecting buoyant float sections in an articulated manner, a receiver assembly for automatically engaging a connector of a type having a longitudinally inclined nose section and a pair of transverse locking grooves. The receiver assembly comprises a receiver housing with an interior channel, a U-shaped locking guillotine member and a locking assembly. The locking guillotine is slideably introduced into a transverse slot in the receiver housing; it rests on a pair of locking bars in the locking assembly with the legs of the locking guillotine extending part-way into the interior channel of the receiver assembly. As the connector is extended into the channel, the legs of the locking guillotine contact the inclined surface of the connector nose section, causing the locking guillotine to slide up within the slot until aligned with the connector locking grooves. The locking guillotine then falls, the guillotine legs sliding down within the locking grooves, to effect interengagement.

Abstract: A boat dock comprising a deck structure which floats in water and which provides access to shore and an elongate outrigger which floats in the water and which stabilizes the dock structure. In addition, the dock includes a lockable hinge which connects the dock structure to the outrigger. This hinge locks the outrigger in an extended position from the dock for stabilizing the dock and pivots the outrigger to a retracted position folded about the dock for collapsed storage.

Abstract: A multipurpose floating structure comprises a large number of flotation units joined together in a regular reticulated pattern in one or more horizontal tiers, each flotation unit comprising: a square plate; a watertight can structure of inverted conical shape fixed at its base to the lower surface of the square plate; a vertical leg column fixed at its upper end to the vertex part of the can structure; a concrete weight disposed around and supported on the leg column; and connecting fittings for connecting the corners of the square plates of four adjacent flotation units at their common meeting point.

Abstract: A floating dry dock for a boat comprising a tubular, boat-supporting platform made from a planar array of interconnected PVC conduit (or similar material) and a pair of vertical, buoyant, tubular side walls connected to the platform. The dock includes an atmosphere venting system with its outlet above the water surface at all times connected to the base conduit platform and a freely positionable pump in fluid communication with the platform conduit array, which allows for the pumping of water into and out of the platform tubular array, which controls the depth level of the platform. The vertical side wall conduits are sealed and filled with air to add positive buoyancy to the platform to prevent it from sinking beyond a desired level. The diameter of each conduit of the ballasting tubular array for the platform is selected to accommodate boats of varying displacements. In operation, the device can be stored by floating adjacent a sea wall or the like.

Abstract: A system for distributing utility service such as electrical power, telephone service and water to a plurality of spaced apart finger floats extending angularly from a floating mainwalk. The floats are formed by rectangular concrete shells filled with a buoyant material and having a plurality of tie rods extending transversely through the floats with their ends projecting from the sides. The floats are typically fastened to each other by elongated wales extending along the sides of the floats which bridge the joints between adjacent floats. In one embodiment the wales include inner and outer wale members separated from each other by a plurality of rectangularly shaped spacers. The spacers as well as the gap between the wale members are preferably covered by an elongated cover. Utility conduits extend along the gap between the inner and outer wale members and are supported by the spacers.

Abstract: The hull has a pair of laterally spaced pontoons which are rigidly interconnected by beams which extend between them at a level low enough that a barge will float over them. An elevator with a lifting and lowering mechanism is mounted on the hull with sling or cradle-like lifting bars. The lifting bars have upstanding posts which are shaped, sized and spaced to fit in the stacking post sockets conventionally provided in the hull bottoms of LASH barges. In a lower condition of the elevator, a barge will float over the bars. In a raised condition of the elevator, workers may stand on the hull pontoon decks and work on the sides of the barge and work on the bottom of the barge from scaffolding hanging under the lifting bars. For working on conventional river barges (which are longer than LASH barges) the lifting devices may be used in pairs.

Abstract: A breakwater pier apparatus is disclosed in the preferred and illustrated embodiments. The two embodiments utilize a framework floated in the water by buoyant tanks therein, the apparatus including a rearwardly sloping wave energy absorbing wall adapted to float partly underwater and partly above the surface of the water and facing the direction of the wave action, this wave energy absorbing wall being slotted to intercept part of the wave action to create a force tending to hold the breakwater in vertical position. The framework includes an upright wall which also floats partly out of the water. Appended to the wall is a set of floating stub piers for individual boat anchorages. The apparatus is tethered or guided on an upstanding piling.

Abstract: A novel marine dock section adapted to be supported by flotation units or posts is described. A pair of horizontally spaced apart, upright, prefabricated truss-like frameworks, each comprising a pair of longitudinal tubular members preferably of rectangular cross-section secured a spaced distance apart by a plurality of vertical tubular struts extending through and double swaged into the longitudinal tubular members, are joined together by a plurality of cross members to form a planar rectangular frame which supports a wood plank decking.

Abstract: A lightweight dock structure, the deck of which is supported on deck-straddling columns, and which comprises an upper compression layer and a vertically spaced lower tension layer, each layer formed of a plurality of transverse elements, said elements in each layer and said layers being interconnected by horizontally elongated flanged stringer plates extending between said layers normal to said elements, with the flanges of the stringer plates embedded in said elements in both layers.

Abstract: A floating storage facility for storing small boats not greater than a predetermined length. A floor system comprising a network of longitudinal and lateral support members disposed over flotation blocks provides support for the building. A pair of spaced parallel weight supporting beams are disposed centrally over the flotation members on each side of the storage facility. The parallel beams support a plurality of columns which support a pair of parallel spaced crane runway rails disposed along the upper portion of the building. The weight of the building is distributed over the flotation device to provide a central stabilized loading point for the building. The building has a lightweight metal frame cover disposed overwardly with the outer walls.

Abstract: A portable, floating dock which can be towed by a boat using same is provided. The dock has a flat shell with a tapered front section and a gang plank covered with a non-skid material. An eyebolt is provided in the back of the float for securing a boat to it and to stakes driven on the shore. Anchoring tie rings are also provided in the front of the dock for securing same to other stakes driven on the shore.

Abstract: A floating roadway assembly adapted to support road vehicles is formed from a plurality of pontoons consisting of concrete material and connected together by a plurality of elongated metal carrying rods which extend longitudinally through each of the pontoons to join them together to form the roadway. The rods are resistant to traction and pressure and the connection between the rods and each of the pontoons is made so as to enable relative movement therebetween longitudinally of the rods.

Abstract: A floating dock for handling cargo in a moored vessel in which a longitudinally-extending cargo conveyor is retained in floating condition with the cargo conveyor supported on longitudinally-extending cargo conveyor supports to receive and convey cargo from one position to another.

Abstract: A floating storage facility for storing small boats not greater than a predetermined length. A floor system comprising a network of longitudinal and lateral support members disposed over flotation blocks provides support for the building. A pair of spaced parallel weight supporting beams are disposed centrally over the flotation members on each side of the storage facility. The parallel beams support a plurality of columns which support a pair of parallel spaced crane runway rails disposed along the upper portion of the building. The building is designed such that the weight of the boats and cranes are supported by the columns which bears on the flotation device to provide a central stabilized loading point for the building. The building has a lightweight metal frame cover disposed overwardly with the outer walls which is cantilevered out from the front boat support members.

Abstract: A connecting apparatus for floating docks providing a rigid interconnection of modular units which allows a convenient assembly and alteration for accomodation of boats of different size, the connecting apparatus comprises a U-shaped channel which brackets a cooperating flange structure on each of two adjacent float units, the U-channel being oriented with a flat top plate interfacing a top surface of the flange structure; a vertical side plate arranged against a side surface of the flange structure, and a flat bottom plate interfacing a bottom surface of the flange structure; wherein the channel has integrally spaced holes in the top and bottom plates for coincident arrangement with select holes in the flange structure; and cooperating elements for attaching wooden walers thereto for protection of boats moored thereto.

Abstract: Gangway structure providing a connecting link between a vessel and a docking area to permit loading and unloading of the vessel when adjacent to the docking area under the prevalent variable relative positional dispositions of the vessel and docking area due to tidal and water current changes, vessel displacement changes caused by such loading and unloading, and the like, including a gangway structure having means to support one end thereof on the vessel, means to support the other end thereof on the docking area, and means such as cooperating vertical pivot and horizontal axis roller means to preclude the torsional twisting of the gangway structure, e.g., in any position of movement thereof in connecting link relation to the vessel and docking area, and preferably associated tower structures and elevated connecting gangway span supporting means extending between such tower structures for accommodating the docking area supported end of the gangway structure and such means to preclude such torsional twisting.