Frame rail assemblies and interlocking frame rail systems

Abstract

A frame rail assembly for a boat dock structure includes a frame rail member and a removable resilient rub-rail member. The frame rail member includes a first side configured for securing the frame rail member to a side of the boat dock structure; a second side opposing the first side; a first channel extending along a length of the frame rail member; and a second channel below the first channel, the second channel extending along the length of the frame rail member. An interlocking frame rail system for boat dock structures includes a first frame rail member, a second frame rail member, and an upper connector member extending along at least a portion of a length of the first frame rail member and at least a portion of the length of a second frame rail member.

1 . A frame rail assembly for a boat dock structure, the frame rail assembly comprising:
 a frame rail member including an outer surface, a first side configured for securing the frame rail member to a side of the boat dock structure, a second side opposing the first side, a top surface extending between the first side and the second side, a first channel extending along a length of the frame rail member, and a second channel below the first channel, the second channel extending along the length of the frame rail member, wherein the first channel is on the top surface of the frame rail member and the second channel is on the second side of the frame rail member,   wherein the first channel includes a first inner section and a first outer section, the first outer section being open at the top surface, wherein the first inner section has a cross-sectional area larger than the first outer section,   wherein the second channel includes a second inner section and a second outer section, the second outer section being open at the outer surface, wherein the second inner section has a cross-sectional area larger than the second outer section.   
     
     
         2 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable resilient rub-rail member projecting outward from the second side and extending along at least a portion of the length of the frame rail member and over the top surface of the frame rail member, wherein:
 the cross-sections of the first coupling member and the second coupling member are sized and shaped such that the first coupling member and the second coupling member are limited to longitudinal insertion into and removal from the first channel and the second channel, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rub-rail member including a first coupling member having a cross-section shaped complementarily to a cross-section of the first channel, the first coupling member extending through the first channel of the frame rail member in engagement therewith, and a second coupling member having a cross-section shaped complementarily to a cross-section of the second channel and extending through the second channel in engagement therewith 
     
     
         4 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the frame rail member has a rounded shape. 
     
     
         5 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the frame rail member has a substantially flat shape. 
     
     
         6 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the frame rail member slopes downwardly from a side of the top surface closest to the first side of the frame rail member to a side of the top surface closest to the second side of the frame rail member. 
     
     
         7 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rub-rail member comprises an outer bumper shell projecting outward from the second side, and an inner rib disposed inside the outer bumper shell but not attached to the outer bumper shell, and configured for supporting the outer bumper shell upon heavy impact, the inner rib being oriented so as to be less deformable than the outer bumper shell. 
     
     
         8 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the inner rib extends outward from the frame rail member. 
     
     
         9 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner channel extends at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the outer surface of the frame rail member on the first side of the frame rail member. 
     
     
         10 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the second inner section of the first channel is different from a cross-sectional shape of the second inner section of the second channel. 
     
     
         11 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one raised ridge on a top surface of the rub-rail member. 
     
     
         12 . A frame rail assembly for a boat dock structure, the frame rail assembly comprising:
 a frame rail member including a first side configured for securing the frame rail member to a side of the boat dock structure, a second side opposing the first side, a first channel extending along a length of the frame rail member, and a second channel extending along the length of the frame rail member, wherein the second channel is on the second side of the frame rail member,   wherein the first channel includes a first inner section and a first outer section, the first outer section being open at the outer surface, wherein the first inner section has a cross-sectional area larger than the first outer section,   wherein the second channel includes a second inner section and a second outer section, the second outer section being open at the outer surface, wherein the second inner section has a cross-sectional area larger than the second outer section.   
     
     
         13 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a removable resilient rub-rail member projecting outward from the second side and extending along at least a portion of the length of the frame rail member, the rub-rail member including a first coupling member having a cross-section shaped complementarily to a cross-section of the first channel, the first coupling member extending through the first channel of the frame rail member in engagement therewith, and a second coupling member having a cross-section shaped complementarily to a cross-section of the second channel and extending through the second channel in engagement therewith 
     
     
         14 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cross-sections of the first coupling member and the second coupling member are sized and shaped such that the first coupling member and the second coupling member are limited to longitudinal insertion into and removal from the first channel and the second channel, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the rub-rail member comprises an outer bumper shell projecting outward from the second side, and an inner rib disposed inside the outer bumper shell but not attached to the outer bumper shell, and configured for supporting the outer bumper shell upon heavy impact, the inner rib being oriented so as to be less deformable than the outer bumper shell. 
     
     
         16 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the inner rib extends outward from the frame rail member. 
     
     
         17 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first inner channel extends at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the outer surface of the frame rail member on the first side of the frame rail member. 
     
     
         18 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the second inner section of the first channel is different from a cross-sectional shape of the second inner section of the second channel. 
     
     
         19 . The frame rail assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one raised ridge on a surface of the rub-rail member.