Modular floating dock system and method

Abstract

A floating dock includes at least two floats each having a hollow body, the hollow body including a solid top surface, at least one solid side surface, and a bottom and at least one removable fastener connecting the at least two floats to form the floating dock. The hollow body defines at least a portion of a linking system that is configured to receive the at least one removable fastener for removably connecting the at least two floats to form the floating dock. The bottom of the hollow body may be defined by an open bottom that allows for stacking of the floats. The open bottom may be sealed by a removable cover when the float is in use.

1 . A float for forming a floating dock comprising:
 a hollow body, the hollow body including a solid top surface, at least one solid side surface, and an open bottom,   wherein the hollow body defines at least a portion of a linking system that is configured for removably connecting a plurality of similar floats to form a floating dock.   
     
     
         2 . The float of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cover for sealing the open bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The float of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body of the float is configured to allow for stacking of the float with a plurality of similar floats. 
     
     
         4 . The float of  claim 1 , wherein the open bottom defines an opening having a transverse cross-sectional area that is larger than that defined by the solid top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The float of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the linking system defined by the hollow body is configured for receiving at least one removable fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The float of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one removable fastener includes a flange portion, a tip portion, and a shaft portion extending therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The float of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one removable fastener is defined by a deck panel configured to overlay a plurality of connected floats. 
     
     
         8 . The float of  claim 5 , wherein the linking system further includes the at least one removable fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The float of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the linking system defined by the hollow body includes at least one channel formed integrally with the hollow body. 
     
     
         10 . The float of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one channel includes a plurality of channels provided generally around a perimeter of the float. 
     
     
         11 . The float of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body is substantially cube-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The float of  claim 1 , wherein the solid top surface is substantially flat. 
     
     
         13 . The float of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the linking system defined by the hollow body includes at least one attachment protruding from the at least one solid side surface of the hollow body. 
     
     
         14 . The float of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one attachment is configured to receive at least one removable fastener. 
     
     
         15 . The float of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one attachment includes a plurality of attachments protruding from the at least one solid side surface of the hollow body. 
     
     
         16 . The float of  claim 15 , wherein at least two of the plurality of attachments are provided at different horizontal planes for overlapping with corresponding attachments of other floats. 
     
     
         17 . A floating dock unit comprising:
 at least two floats each having a hollow body, the hollow body including a top, at least one solid side surface, and a bottom; and   at least one removable fastener connecting the at least two floats to form the floating dock unit.   
     
     
         18 . The floating dock unit of  claim 17 , wherein the hollow body defines at least a portion of a linking system that is configured to receive the at least one removable fastener for removably connecting the at least two floats. 
     
     
         19 . The floating dock unit of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one removable fastener includes a flange portion, a tip portion, and a shaft portion extending therebetween. 
     
     
         20 . The floating dock unit of  claim 19 , wherein the portion of the linking system defined by the hollow body includes at least one channel formed integrally with the hollow body and at least one attachment protruding from the at least one solid side surface of the hollow body, wherein the flange portion of the at least one removable fastener engages the at least one channel of the at least two floats, and the shaft portion and the tip portion of the at least one removable fastener engage the at least one attachment of the at least two floats. 
     
     
         21 . The floating dock unit of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one removable fastener is defined by a deck panel configured to connect the at least two floats. 
     
     
         22 . The floating dock unit of  claim 21 , wherein the deck panel includes at least two ports configured to receive the at least two floats, wherein the tops of the floats define solid surfaces, wherein the at least two floats are secured within the at least two ports so that the solid top sides of the at least two floats form a substantially flat dock surface with the deck panel. 
     
     
         23 . The floating dock unit of  claim 21 , wherein the deck panel includes at least two ports configured to receive the at least two floats, wherein the at least two floats are secured within the at least two ports so that the bottoms of the at least two floats are positioned adjacent the deck panel. 
     
     
         24 . The floating dock unit of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one filler member configured to fit between the at least two floats so as to eliminate a gap therebetween for providing a substantially flat dock surface. 
     
     
         25 . The floating dock unit of  claim 17 , wherein one of at least the bottom and the top of the hollow body is defined by a solid surface. 
     
     
         26 . The floating dock unit of  claim 25 , wherein the solid surface is defined by a removable cover configured to seal the hollow body. 
     
     
         27 . A fastener for removably linking a plurality of floats to form a floating dock unit, the fastener comprising:
 a shaft portion, the shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft portion defining a generally uniform transverse cross-section as the shaft portion extends between the proximal end and the distal end;   a tip portion provided at the distal end of the shaft portion, the tip portion defining a cross-section that has a different configuration than the transverse cross-section of the shaft portion; and   a head portion attached at the proximal end of the shaft portion, the head portion defining a flange extending outwardly from the shaft portion, the head portion further defining at least one slot extending at least partially from an outer edge of the of the head portion toward a center of the head portion.   
     
     
         28 . A method for constructing a floating dock comprising:
 using a single fastener to connect at least two floats to form a floating dock unit, wherein each float includes a hollow body defining a top, at least one solid side surface, and a bottom, wherein the hollow body further defines at least a portion of a linking system that is configured for removably connecting a plurality of similar floats to form the floating dock.   
     
     
         29 . A floating dock kit comprising:
 at least two floats each having a hollow body, the hollow body including a top, at least one solid side surface, and a bottom, wherein the hollow body defines at least a portion of a linking system that is configured for removably connecting the at least two floats, wherein the portion of the linking system defined by the hollow body includes at least one channel formed integrally with the hollow body and at least one attachment protruding from the at least one solid side surface of the hollow body; and   at least one fastener, each fastener including:
 a shaft portion, the shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft portion defining a generally uniform transverse cross-section as the shaft portion extends between the proximal end and the distal end; 
 a tip portion provided at the distal end of the shaft portion, the tip portion defining a cross-section that has a different configuration than the transverse cross-section of the shaft portion; and 
 a head portion attached at the proximal end of the shaft portion, the head portion defining a flange extending outwardly from the shaft portion, the head portion further defining at least one slot extending at least partially from an outer edge of the of the head portion toward a center of the head portion. 
   
     
     
         30 . The floating dock kit of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one filler member configured to fit between the at least two floats so as to eliminate a gap therebetween for providing a substantially flat dock surface.