US3208227A

US3208227A - Demountable pier structure

Info

Publication number: US3208227A
Application number: US48436A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy J Armbrust
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-08-09
Filing date: 1960-08-09
Publication date: 1965-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-28

Description

Se t. 28, 1965 R. J. ARMBRUST DEMOUNTABLE PIER STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1960 no ivy MW mw a m 3 m W RN? U h 0 i M0 w mm mm B R Mm RP. Aw M U 0 M E D Sept. 28, 165

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 19

INVENTOR.

p 1965 R. J. ARMBRUST 3,Z@8,227

DEMOUNTABLE PIER STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. rzw

United States Patent 3,208,227 DEMOUNTABLE PIER STRUCTURE Roy J. Armbrust, 28501 Gaklawn, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Filed Aug. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 48,436 Claims. (CI. 61-48) This invention relates to a demountable pier structure and more particularly to a pier structure comprised of a plurality of pier sections resting upon a unique tubular H-frame support which together permit a ready assembly or disassembly of the parts to facilitate the ready erection and/or storage of the parts upon disassembly.

This invention consists of a pier structure comprising pier deck sections which are supported in V-shaped brackets secured to the H-frame supports, in a manner, that each such support commonly supports one end of each pair of abutting pier deck sections. The tubular H-frame support member in turn rests upon posts bearing upon the ground beneath the water. The posts and H-frame legs are locked together by a latch arrangement which permits the leveling of the pier deck sections, by mechanical manipulation which occurs from the deck section through the use of a jacking arrangement which is made to lit the tubular H-frame leg and which rests upon the associated post and relieves the weight upon the latch member to permit the leveling of the deck section, while the leveler is standing thereupon.

In the past a pier of this type generally required the party doing the erecting of the pier to go into the water to level the pier deck sections, through the use of bolt or set screw arrangements which had to be readjusted or realigned. Also in the past piers of this general type were assembled with the use of bolts, screws or the like requiring the extensive use of tools in the assembly or disassembly thereof. The present invention does away with the use of bolts in the assembly of the pier on location, thereby minimizing the use of tools needed therefor, so that even the most inexperienced mechanics can readily assemble the various parts to erect the pier.

Due to the ready assembly and disassembly features of the present invention, the pier can be disassembled at the end of the boating and swimming season and stored so that it is not exposed to the elements which ordinarily inflict damage upon a permanent type pier structure,

thereby prolonging the life of the pier assembly. The

pier sections are assembled in abutting relationship, with each pair of abutting pier deck sections resting upon an H-frame support in a common manner.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the demountable pier structure embodying the present invention with three deck sections being shown in assembly,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pier shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an end view taken at one of the tubular H- frame support members showing not only the pier structure, but also a jacking device in place ready for the leveling operation,

FIG. 4 is a section taken through one of the tubular H-frame legs which is partly broken away for convenience of the drawing, showing in detail the telescoping of the H-frame legs around a post and showing the latch mechanism in detail and also a bearing plate for a footing and a V-bracket with one end of a pier deck section resting thereon,

FIG. 5 is a side view taken from the inside of an H- frame section showing one leg thereof with a V-bracket supporting two abutting ends of pier deck sections in assembly and showing a side View of the latching mechanism secured to the H-frame leg and locking it relative to the post telescoped therein,

3,2322? Patented Sept. 28, 1965 FIG. 6 is a latch plate shown disassembled from the latching mechanism.

In FIG. 1, the demountable pier structure 10 is shown with the shore frame 11 being embedded. in a cement base 12. The pier deck sections 13 are shown in assembly with one end resting upon the shore frame 11 and the other ends supported by H-frame supports 14. The H-frame supports in turn rest upon posts 15 which are telescoped into the legs of the tubular HI-frames from below. The latching mechanisms 16 are shown at the water line locking the H-frame supports and the posts in a fixed relationship. The posts 15 are seen resting upon hearing plates 17 which surround the lower extremity of each post and which are held thereon by pins 18. The bearing plates rest upon the ground beneath the water supporting the pier structure above. Also shown are the side rails comprised of rail posts 19 which are inserted into the top of the tubular I-I-frame support members 14, with various rail posts being linked together as by the chain 21, or the like. The catwalk sections 22 which are optional features with the pier, are shown supported by brackets extending from the tubular H-frame supports.

In the assembly shown the demountable pier structure is seen with pier deck sections 13 resting upon the H- frame supports 14, with the weight of the pier deck being transmitted to the posts 15 which in turn bear upon the bearing plates 17 bearing on the ground. This assembly is readily fitted together by inserting the mating elements together.

The deck sections 13 are better shown in FIG. 2 which shows each deck section comprised of three planks in side-by-side relationship. The catwalk 22 is here seen as a single plank deck. More details of the pier deck assembly are shown in FIG. 3 the tubular H-frame support 14 is being shown telescoped upon the posts 15 (broken lines) and the pier deck section 13 shown bolted to flanged member 23 which in turn is inserted into and supported by the V-shaped brackets 24 extending laterally from the H-frame leg. The rail posts 19 are inserted into the upper portion of the. legs of the tubular H-frarne support 14, while a jack mechanism 25 is shown inserted into the upper portion of the opposite leg of the tubular H-frame support 14.

The jack mechanism 25 consists of a bar 26 which is shown inserted into the upper portion of the leg of the tubular H-frame support 14 and resting upon the post 15, and a handle 27 for exerting an upward force upon the pier deck section 13 through the means of the chain linkage 28 and associated

hooks

29 and 31. When an upward force is exerted upon the handle 27, it in turn causes a downward force to be exerted upon the bar 26 which force is transmitted to the post 15 and simultaneously therewith the upward force on handle 27 causes the chain linkages 28 in turn to exert an upward force upon the pier deck section 13. The opposed actions of these two forces relieve the weight upon the latch mechanism 16, which is and acts as a one-way clutch, causing the latch plate 32 to release its grip upon the post 15 and permitting the H-frame member 14 to be elevated thereon. Once a downward weight is again exerted upon the deck 13 the downward force causes the latch plate 32 of the one-way clutch 16 to once again grip the post 15 thereby automatically locking the H-frame support at a new elevation. If it is desired to lower the level of a pier deck section, the one-way clutch means 16 may be released by tapping of the latch plate 32 of the latch mechanism 16 with a pole or rod or other means as shown in broken lines at 33 downwardly, this downward force causing the latch plate 32 to slip along the post 15 thereby lowering the level of the H-frame support 14-, with a consequent lowering of a deck section 13.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a V-shaped bracket 24 supporting a portion of a deck section 13, through the flange member 23 to which the deck section is bolted by bolts 34. The V-shaped bracket 24 is shown welded to the H-frame support by weld 35 and extending laterally therefrom.

The clutch mechanism 16 is also shown enlarged in section in FIG. 4 with the latch plate 32 shown in looking position gripping the post 115. The flange portion as of the clutch mechanism is shown secured to the H-frame support 14 by weld. The nut and bolt assembly 37 shown through the apertures in the flange members 36 and the latch plate 32 holds the members in assembly. Flange member 36 also supports a helical spring 38 which with the nut and bolt arrangement 37 is seen biased into an oblique position because of the downward force exerted by weight upon the deck causing the plate 32 to be rotated into a position wherein it bites into the post 15 and rotates the nut and bolt assembly. This causes a locking of the post and the H-frame support 14 in a fixed relationship.

A portion of a rail post 19 is shown inserted into the uppermost opening of the tubular H-frame support 14, while a base plate 17 is shown surrounding the lower extremity of a post 15 the two being held in assembly by pins 18.

In FIG. 5, the V-shaped bracket extending laterally from the H-frame support 14 is more clearly shown with flange members 23 shown bolted by bolts 34 to the deck 13 inserted into the V-shaped bracket and secured therein by the pin 39. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the latch plate 32 showing the aperture 41 which surrounds the post 15 and the aperture 42 through which the bolt assembly 37 is inserted.

The novel pier structure of the present invention is assembled by placing the shore frame 11 in a vertical position at a desired shore location. One end of a pier deck section 13 is inserted into the V-shaped brackets of the shore frame, the other end of the pier deck section being supported by a first I-I-frame support which is placed out in the water at an appropriate distance from the shore. The subsequent sections are supported by other H-frame supports as necessary until the desired pier has been completed. The necessary leveling operations are then conducted from upon the pier itself.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is seen that a very flexible assembly unit which is simply erected and just as simply disassembled, is provided. This pier unit is particularly characterized by the novel telescoping feature of the posts and H-frame members which permit the leveling of the pier sections by manipulation of a jack assembly from a position upon the pier deck itself thus avoiding any need for entry into the water by one who is leveling the various sections. The pier assembly herein described is also characterized by its simplicity of construction in that no bolts or setscrews or other means such as these are required in the erection process and therefore any assembly and disassembly of the pier can be accomplished with a minimum number of tools by the most inexperienced of mechanics. This novel structure provides an assembly which is portable and so free to be stored when not in use, so that the pier is not subjected to damage such as a permanent type of installation must endure from the elements during the winter months.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the preferred embodiment herein described may be changed and modified without departing from. the spirit of the invention, further that the disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that the invention is not intended to be limited thereto, so that all embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims are deemed to have been intended.

What I claim is:

1. In a pier structure, a supporting assembly comprising a rigid frame having spaced tubular vertical legs of substantial length, a post slidably arranged within each tubular leg and extending downwardly therefrom, and one-way releasable clutch means affixed to the lower extremity of each said leg and engaging the post therein for normally gripping said post and preventing downward movement of said leg upon said post while permitting upward movement of said leg along said post, said clutch means providing the means of support of each said leg upon the post extending thereinto whereby the elevation of each said leg of said frame may be independently adjusted with automatic gripping of the supporting posts at a desired location, said clutch means comprising a flange extending laterally from the frame leg, a latch plate having an aperture therein through which the post passes with appreciable clearance, fastening means connecting one side of said plate to said flange for limited pivotal movement, and spring biasing means urging said plate obliquely upwardly toward gripping engagement with said post.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flanges of the clutch means are disposed on the inner sides of the leg with respect to the frame whereby the free sides of the latch plates are exposed on the outside of the frame and thus accessible from above for release by the application of a downward force on said free sides of said plates.

3. In a pier structure, a deck section, a supporting assembly for said deck section comprising a rigid frame having spaced tubular vertical legs of substantial length, a post slidably arranged within each tubular leg and extending downwardly therefrom, and one-way releasable clutch means affixed to the lower extremity of each said leg and engaging the post therein for normally gripping said post and preventing downward movement of said leg upon said post while permitting upward movement of said leg along said post, said clutch means providing the means of support of each said leg upon the post extending thereinto whereby the elevation of each said leg of said frame may be independently adjusted with automatic gripping of the supporting posts at a desired location, said deck section having a width which is less than the distance between the legs of the frame, said posts terminating at their tops within said tubular legs below the tops thereof.

4. In a pier structure, a deck section, a supporting assembly for said deck section comprising a rigid frame having spaced tubular vertical legs of substantial length, a post slidably arranged within each tubular leg and extending downwardly therefrom, and one-way releasable clutch means affixed to the lower extremity of each said leg and engaging the post therein for normally gripping said post and preventing downward movement of said leg upon said post while permitting upward movement of said leg along said post, said clutch means providing the means of support of each said leg upon the post extending thereinto whereby the elevation of each said leg of said frame may be independently adjusted with automatic gripping of the supporting posts at a desired location, said deck section having a width which is less than the distance between the legs of said frame, said posts terminating at their tops within said tubular legs below the tops thereof, and additional posts extending down into and supported by the top portions of said legs of said frame and extending above the level of said deck section.

5. In a pier structure, a plurality of abutting deck sections, at supporting assembly for supporting said deck sections at each butt joint comprising a rigid frame having spaced tubular vertical legs of substantial length, a post slidably arranged within each tubular leg and extending downwardly therefrom, andone-way releasable clutch means aflixed to the lower extremity of each said leg and engaging the post therein for normally gripping said post and preventing downward movement of said leg upon said post while permitting upward movement of said leg along said post, said clutch means providing the means of support of each said leg upon the post extending thereinto whereby the elevation of each said leg of said frame may be independently adjusted with automatic gripping of the supporting posts at a desired location, said deck sections having widths less than the distance between the legs of said frame, V brackets fixed to the inner sides of the legs of each frame at the tops thereof, said deck sections including angle iron members extending across the abutting ends of said sections with a flange extending downwardly, the flanges of the angle iron members of abuting sections resting in and supported by said V brackets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,592,626 4/52 Wanless 6l48 2,618,124 11/52 Holsten 6l48 6 Melges 61-48 Templeton 6146.5 Petterson 256-25 De Long et al 61-46.5 Karst 61-48 Johnson 254-107 Cahill et al. 61-48 X Fentiman 61-48 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, JACOB SHAPJIRO, EARL J.

WITMER, Examiners.