Modular building methods and systems using lightweight foam modular panels. Each panel includes one or more channels formed through the length of the foam body, where the channels are configured to receive splines therein. The channels may include pairs of top and pairs of bottom channels, each channel being offset from the center of the foam body, so that the channels are oriented towards the respective panel faces. Splines may also be positioned along the top and bottom of the panel (such splines forming a web center portion of an I-beam). In combination with the splines in the top and bottom channels, these web center portion splines form horizontally extending I-beams at the top and bottom of each panel, so that stacked panels include a horizontally extending I-beam there between. Side-by-side panels include vertical posts there between, such that the system forms a post and beam construction system.

A framework for modular furniture comprises a plurality of structural members interconnected by brackets. The brackets include at least one tubular socket to receive a respective one of the structural members. The sockets have at least one planar face, and an array of holes on the planar face of the socket to permit connection of an attachment to the bracket to support ancillary components. The array of holes is arranged as two parallel rows spaced apart to define a grid.

A metal joint for joining, to a frame built by appropriately combining a horizontal structural member and a vertical structural member, a rectangular panel fitted into the frame includes a base member made of a rectangular metal plate, and cylindrical members which are each made of a metal cylinder, and are fixed onto opposite surfaces of the base member. The base member is adapted to be disposed between the frame and the panel. The cylindrical members are adapted to be fitted into circular holes formed in the frame and the panel.

A folding slab and a central column composite joint and an assembly method thereof, wherein the folding slab and a prefabricated column-beam composite joint adopting a steel-wood composite structure guarantees a construction quality, improves a construction efficiency, and optimizes a seismic performance of a structure. The folding slab and the central column composite joint including a steel-wood composite column, square wood columns, connecting assemblies for connecting the steel-wood composite column and the square wood beams, and folding wood slabs connected with and supported by the steel-wood composite column, the square wood columns and the connecting assemblies.

An apparatus interconnects a metal stud fastened with a metal fastener and a wood stud fastened with a wood fastener. The metal stud includes a face wall and two side walls each extending away from the face wall to define a channel in between. Also included are two stud connector supports opposed to one another and a connector cross-support fixed to two stud connector supports transversely spaced apart to define a first stud receiver opposite a second stud receiver. The first stud receiver includes two side tabs each defined by a different one of the two stud connector supports, a medial tab defined by the connector cross-support, and two slots each defined between the medial tab and a different one of the two side tabs. A first one of the two side tabs defines a first tab aperture to receive the metal fastener to fasten the metal stud to the first stud receiver. The second stud receiver includes two side rails each defined by a different one of the two stud connector supports. A first one of the two side rails defines a first rail aperture to receive the wood fastener to fasten the wood stud to the second stud receiver.

A connection and a method of making a connection between an outer member and one or more inner structural members of a structure such as a building, the connection having a compression strut having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being supported by one of the one or more inner structural members, the outer portion being in contact with the outer member, a connector plate engaging the compression strut and the outer member and one or more tension fasteners attaching the connector plate to one or more of the one or more inner structural members.

Structural support apparatus, system, and installation method, comprising a base member adapted for being mounted to an existing building structure, an attachment bracket mounted to the base member at a pivot point adapted to be set securely to an angle selected during installation, the attachment bracket also adapted for mounting to a wood riser having openings therein to match the attachment bracket.

The present invention provides a fastener alignment guide comprising a generally planar body and an angled element arranged at an acute angle to the body, a first aperture arranged through the angled element and a second aperture arranged through the body, wherein the first aperture and the second apertures are aligned such that a fastener may be inserted progressively through the first and second apertures in use. The present invention also provides a slip-resisting fastener alignment guide comprising a body at least partially arranged in a first plane, the body comprising a first aperture for receiving, in use, at least a portion of a shank of a fastener; and a guidewall extending out of the first plane for guiding the fastener, in use, into the first aperture at an acute angle a to the first plane, wherein the guidewall comprises a first bearing edge or surface upon which an underside of a head of the fastener can bear in use, the body further comprises a second bearing edge or surface upon which the underside of the head of the fastener can bear in use, and the first bearing edge or surface and the second bearing edge or surface are each configured/arranged to resist movement, in use, of the fastener alignment guide relative to the fastener in a first direction parallel to the first plane. The present invention also provides a method of forming the fastener alignment guide and slip-resisting fastener alignment guide.

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 hold down system for a building wall comprises a first rigid member and a second rigid member, the second rigid member being vertically spaced apart from the first rigid member, the first rigid member is supported on a horizontal member of a stud wall, the first and second rigid members including first and second openings, respectively; a tie-rod with a lower end portion for being anchored to an anchorage, the tie-rod extending transversely through the first and second openings, the tie-rod dividing the first and second rigid members into a first lateral section on one side of the tie-rod and a second lateral section on a diametrically opposite side of the tie-rod; first support and second support disposed between the first and second rigid members, the first support being disposed in the first lateral section, the second support being disposed in the second lateral section, the tie-rod extending through the first and second rigid members outside of the first support or the second support; and a nut threaded to the tie-rod, the nut exerting pressure on the second rigid member to place the tie rod under tension loading, the tension loading is transferred by the second rigid member to the first and second supports to subject the first and second supports to compression loading, thereby causing the first rigid member to press on the horizontal member of the stud wall via the first and second lateral sections of the first rigid member, thus distributing the compression loading.