A rafter bracket configured to connect a vertical post to a rafter and beam(s) is described herein. The rafter bracket may include lower vertical side plates, a horizontal plate, and upper vertical side plates. The horizontal plate may be perpendicular to the upper and lower vertical side plates and may separate the upper vertical side plates from the lower vertical side plates. The horizontal plate and lower vertical side plates may create a lower cavity that receives the vertical post. Meanwhile, the rafter may be positioned on one of the upper vertical side plates and positioned between two of the upper vertical side plates and may be angled at an acute angle relative to the vertical post as well as the upper and lower vertical side plates. One or more of the lower vertical side plates may receive lateral plates that define a lateral cavity receiving the beam.

A connector for connecting a frame member to one or more other frame members of a space frame assembly is disclosed. The connector includes a body defining a surface and a projection extending outwardly from the surface along a main axis to define an axial end surface away from the surface. The axial end surface defines a curvature having continuity across an expanse of the axial end surface to facilitate formation of a full penetration weld joint between an end of the frame member and the axial end surface upon a contact of the end of the frame member with the axial end surface.

A geodesic frame connector system for a geodesic frame and method are provided comprising a first discontinuous ring having a first discontinuous ring upper and lower faces, the first ring upper face including an opening extending through the first discontinuous ring, and having inner and outer ring perimeters. A second discontinuous ring is provided having second discontinuous ring upper and lower faces, and inner and outer ring perimeters, and a fastener is provided having a cross section smaller than the opening. When one of the first discontinuous ring lower face and upper face is placed adjacent one of the second discontinuous ring lower face and upper face, insertion of the fastener in the opening of the first discontinuous ring causes the fastener to contact the second discontinuous ring, thereby forcing the second discontinuous ring away from the first discontinuous ring.

Sinusoidal shaped member units and support member units are parts that form pre-stressed assemblies having flexural properties. Sinusoidal shaped members are relaxed material members that have been elastically deformed. Support members maintain the elastically deformed state of the sinusoidal shaped members. The sinusoidal shaped members and support members are organized into pre-stressed curvilinear assemblies containing stored elastic potential energy that is equal to the work done by the forces that deformed their pre-stressed structure. The assemblies' sinusoidal shaped members and support members are adapted to use materials having exceptional mechanical properties and flexural strength. This includes nano-composites. The assemblies' pre-stressed state enhances its mechanical, electrical and structural performance. The size, number, density and possible geometric configurations of the sinusoidal shaped member units and support member units within an assembly/structure is vast. Products of this sinusoidal building system have mechanical and structural applications and can be manufactured using an automated process.

A joint connector comprising a hub, two registration caps, a bolt assembly or similar means of connecting the components, and at least two wing pairs. The joint connector is adaptable and thus is capable of creating a variety of different joint networks. Joint connectors can be arranged to connect panel frames and panels for regularly faceted structures and asymmetrical or irregularly shaped structures.

A connector assembly, which in one embodiment has an upper connector and in another embodiment has a lower connector. The assembly can have a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors. Also, disclosed is a hoistable connector assembly, a lifting frame assembly, a coupling system for modular frame units, a method for assembling a module unit using the connector assembly, and a modular frame unit and building having the connector assembly. Also, a system for coupling adjacent modular frame units for forming a modular building and a method for coupling modular frame units for forming a modular building are provided.

The present disclosure relates to deployable structures, to methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and to associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure comprises a lattice element arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The lattice element (200) comprises a pre-stressed strip arranged in a clockwise helix (306, FIG. 3a), a pre-stressed strip arranged in an anticlockwise helix (308, FIG. 3a), and a plurality of fasteners (310, FIG. 3a) for rotatably coupling the strips to one another at a plurality of positions distributed along the length of the strips. The fasteners are provided at unequal spacings along the length of the strips such that on deployment the lattice element bends to a curved deployed configuration.

The present disclosure relates to deployable structures, to methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and to associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure comprises a lattice element arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The lattice element (200) comprises a pre-stressed strip arranged in a clockwise helix (306, FIG. 3a), a pre-stressed strip arranged in an anticlockwise helix (308, FIG. 3a), and a plurality of fasteners (310, FIG. 3a) for rotatably coupling the strips to one another at a plurality of positions distributed along the length of the strips. The fasteners are provided at unequal spacings along the length of the strips such that on deployment the lattice element bends to a curved deployed configuration.

In accordance with the present invention, an elevator core structure includes an elevator frame (120) separated from a main frame (110) and extending in a longitudinal direction of the main frame (110), and a guide frame (130) formed on an inner surface of the elevator frame (120). Here, the elevator frame (120) may be formed by stacking a plurality of frame segments (121), and a guide frame unit (131) forming the guide frame (130) may be mounted to one surface of each of the frame segments (121). The present invention exhibits an effect of early-constructing the elevator frame regardless of a construction schedule of a main frame of a building.

In accordance with the present invention, an elevator core structure includes an elevator frame (120) separated from a main frame (110) and extending in a longitudinal direction of the main frame (110), and a guide frame (130) formed on an inner surface of the elevator frame (120). Here, the elevator frame (120) may be formed by stacking a plurality of frame segments (121), and a guide frame unit (131) forming the guide frame (130) may be mounted to one surface of each of the frame segments (121). The present invention exhibits an effect of early-constructing the elevator frame regardless of a construction schedule of a main frame of a building.