An interface for a structural member includes at least one first sidewall that extends from a first end along a longitudinal direction and defines a first cavity. The at least one first sidewall defines a female end section and includes a transversely oriented female end surface at the first end. The interface also includes at least one second sidewall that extends from a second end along the longitudinal direction and defines a second cavity. The at least one second sidewall defines a male end section adjacent the second end and configured to be received within the first cavity, and a stop surface offset longitudinally from the second end and oriented to bear against the female end surface in substantially face-to-face contact when the male end section is received within the female end section. The stop surface and the male end section are integrally formed and monolithic.

An interface for a structural member includes at least one first sidewall that extends from a first end along a longitudinal direction and defines a first cavity. The at least one first sidewall defines a female end section and includes a transversely oriented female end surface at the first end. The interface also includes at least one second sidewall that extends from a second end along the longitudinal direction and defines a second cavity. The at least one second sidewall defines a male end section adjacent the second end and configured to be received within the first cavity, and a stop surface offset longitudinally from the second end and oriented to bear against the female end surface in substantially face-to-face contact when the male end section is received within the female end section. The stop surface and the male end section are integrally formed and monolithic.

An interface for a structural column includes a female end section that includes at least one first sidewall that extends from a first end along a longitudinal direction and defines a first cavity. An interior surface of the at least one first sidewall tapers transversely outwardly along the female end section towards the first end. The interface also includes a male end section that includes at least one second sidewall that extends from a second end along the longitudinal direction and defines a second cavity. The at least one second sidewall is configured to be received within, and oriented in substantially face-to-face adjacent relationship with, the at least one first sidewall. Each of the female end section and the male end section is a respective unitary casting.

A frame system for a building structure includes beam members. Each beam member includes two opposed, parallel flanges. A web is interposed between the flanges. Spreader members include two opposed, parallel side flanges, a web interposed between the side flanges and two opposed end flanges bridging the side flanges at respective terminal ends of the web. The beam members and the spreader members are configured to be fastened to each other to form a frame assembly.

A composite structural member for a building structure comprises a first elongate portion having a first end region and a second end region and a second elongate portion having a first end region and a second end region. The second end region of the first elongate portion is connected to the first end region of the second elongate portion so that the composite structural member provided thereby is substantially longer than either of the first and second elongate portions. The first elongate portion may comprise a first member suited for resisting high magnitude forces and the second elongate portion may be a second member, less well suited for resisting high forces but having lower cost per unit length. The composite structural member may be a rafter, especially a rafter of a portal frame.

A framing system for constructing at least a portion of a building. The framing system comprising beams, cross beams, corner posts, and inline posts. The beams including flanges and a wall arranged between the flanges. The cross beams including a flange and a wall attached to the flange. The corner posts including walls and flanges. The inline posts including flanges and a wall arranged between the flanges. The flanges include slots and the walls include open areas. Panels may attach to the slots. Decorative patterns may be integrally formed in the open areas.

A reusable modular housing system has a gridded structure comprising reusable components with dimensions corresponding to a two-unit system. The structure has floor and ceiling grids with dimensions that correspond to multiples of a first unit of measurement. The vertical beams that connect the floor and ceiling grids are spaced apart at dimensions that also correspond to multiples of the first unit of measurement. The structure has a variety of other components that can be coupled to the floor and ceiling grids and the vertical beams, and those other components have dimensions that correspond to a multiple of a second unit of measurement. Dimensions of the structure can vary, but each of the component parts can be detachably coupled into the gridded structure, so as to fit within the grid's dimensions based on respective multiples of the first unit of measurement and the second unit of measurement. The structure can be assembled into a first configuration, and when use of the structure is completed, the structure can be disassembled into its component parts which can be later assembled into the first configuration or a different second configuration. Use of a two-unit system of dimensions for the system allows for component parts to be reused on the same or other structures designed within the same dimensional system.

A tension load transfer device having a base and a transfer member connected by two webs, all of which are connected to a flange. The flange comprises a bolt hole pattern for connecting the load transfer device to a vertical support of a structure. The base comprises an anchor hole for receiving a lower tie member, and the transfer member comprises a plurality of receiving holes for receiving the respective lower ends of a plurality of upper tie members.

An interface for a structural column includes a female end section that includes at least one first sidewall that extends from a first end along a longitudinal direction and defines a first cavity. An interior surface of the at least one first sidewall tapers transversely outwardly along the female end section towards the first end. The interface also includes a male end section that includes at least one second sidewall that extends from a second end along the longitudinal direction and defines a second cavity. The at least one second sidewall is configured to be received within, and oriented in substantially face-to-face adjacent relationship with, the at least one first sidewall. An exterior surface of the at least one second sidewall tapers transversely inwardly, complementary to the at least one first sidewall, along the male end section towards the second end.

The present invention relates to using interlocking spacer braces between support members to construct wood and metal framed walls, floors and building trusses. Spacer braces have indentations, extensions, fingers that interlock horizontally, vertically or diagonally between support members. The spacer braces can form diagonal and lateral wall bracing, diagonal and vertical chords within building truss with either horizontally or vertical orientations, beams, hold-downs and shear walls. The spacer braces can be installed between wood or metal framing members.