A truss includes a plurality of truss members, each truss member formed from a unitary folded blank of sheet metal to create a main panel, and proximal and distal flanges and a horizontal panel each extending perpendicularly from the main panel, the proximal flange of a first truss member is connected to the distal flange of a second truss member to form a truss. In one embodiment employing trusses formed of folded sheet metal, a plurality of interconnected truss modules, each truss module including a plurality of truss members, forms a plurality of oppositely extending horizontal flanges that collectively present the top and bottom surfaces of a cantilevered canopy.

A truss includes a plurality of truss members, each truss member formed from a unitary folded blank of sheet metal to create a main panel, and proximal and distal flanges and a horizontal panel each extending perpendicularly from the main panel, the proximal flange of a first truss member is connected to the distal flange of a second truss member to form a truss. In one embodiment employing trusses formed of folded sheet metal, a plurality of interconnected truss modules, each truss module including a plurality of truss members, forms a plurality of oppositely extending horizontal flanges that collectively present the top and bottom surfaces of a cantilevered canopy.

A shelter or camper that provides improved portability and protection. The shelter or camper may include rigid walls to offer greater protection from weather, animals, and theft. The shelter or camper may be transitionable between different configurations for different purposes, including an open and expanded configuration for use as a shelter, camper, or sleeping quarters and a compact, closed case configuration for easy storage and transport. To facilitate this, the walls may be foldable, expandable, or collapsible. When the walls are folded or collapsed, roof and floor sections may be connected to each other and may enclose the folded, collapsed walls and internal components within the collapsed closed case.

A light and relatively simple structure for preventing rain leakage in a tree house. A tree house using a trunk of a tree as a pillar inevitably has a gap between the trunk and a roof. Thus, a plurality of two-layer waterproof sheets are placed on top of the roof, so that each sheet can absorb rain water that would run down the trunk of the tree and enter the gap, and can drain the rain water onto the roof. This makes it possible to prevent rain leakage in the tree house through the gap between the trunk of the tree and the roof.

The invention provides a prefabricated volumetric construction module having connection mechanism for securing to other similar modules. A prefabricated volumetric construction module includes a self-supporting structure and pairs of corner castings arranged at least at the corners of the structure. During building construction, the modules are assembled and secured together using connection rods and interlocking plates to provide vertical securement between vertically adjoining modules and horizontal securement between horizontally adjoining modules.

A balcony includes a balcony assembly and a structural post and outrigger system. The structural posts provide structural support for buildings and include the outriggers that extend substantially perpendicularly from the structural posts to a location where the balcony assembly will be installed. The outriggers include a tube or beam and an end plate on an end of the beam distal from the structural post. The balcony assembly includes at least one long beam, a platform, and a locking mechanism on an end of the long beam. The locking mechanism includes a channel for receiving and securing the end plate of the outrigger. The balcony assembly is secured to the outrigger using fasteners.

A balcony includes a balcony assembly and a structural post and outrigger system. The structural posts provide structural support for buildings and include the outriggers that extend substantially perpendicularly from the structural posts to a location where the balcony assembly will be installed. The outriggers include a tube or beam and an end plate on an end of the beam distal from the structural post. The balcony assembly includes at least one long beam, a platform, and a locking mechanism on an end of the long beam. The locking mechanism includes a channel for receiving and securing the end plate of the outrigger. The balcony assembly is secured to the outrigger using fasteners.

A lifeguard observation station having a support structure, a platform member and stairs. The platform member is supported by the support structure and is elevated from ground level. The platform member has a first side, with at least a portion of the first side of the platform member being configured to be positioned proximate to or in-line with an edge of a pool or body of water. The stairs extend between the ground level and the platform member. The support structure is offset from the stairs. The lifeguard observation station provides a lifeguard unimpaired line-of-sight to swimmers or bathers in the pool or body of water whether when the lifeguard is positioned on the platform member or on the stairs.

Canopy structures and methods for erecting the same include a main support that is attached to a foot at a first pinned hinge point. A hub is attached to the main support at a second pinned hinge point. One or more arms are attached to the hub. One or more purlins are attached to the one or more arms. An upper surface mounted on the one or more purlins.

Adaptive buildings and building envelopes having a system of structural members which also function as one or more selectively independent fluidic transport systems. Fluids to be transported such as air, rainwater, potable water, irrigation water, and/or gray water, are moved about the adaptive buildings via the various fluidic transport systems to locations disposed about the adaptive buildings where they are used as needed. Such fluids are also selectively filtered and cleaned by a plurality of filter plate systems disposed about the structure.