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US-12624512-B2 - Adjustable pile guide

US12624512B2US 12624512 B2US12624512 B2US 12624512B2US-12624512-B2

Abstract

A pile guide has a cylinder having a central aperture therein, and constructed and arranged to receive a pile through the central aperture of the cylinder. Opposing wings extend generally vertically, such as from a side of a floating object. Flanges of a retainer extend from opposite sides of the retainer and slide within slots in the wings to provide adjustability of the pile guide by allowing movement of the cylinder relative to the dock or other floating object. Upon positioning the cylinder with the pile in the cylinder, the retainer or retainer is fixed in place relative to the wings. The distance of the cylinder from the floating dock is set to accommodate for variable distances of piles from the floating dock or floating object.

Inventors

  • Sean Barnes

Assignees

  • Sean Barnes

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230516

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A pile guide construct for floating docks, the pile guide comprising: a cylinder having a central aperture therein constructed to receive and hold a pile within the central aperture of the cylinder, a first flange extending from a first side of the cylinder and a second flange extending from a second side of the cylinder, wherein the first flange and the second flange have a construct that is substantially symmetrical, a first wing and a second wing, the wings positioned on opposite sides of the cylinder, the first wing and the second wing extending outwardly and generally parallel to each other, the first flange positioned transversely across and extending through an elongated slots of the first wings perpendicular to the elongated slot of the first wing and the second flange positioned transversely across and extending through an elongated slot of the second wing perpendicular to the elongated slot of the second wing, and a first elongated securing member that extends from the first wing and a second elongated securing member that extends from the second wing, wherein the first elongated securing member is generally parallel to the elongated slot formed in the first wing and the second elongated securing member is generally parallel to the elongated slot formed in the second wing, and the first elongated securing member is secured to a portion of the first flange that extends through the elongated slot to an opposite side of the first wing.
  2. 2 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated securing member wing and the second elongated securing member each have a plurality of apertures formed therein, one of the plurality of apertures of each of the first elongated securing member and the second elongated securing member is constructed and arranged to selectively align with an aperture of one of the flanges.
  3. 3 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , further comprising a backing plate, and wherein the first wing and the second wing are connected to the backing plate, and the backing plate is constructed and arranged to mount to a side and a top surface of a floating dock.
  4. 4 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot of the first wing is constructed and arranged to limit horizontal movement of the first flange sliding within the elongated slot of the first wing.
  5. 5 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot in the first wing is closed on opposite ends to limit horizontal movement of the first flange sliding within the elongated slot.
  6. 6 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , further comprising a slider attached to the first flange, the slider constructed and arranged to move along an outside-surface of the slot of the first wing.
  7. 7 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , further comprising a slider attached to the first flange, the slider constructed and arranged to move along an outside surface of the first wing, the slider having an aperture formed therein constructed and arranged to align with an aperture formed in the first elongated securing member.
  8. 8 . The pile guide construct as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated securing member is attached to the portion of the first flange that extends beyond the elongated slot of the first wing and at a selected position to secure the cylinder at a selected position relative to a mounting bracket.
  9. 9 . The pile guide construct as described in claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket constructed and arranged to mount an end of the pile guide construct to a floating dock.
  10. 10 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated securing member comprises an aperture formed therein and a fastener present in said aperture that connects the first wing to the first flange.
  11. 11 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated securing member comprises a plurality of apertures formed therein, the plurality of apertures constructed and arranged to align with an aperture of the first flange, and a fastener present in an aperture of the plurality of apertures of the first elongated securing member and the aperture of the first flange that connects the first wing to the first flange.
  12. 12 . A pile guide construct for floating docks, the pile guide comprising: a cylinder having a central aperture therein constructed to receive and hold a pile within the central aperture of the cylinder, wherein the central aperture comprises uniformly smooth surfaces facilitating the cylinder to traverse the pile, a first wing and a second wing, the wings positioned on opposite sides of the cylinder, the first wing and the second wing extending outwardly and generally parallel to each other, the first wing having an elongated slot formed therein and the second wing having an elongated slot formed therein, a first flange extending laterally from a first side of the cylinder and toward the first wing and extending transversely through the elongated slot of the first wing and a second flange extending laterally from a second side of the cylinder that is opposite the first side and toward the second wing and extending transversely through the elongated slot of the second wing, wherein the flanges are substantially symmetrical, and wherein the cylinder is positioned relative to a floating dock and the pile contained within the cylinder by sliding the first flange and the second flange in the slots to a position that aligns an aperture of the first wing with an aperture of the first flange and inserting a fastener through the aperture of the first flange and the aperture of the first wing.
  13. 13 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 12 , wherein the elongated slot of the first wing is constructed and arranged to limit horizontal movement of the first flange sliding within the elongated slot of the first wing.
  14. 14 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 12 , further comprising a backing plate, and wherein the first wing and the second wing are connected to the backing plate, and the backing plate is constructed and arranged to mount to a side and a top surface of a floating dock.
  15. 15 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 12 , wherein the elongated slot in the first wing is closed on opposite ends to limit horizontal movement of the first flange sliding within the elongated slot.
  16. 16 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 12 , further comprising a slider attached to the first flange, the slider constructed and arranged to move along an outside of the slot of the first wing.
  17. 17 . The pile guide construct for floating docks as described in claim 12 , further comprising a slider attached to the first flange, the slider constructed and arranged to move along an outside surface of the first wing, the slider having an aperture formed therein constructed and arranged to align with the aperture formed in the first wing.
  18. 18 . The pile guide construct as described in claim 12 , further comprising a first elongated securing member attached to a portion of the first flange that extends beyond the elongated slot of the first wing and at a selected position to secure the cylinder at a selected position relative to a mounting bracket.
  19. 19 . The pile guide construct as described in claim 12 , wherein the first wing and the second wing are secured to a mounting bracket that is constructed and arranged to mount to a floating dock at an end of the pile guide.
  20. 20 . The pile guide construct as described in claim 12 , wherein the first wing and the second wing each comprise a plurality of enclosed apertures, and the cylinder is positioned relative to a floating dock and the pile contained within the cylinder by sliding the first flange and the second flange in the slots to a position that aligns an aperture of the plurality of apertures of the first wing with the aperture of the first flange and inserting the fastener through the aperture of the first flange and the aperture of the plurality of apertures of the first wing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Floating docks are used to provide dockage for vessels. Floating docks accommodate changes in water levels by floating in water. Other floating objects are similarly held in place in a body of water by piles. The piles are attached to floating article or dock by pile guides that permit vertical movement of the floating object or dock within the body of water but substantially prevent horizontal movement of the floating object or dock. Piles driven into the earth are used to hold the dock in position. Piles are typically not driven with precision. There is a need for a pile guide that can be adjusted relative to the floating object and the pile to accommodate for the variable distance of the piles from the dock or other floating object. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pile guide has a cylinder having a central aperture therein, and constructed and arranged to receive a pile through the central aperture of the cylinder. Opposing wings extend generally vertically, such as from a side of a floating object. Flanges of a retainer extend from opposite sides of the retainer and slide within slots in the wings to provide adjustability of the pile guide by allowing movement of the cylinder relative to the dock or other floating object. Upon positioning the cylinder with the pile in the cylinder, the retainer or retainer is fixed in place relative to the wings. The distance of the cylinder from the floating dock is set to accommodate for variable distances of piles from the floating dock or floating object. BRIEF DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an adjustable pile guide with an adjustable mounting. FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is the side elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 4, and shows one embodiment of mounting the adjustable pile guide to a dock. FIG. 6 is the side elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 5, and shows one embodiment of the adjustable pile guide mounted to a dock. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an adjustable pile guide with an adjustable mounting having multiple retainers for the cylinder. FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is the side elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 8, and shows one embodiment of the adjustable pile guide mounted to a dock. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an adjustable pile guide with an adjustable mounting having multiple retainers for the cylinder and multiple wings on each side of the bracket. FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a front elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 12. FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 12. FIG. 16 is the side elevation of the adjustable pile guide of FIG. 12, and showing one embodiment of the adjustable pile guide mounted to a dock. FIG. 17 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the adjustable pile guide having multiple retainers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1-6 show an adjustable pile guide 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. The pile guide comprises a cylinder 4 through which a pile extends when in use. The cylinder is positioned within and held by bracket 6. In this embodiment, the bracket comprises a backing plate 16 that is adjacent to a dock or floating object. Opposing wings 8,10 extend outwardly from the backing plate. Each opposing wing has a slot 12 therein. A retainer, which may be a collar or retainer 14, is attached to the cylinder and positions the cylinder relative to the bracket. The retainer has flanges 18, 20 on each side of the retainer. The flanges are inserted into the slots of the wings, and are slidable within the slots to allow the distance of the cylinder to be adjusted relative to the bracket, including the backing plate. As shown in the drawings, and in use, a center axis of the aperture of the cylinder 4 extends vertically. The cylinder has an opening that is constructed and arranged to receive a pile that is driven into the earth. The pile extends upwardly from the earth and out of a top surface of water. The pile extends through the opening in the cylinder of the pile guide 2. The cylinder has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the pile so that the cylinder has vertical movement relative to the pile. The pile guide is mounted to a floating dock or other floating object 28. The pile and pile guide hold the floating object in its horizontal position in the water, while usually permitting vertical movement of the floating dock as water levels change. The flanges 18,20 of the retainer are slidable within the slots. The flanges of the retainer are