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 supporting structure (102) for a wall or a roof partition (104;120) of a building structure (100), comprises an internal core structure (114) extending in a longitudinal direction, and first and second external covering profiles (106) for at least partially covering the core structure (114). The covering profiles (106) define inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces (108) facing one another, with slits (116) being formed at the inwardly facing surfaces (108). The core structure comprises at least two bands of material (114) which are mutually offset. The supporting structure (102) is suitable as a post, pillar, column, lath, batten, rafter, truss, girder, bar, or beam for a wall or roof partitions of a greenhouse, a cabin or shanty, a wall of a house, a stand-alone wall or roof partition, such as pent roof, a canopy, a fence, a windbreak or a solar panel structure The bands of material (114) are interconnected at their ends only and are pre-tensioned to provide stiffness, and may be configured to minimize their thermal conductivity.

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 support structure having a horizontal surface such as a deck or stage, the support structure having first and second modules which are interconnected together, the interconnection comprising a connector assembly having a first member with a vertically extending recess formed within a bottom wall thereof, the recess being bounded by first and second interior walls which each have a protrusion extending inwardly within the recess, and a second member comprising a U-shaped element having a base, first and second legs, each of the legs having an interior and an exterior wall with one of the legs having a recess formed in each of the interior and exterior walls such that the first leg sidingly fits within the recess formed within the first member and the second leg extends upwardly adjacent one of the first and second side walls to receive and support an adjacent module.

A method includes forming a cutout in a bamboo pole, the cutout having a non-uniform perimeter, and in which the perimeter increases towards a region of the bamboo pole where fibers of the pole are stronger than other regions of the bamboo pole.

This invention provides connector assemblies comprising at least two connector elements pivotally joined to each other, wherein each connector element is configured for attachment to a natural tree pole such as bamboo. Useful connector elements include members configured to conform the surface of a natural tree pole. Useful connector elements include terminal connector elements configured for attachment to the terminal end of a natural tree pole and side connector elements configured for attachment to the side of a natural tree pole.

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 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 method and apparatus for constructing a single story or multistory building using timber as a major structural material. The apparatus includes a connector plate having a series of pins extending therefrom. In a building component, each pin engages with a relatively small diameter timber flange by way of an axial bore hole formed in each flange. In this way, the flanges form a timber structural member useful in the formation of a framework of a building structure. The plate of the connector provides a fastener for fastening to other similar connectors or to other building structures. Various combinations of connectors and building flanges may be used to construct a single story building, and furthermore may be used in the construction of a multistory building.

A connection device for supporting a plurality of beams comprising a plate, a first side support and a second side support, with each side support including a top portion extending from the plate in a first direction and a bottom portion extending from the plate in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction. Included are a first guide and a second guide with each guide attaching to the plate and each side support. Each guide includes a top portion extending from the plate in the first direction and a bottom portion extending from the plate in the second direction. The plate, the top portion of each side support, and the top portion of each guide define a top cavity shaped to accept one of the beams. Further, the plate, the bottom portion of each side support, and the bottom portion of each guide define a bottom cavity shaped to accept one of the beams.