A joint comprising: a tenon, a mortise for receiving the tenon, an aperture formed in one of the tenon and an interior wall of the mortise and a pin which extends from the other of the tenon and the interior wall of the mortise; wherein the aperture is a hole which is engaged by the pin in use such that the tenon is supported within the aperture, and the tenon is capable of vertical and horizontal motion within the mortise in a plane substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the pin, the motion being limited by the edges of the aperture.

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 connection device may include a first side support, a second side support opposite the first side support, a first guide and a second guide opposite the first side support. The first guide and second guide connect the first side support to the second side support. The first guide, second guide, first side support and second side support define at least one cavity shaped to accept an upright beam. A plate may extend between the first side support, the second side support, the first guide and the second guide, in which case the plate, first guide, second guide, first side support and second side support define two cavities shaped to accept two upright beams. One or more of the first guide, second guide, first side support and second side support may include a plurality of side attachments that define side connection area(s) shaped to accept a lateral beam(s).

A connection is formed between a held member and a holding member with the use of a connector and one or more fasteners. In one aspect, the connector has a main body that has integral nail prong fasteners. In one aspect, the main body of the connector is attached to the held and holding members by means of double-shear fastening. In one aspect, the main body is formed with a bendable end flange to attach the connector to the holding member. In one aspect, the main body is formed with a nail guide for directing the fastener at an angle to the main body.

In one aspect, a smart corner is provided that can be prefabricated. The smart corner comprises a rear side including a first hole, a first side including a second hole, a second side including a third hole, and a top. A wall frame is also provided. The wall frame includes a top plate, a bottom plate, studs, and four smart corners. A framing system is also provided comprising at least two wall frames. The at least two wall frames connect via the smart corners.

In one aspect, a smart corner is provided that can be prefabricated. The smart corner comprises a rear side including a first hole, a first side including a second hole, a second side including a third hole, and a top. A wall frame is also provided. The wall frame includes a top plate, a bottom plate, studs, and four smart corners. A framing system is also provided comprising at least two wall frames. The at least two wall frames connect via the smart corners.

A prefabricated steel-wood composite joint includes square pipe columns, steel-wood composite beams, and a beam-column connecting assembly for connecting the square pipe columns and the steel-wood composite beams. Each square pipe column includes connecting corner columns and connecting side plates. Each steel-wood composite beam includes a top flange, a bottom flange and wood webs for connecting the top flange and the bottom flange. The beam-column connecting assembly is a central column connecting assembly or a corner column connecting assembly. By a special structural design, the composite joint realizes effective beam-column connection without a welded connection and a bolted connection and has tenacity and good seismic performance. The components of the composite joint can be prefabricated in a factory, are high in precision and are assembled on site, so that construction is easy and convenient, procedures are simplified, and the construction period is effectively shortened.

A cylindrical sleeve-type steel-wood composite joint includes fiberglass reinforced panel (FRP) cylindrical wood columns, X-shaped wood beams, a key connecting component, arc connecting pieces and splicing outer ring plates. The key connecting component consists of upper and lower cylindrical steel sleeve plates, a connecting sleeve, a cylindrical solid wood and filling wood blocks. The FRP cylindrical wood columns are connected to the key connecting component and are inserted into the key connecting component through the cylindrical steel sleeve plates and penetrative steel bars. The X-shaped wood beams are connected to the key connecting component through the arc connecting pieces, and the splicing outer ring plates are fixed with bolts to realize combination and connection. By adoption of the design of the connecting sleeve, the joint has a high bearing capacity, vertical force transfer is guaranteed, operation is easy, and assembly is fast.

A prefabricated steel-wood composite joint includes square pipe columns, steel-wood composite beams, and a beam-column connecting assembly for connecting the square pipe columns and the steel-wood composite beams. Each square pipe column includes connecting corner columns and connecting side plates. Each steel-wood composite beam includes a top flange, a bottom flange and wood webs for connecting the top flange and the bottom flange. The beam-column connecting assembly is a central column connecting assembly or a corner column connecting assembly. By a special structural design, the composite joint realizes effective beam-column connection without a welded connection and a bolted connection and has tenacity and good seismic performance. The components of the composite joint can be prefabricated in a factory, are high in precision and are assembled on site, so that construction is easy and convenient, procedures are simplified, and the construction period is effectively shortened.

A cylindrical sleeve-type steel-wood composite joint includes fiberglass reinforced panel (FRP) cylindrical wood columns, X-shaped wood beams, a key connecting component, arc connecting pieces and splicing outer ring plates. The key connecting component consists of upper and lower cylindrical steel sleeve plates, a connecting sleeve, a cylindrical solid wood and filling wood blocks. The FRP cylindrical wood columns are connected to the key connecting component and are inserted into the key connecting component through the cylindrical steel sleeve plates and penetrative steel bars. The X-shaped wood beams are connected to the key connecting component through the arc connecting pieces, and the splicing outer ring plates are fixed with bolts to realize combination and connection. By adoption of the design of the connecting sleeve, the joint has a high bearing capacity, vertical force transfer is guaranteed, operation is easy, and assembly is fast.