Modular rough water docking system

Abstract

A modular dock unit and system for making large modular dock systems is disclosed. The dock unit includes a molded floatation shell, a molded decking piece and a molded water-tight retainer ring. The floatation shell has column supports molded therein suitable for holding support members. In use, support member are placed in flanges molded into the support columns and the floatation shell rim. The water-tight retainer ring is placed on the side support members and the decking piece is opposed to the water-tight retainer. Mounting aids such as tongue and groove members are molded in opposing pieces of floatation shell, retainer and deck and secured where necessary. The dock unit also includes a boat bumper system that mates with the dock units to surround the modular dock system. When assembled, the dock unit comprises a water-tight flotation cavity protecting the internal components and providing buoyancy to the dock unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular floating dock unit comprising:
 i) a molded flotation shell; and   ii) one or more support members   wherein the molded floatation shell is designed and configured to nest within one or more other floatation shells for shipment and storage.   
     
     
         2 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a foam decking piece designed and configured to mate with the floatation shell.   
     
     
         3 . The modular floating dock unite of  claim 2 , further comprising a water-tight retainer ring, designed and configured to fit in between the decking and the flotation shell. 
     
     
         4 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 3 , wherein the decking piece is mounted on the flotation shell with the water-tight retainer ring therebetween creating a water-tight flotation chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more support members are supported by support columns molded in the flotation shell. 
     
     
         6 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 5 , wherein the support member is enclosed in a water-tight compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more support members are wooden, laminate, metal or composite. 
     
     
         8 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 7 , wherein the composite support members are fiber reinforced plastics/polymers (FRP). 
     
     
         9 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 8 , wherein the FRP fibers comprise fiberglass, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, basalt fibers, wood fibers, flax fibers and hemp fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 8 , wherein composite resins include epoxy, vinyl esters, polyesters, polyurethane, propylene, virgin high density polyethylene and recycled high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 1 , further including an attachment mechanism for connecting the unit to one or more modular floating dock units. 
     
     
         12 . A modular floating dock unit comprising:
 a molded flotation shell designed and configured to nest within one or more other floatation shells for shipment and storage.   
     
     
         13 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a foam decking piece designed and configured to mate with the floatation shell.   
     
     
         14 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 12 , further including a water-tight retainer ring interposed between the molded floating shell and the foam decking piece. 
     
     
         15 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 14 , wherein an interior space is water-tight. 
     
     
         16 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 15 , further including one or more support members. 
     
     
         17 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 16 , wherein the support members are wooden, laminate, metal or composite. 
     
     
         18 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 11 , wherein the composite support members are fiber reinforced plastics/polymers (FRP). 
     
     
         19 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 12 , wherein the FRP fibers comprise fiberglass, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, basalt fibers, wood fibers, flax fibers and hemp fibers. 
     
     
         20 . The modular floating dock unit of  claim 11 , wherein the composite resins include epoxy, vinyl esters, polyesters, polyurethane, propylene, virgin high density polyethylene and recycled polyethylene. 
     
     
         21 . A modular floating dock system comprising a plurality of connected floating dock units according to  claim 1 .