US3106826A

US3106826A - Portable dock

Info

Publication number: US3106826A
Application number: US761999A
Authority: US
Inventors: Freidel Russell; Walter L Upton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-09-19
Filing date: 1958-09-19
Publication date: 1963-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-15

Description

Oct. 15, 1963 R. FREIDEL ETAL PORTABLE DOCK Filed Sept. 19, 1958 INVENTURS.

RUSSELL FREIDEL WALTER L UPTON orney \vi 7 V, V,

United sates Fatent 3,106,826 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 ice 3,106,826 7 PORTABLE DOCK Russell Frank], 4107 NE. 60th, Vancouver, Wash, and Walter L. Upton, 136 NE. Morgan, Portland 11, Greg. Filed Sept. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 761,999 3 Claims. (Cl. 6148) This invention relates to a portable dock or platform. Although such structure is descr'bed herein as a portable dock for small boats, it is to be understood that it may be utilized for various other purposes.

In small boat outings it is frequently desirable to land the occupants on shore areas where there are no landing facilities such as docks or the like. In such case the boat is beached at the bow and the occupants then jump off the bow or over the side, such occupants usually getting wet in the process. Also, such method of landing the ;occupants is inconvenient and dangerous and of course is damaging to the boat especially where the occupants have to make their way up to the bow to jump off.

It is an important object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties above mentioned by providing a portable dock or platform structure which is adapted to be placed along side a small boat tofacilitate landing of the occupants onto a beach with safety and facility and without damage to the boat.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a portable dock which is light in weight and which folds up into a compact unit so that it can be conveniently carried on a small boat and readily placed over the side when the boat is beached.

A still further object is to provide a portable dock which firmly supports and anchors itself in a selected position at the waters edge.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention constitutes a novel portable dock or platform structure having a foldable body portion with a deck surface. This dock is supported at its ends by novel leg assemblies comprising a front leg assembly which rests on the beach close to the waters edge and a rear leg assembly which is submerged in the water. These leg assemblies are pivot-ally mounted on the body portion for movement between folded, and unfoldedpositions. In the unfolded position such leg assemblies provide a firm support for the platform and in their folded position provide a compact unit capable of being conveniently carried on a small boat.

The invention will be better understood and the objects will he more evident with reference to the description in the following specification. Various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts with- V out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the form in its unfolded or open position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the platform in folded position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of connecting structure between the rear legs and the body of the platform, taken on the line 33 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a leg lock plate utilized in the connection shown in FIGURE 3;

present plat- FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view withparts broken away of connecting structure between the rear legs;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view'through one of the rear legs showing height adjusting means therefor, taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5. I

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the present portable dock or platform comprises a body portion 10 preferably formed of a pair of sections 11 and 12. Each of the sections 11 and 12 comprises a framework structure of light tubular members. Such frame has longitudinal or side members 13, end members 14, and reinforcing struts 15. The two sections are pivotally connected by pins 16 disposed in apertured lug members 17 integrally secured, as by welding, to lower frame members 13 of the bodysections.

The body sections 11 and 12 are provided with a deck 18 comprising a lightweight material, for example, marine plywood or a lightweight metal. With the platform supported at each end by leg assemblies to be described, the adjoining ends of the platform sections at the hinge abut to provide a rigid, straight line structure. The deck 18 is preferably mounted on the body frame by screws 19 engageable with tabs 21 secured to

upper frame memboss

13 and 14. i

A rear leg assembly comprises a pair of legs 20 supported on a rod or shaft 22, FIGURE 3, journaled at its opposite ends in lock plates 23, FIGURE 4, fixedly secured to the body frame members 13, the legs 20 having an aperture 24 at their upper ends to receive a pivot pin 26 supported in a pair of downwardly projecting cars 27 integrally secured on opposite sides of the rod 22.

Each of the plates 23 has anupper apertured portion 28 and a lower inclined channeled or recessed portion 29. The recessed portion of the plates 23 is dimensioned to receive the legs 20, FIGURE 3. By such arrangement it will be seen that when the legs are seated in the recesses 29 they are angled outwardly and locked firmly against pivotal movement with their rod 22. However, when the legs are moved to a vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, they will clear the recesses 29 and be capable of pivoting with the rod longitudinally of the body portion so as to be folded upwardly against the bottom of the body.

For the purpose of holding the legs apart in engagement with the recesses 29, or for pulling the legs together to'clear the recesses 29, there is provided an overcenter link connection between the two legs comprising a pair of links 32 and'33 each pivotally connected at oneend to the respective legs by lugs 34 on the legs. The outer end of link 32 is cut away at the bottomthereof to receive the end of link 33, FIGURE 5, and the links are pivotally connected together by a pin 35 projecti'n'g through the link 35 adjacent the latters free end and projecting through link 32 at a point spaced inwardly from the end thereof, whereby the portion of the link 32 which extends beyond the pivot point serves as a stop to prevent breaking of this joint downwardly. The

links

32 and 33 are held in their closed or unbroken position by an overcenter arrangement of the pivot pin.

By pivoting

links

32 and 33 upwardly on pivot 35 to their dotted line position of FIGURE 1, the legs-2t} are drawn together and move out of the recesses 29 in the plates 23, whereby the leg assembly can be pivoted longitudinally of the body portion with the rod 22, the lateral pivotal movement of the legs 20 being on pins 26. The lower ends of the rear legs 20 receive in telescoping relation upright posts or standards 36 having bottom foot plates 37. Legs 20 havesplit structure at the bot- 3 to provide a firm footing of the one end of the platform in sand.

The front leg assembly comprises a pair of substantially horizontal legs 42 pivotally mounted on lugs 43 fixedly secured to the body section 12 a short distance inwardly from the end. The legs 42 are curved somewhat, as shown, and carry on their outer ends an anchor member 44, which as illustrated preferably comprises an angle bar. As seen in FIGURE 1, the front leg assembly is free to pivot longitudinally of the body portion and can rotate to a position where it abuts the end frame of section 12. Such abutting position comprises the unfolded position of the front leg assembly and by reason of the curvature of the legs, this end of the platform is supported a short distance above the ground so that occupants using the platform can conveniently step on or off this end.

The overall length of the front legs is substantially that of the rear legs so that when the front legs are in a substantially vertical position they will support the platform in a horizontal plane, whereby such platform may be used if desired as a table. a

In normal cruising operations of the boat the platform is folded as shown in FIGURE 2 and carried in the boat, the leg assemblies being folded against the bottom of their respective body sections. When the boat is beached at the bow the unit is unfolded and placed over the side. The anchor bar 44 embeds in the sand adjacent the waters edge and the legs 20 are disposed in the water, the length adjustment of the legs 20 to level the platform being determined by the slope of the beach. With the dock in place, the occupants can then conveniently step over the side of the boat.

By reason of the anchoring means of the front leg assembly, as well as the firm footing established by the rear leg assembly, the dock will not sway or slide while in use.

Having now described our invention and in what manner the same may be used, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable dock comprising a body portion carrying a deck surface thereon, a leg assembly pivotally mounted on one end of said body portion, a transverse shaft pivotally mounted on the opposite end of said body portion, pairs of downwardly depending ear means fixed to said shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof, a pair of legs, hinge means connecting said legs to said ear means for movement of said legs laterally between retracted and spread positions, said legs being pivotally movable with said shaft to a folded position parallel with said body portion, and a pair of channel-shaped lock means on the body portion extending downwardly and outwardly of the body, said lock means opening toward each other and being adapted to receive said legs, said legs being received in said lock means in said spread position for locking them against longitudinal pivotal movement and being disengaged from said lock means in said retracted position for permitting longitudinal pivotal movement thereof into said folded position.

2. A portable dock comprising a body portion carrying a deck surface thereon, a first leg assembly pivotally mounted on one end of the body portion, a pair of legs on the opposite end of the body portion, laterally extending shaft means rotat-ably mounted on said body portion, hinge means connecting said pair of legs to said shaft for lateral swinging movement, whereby said legs have pivotal movement longitudinally of the body portion with said shaft means into a folded position and have pivotal movement laterally of said body portion on said hinge means for movement between retracted and spread positions, and a pair of channel-shaped lock means on the body portion opening toward each other and extending downwardly and outwardly of the body portion, said lock means receiving said legs in said spread position for locking the latter against longitudinal pivotal movement of said legs being disengaged from said lock means in said retracted position for longitudinal pivotal movement into said folded position. a

3. A portable dock for use in unloading passengers from a boat on a sloping beach comprising a body portion having forward and rearward ends and formed of a pair of pivotally interconnected lightweight frame sections, a deck on said body portion, a first leg assembly pivotally connected at one of its ends to said body portion inwardly of the forward end and sides of the latter and on the underside of the deck, said first leg assembly having a folded rearwardly directed position parallel with and adjacent the underside of said deck and an unfolded substantially horizontal forwardly directed position, said first leg assembly being of a length sufficient to project forwardly of said body portion in its horizontal position wherein the forward end of the body portion rests upon said leg assembly, anchor means on the forward end of said first leg assembly for engaging a beach and supporting said end of the body portion adjacent the water's edge in the unfolded position of said first leg assembly, and a second leg assembly pivotally connected to said body portion adjacent the rearward end of the latter and having a folded forwardly directed position parallel with and adjacent the underside of said deck and an unfolded vertical body supporting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 963,918 Miller July 12, 1910 r 1,232,437 Simpson July 3, 1917 1,358,951 Helmich Nov. 16, 1920 1,566,427 Renau Dec. 22, 1925 1,975,049 Middlebrook Sept. 25, 1934 2,624,058 Kudrna Jan. 6, 1953 2,652,694 Melges Sept. 22, 1953 2,683,069 Kimmel July 6, 1954 2,736,626 Inpyn Feb. 28, 1956 2,760,838 Greacen Aug. 28, 1956 2,831,687 Hunter Apr. 22, 1958 2,832,648 Goosmann Apr. 29, 1958 2,906,319 Goldstein Sept. 29, 1959 2,948,121 Karst Aug. 9, 1960

Claims

1. A PORTABLE DOCK COMPRISING A BODY PORTION CARRYING A DECK SURFACE THEREON, A LEG ASSEMBLY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON ONE END OF SAID BODY PORTION, A TRANSVERSE SHAFT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BODY PORTION, PAIRS OF DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING EAR MEANS FIXED TO SAID SHAFT ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, A PAIR OF LEGS, HINGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID LEGS TO SAID EAR MEANS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID LEGS LATERALLY BETWEEN RETRACTED AND SPREAD POSITIONS, SAID LEGS BEING PIVOTALLY MOVABLE WITH SAID SHAFT TO A FOLDED POSITION PARALLEL WITH SAID BODY PORTION, AND A PAIR OF CHANNEL-SHAPOED LOCK MEANS ON THE BODY PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY OF THE BODY, SAID LOCK MEANS OPENING TOWARD EACH OTHER AND BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID LEGS, SAID LEGS BEING RECEIVED IN SAID LOCK MEANS IN SAID SPREAD POSITON FOR LOCKING THEM AGAINST LONGITUDINAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT AND BEING DISENGAGED FROM SAID LOCK MEANS IN SAID RETRACTED POSITION FOR PERMITTING LONGITUDINAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREOF INTO SAID FOLDED POSITION.