How to Build Stronger Modular Floating Docks Using Internal Channels
A design for floating dock modules that feature built-in side grooves, allowing you to slide stiffening bars through them to keep the entire platform rigid and stable.
Original patent title: “Weight distribution and stiffening system for modular floating platforms”
A design for floating dock modules that feature built-in side grooves, allowing you to slide stiffening bars through them to keep the entire platform rigid and stable. Granted to Individual in 2024 with 16 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to make modular floating platforms, like those used for docks or marinas, much sturdier. Each individual float module has specific recessed grooves on its side surfaces. When you line up these modules in rows, the grooves align to create a continuous internal channel running through the entire platform. By sliding a stiffening member—like a metal or composite bar—into these channels, the modules are locked together more securely, preventing the platform from bending or warping under weight.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover floating platforms that lack side-recessed channels for stiffeners
- Does not cover methods of connecting modules that rely solely on surface-level fasteners without internal stiffening members
- Does not cover the specific material composition of the float modules or the stiffening bars
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in using the side recesses of the modules themselves to form a structural 'spine' inside the platform, effectively turning a collection of individual plastic blocks into a single, rigid beam.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Modular floating docks for marinas
Floating platforms for swimming areas
Temporary floating walkways
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Modular floating docks often suffer from flexibility issues, causing them to feel unstable or break apart in rough water. By creating a standardized way to reinforce these structures internally, this design allows for larger, more reliable floating platforms that can support heavier loads without needing complex external framing.
Filed
October 19, 2021
Granted
October 22, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
This technology is relevant to manufacturers of marine infrastructure and recreational floating dock systems. Companies that produce rotational-molded plastic dock modules are the primary entities that could integrate these internal channel features into their existing product lines.
Market impact
This patent provides a specific structural improvement for the floating dock industry, which is currently fragmented among many small-to-medium manufacturers. It offers a standardized way to improve product durability, which could eventually become a preferred design feature for commercial marina operators looking to reduce maintenance costs.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to make modular floating platforms, like those used for docks or marinas, much sturdier. Each individual float module has specific recessed grooves on its side surfaces. When you line up these modules in rows, the grooves align to create a continuous internal channel running through the entire platform. By sliding a stiffening member—like a metal or composite bar—into these channels, the modules are locked together more securely, preventing the platform from bending or warping under weight.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in using the side recesses of the modules themselves to form a structural 'spine' inside the platform, effectively turning a collection of individual plastic blocks into a single, rigid beam.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover floating platforms that lack side-recessed channels for stiffeners
- Does not cover methods of connecting modules that rely solely on surface-level fasteners without internal stiffening members
- Does not cover the specific material composition of the float modules or the stiffening bars
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$21K – $67K
Midpoint $42K · 15.3 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nelson, B. (2024). How to Build Stronger Modular Floating Docks Using Internal Channels (U.S. Patent No. 12,123,456). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12123456/starbase-manufacturing-facility
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Build Stronger Modular Floating Docks Using Internal Channels cover?
A design for floating dock modules that feature built-in side grooves, allowing you to slide stiffening bars through them to keep the entire platform rigid and stable.
Who owns patent US 12123456?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 22, 2044, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Modular floating docks often suffer from flexibility issues, causing them to feel unstable or break apart in rough water. By creating a standardized way to reinforce these structures internally, this design allows for larger, more reliable floating platforms that can support heavier loads without needing complex external framing.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover floating platforms that lack side-recessed channels for stiffeners
Same assignee
More from Individual
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