A tension tie assembly for attachment of a first building member to a second building member under tension. The assembly includes a tie with a ball on one end that attaches to a first anchoring member on the first building member and a threaded stud on the opposite end that attaches to a second anchoring member on the second building member. A cable extends between the ball and the stud. The ball may be retained in a rotatable engagement by the first anchoring member. The force of tension on the tie can be adjusted after attachment to the first and second building members. The adjustability of tension can be provided by a threaded connection between sub-elements of the tie such a nut threaded to the stud.

A metal reinforcement fitting for reinforcing a through hole penetrating through a wooden building component from one surface and the other surface thereof includes: a first plate member made of a metal plate, a cylindrical member made of a metal cylinder, and a second plate member made of a metal plate. The first plate member has a through hole adapted to receive a rod-like fastener therethrough, and is adapted to be disposed on the one surface of the wooden building component. The cylindrical member is adapted to receive the rod-like fastener therethrough and to be inserted and fitted in the through hole of the wooden building component so as to extend over an entire length thereof. The second plate member has a through hole adapted to receive the rod-like fastener therethrough, and is adapted to be disposed on the other surface of the wooden building component.

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.

A modular framework having a plurality of elongate structural members interconnected by brackets is provided. Each of the brackets includes at least one tubular socket to receive a structural member, and an array of holes is provided on a face of the socket to permit connection of an attachment to the bracket to support ancillary components.

A reinforced stud-framed wall, including a bottom plate; first and second vertical studs; a member supported on the bottom plate, the member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; the first vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a first contact area, whereby a load on the first contact area is spread over a first area on the bottom plate larger than the first contact area; and the second vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a second contact area, whereby a load on the second contact area is spread over a second area on the bottom plate larger than the second contact area.

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 reinforced building wall includes a foundation and an anchor rod anchored to the foundation; a first stud wall disposed above the foundation; the first stud wall having a first bottom plate, a first top plate and first and second vertical studs operably joined to the first bottom plate and the first top plate; a horizontal first bridge member disposed between the first stud and the second stud, the first bridge member having a first vertical opening; a rod post having one end operably connected to the anchor rod and operably connected to the first bridge member to transfer downward forces from the first bridge member and the second bridge member to the rod post; the anchor rod is attached to an anchor; and the anchor is disposed in an upper portion of the foundation.

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 cantilevered peripheral portion of a light frame construction building, having a peripherally bounded interior, is disclosed. The cantilevered peripheral portion involves two structural engineered wood rim boards each having cavities facing the exterior of the building and joined at their terminal ends at an angle. One of the two structural engineered wood rim boards supports a first group of studs located above, along, and supported by, an upper flange a first of the two structural engineered wood rim boards. At least one supporting wall stud is located beneath a lower flange of a second of the two structural engineered wood rim boards such that a cantilevered overhang configuration is formed between the first group of studs and the at least one supporting wall stud.

A reinforced stud-framed wall, including a bottom plate; first and second vertical studs; a member supported on the bottom plate, the member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; the first vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a first contact area, whereby a load on the first contact area is spread over a first area on the bottom plate larger than the first contact area; and the second vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a second contact area, whereby a load on the second contact area is spread over a second area on the bottom plate larger than the second contact area.