Multi-functional connector

An assembly for offsite construction of a portion of a building, comprising:

• a plurality of structural elements;
• at least one connector, each of the at least one connector being configured to interconnect respective first and second structural elements of the plurality of structural elements and comprising:
• a first access and buttress part and a second access and buttress part, wherein the first access and buttress part comprises a first box section, the second access and buttress part comprises a second box section, the first box section has a first plane parallel to ends of the first box section, the second box section has a second plane parallel to ends of the second box section, the first plane of the first box section is transverse to the second plane of the second box section, the first box section comprises a first box section first side wall spaced from and parallel to a first box section second side wall, the second box section comprises a second box section first side wall spaced from and parallel to a second box section second side wall, the first box section and the second box section are arranged so that the first box section second side wall is proximal to the second box section first side wall, the first box section first side wall defines a first location portion, the second box section second side wall defines a second location portion, the first location portion and the second location portion being configured, respectively, to receive the first and second structural elements extending at transverse angles to each other;
• a first access space defined between the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall for a fastener to be accessed;
• and
• a second access space defined between the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall for a fastener to be accessed,
• the first box section second side wall and the second box section first side wall together partially defining a third location portion configured to receive a third structural element extending transversely to each of the first and second structural elements,
• the third location portion also comprising a third location portion wall extending between the first box section second side wall and the second box section first side wall,
• the first box section comprising a first box section third side wall and a first box section fourth side wall, which each connect the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall, wherein the first box section third side wall and the first box section fourth side wall are perpendicular to the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall,
• the second box section comprises a second box section third side wall and a second box section fourth side wall, which each connect the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall, wherein the second box section third side wall and the second box section fourth side wall are perpendicular to the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall, and the first box section fourth side wall and the second box section fourth side wall are co-planar with each other and the third location portion wall.

A method of manufacturing a connector for offsite construction of a portion of a building, the method comprising:

• forming a first access and buttress part and a second access and buttress part from a plurality of plates that engage together,
• wherein the first access and buttress part comprises a first box section, the second access and buttress part comprises a second box section, the first box section has a first plane parallel to ends of the first box section, the second box section has a second plane parallel to ends of the second box section, the first plane of the first box section is transverse to the second plane of the second box section, the first box section comprises a first box section first side wall spaced from and parallel to a first box section second side wall, the second box section comprises a second box section first side wall spaced from and parallel to a second box section second side wall, the first box section and the second box section are arranged so that the first box section second side wall is proximal to the second box section first side wall, the first box section first side wall defines a first location portion, the second box section second side wall defines a second location portion, the first location portion and the second location portion being configured, respectively, to receive first and second structural elements extending at transverse angles to each other;
• a first access space defined between the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall them for a fastener to be accessed;
• and
• a second access space defined between the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall for a fastener to be accessed,
• the first box section second side wall and the second box section first side wall together partially defining a third location portion configured to receive a third structural element extending transversely to each of the first and second structural elements,
• the third location portion also comprising a third location portion wall extending between the first box section second side wall and the second box section first side wall,
• the first box section comprising a first box section third side wall and a first box section fourth side wall, which each connect the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall, wherein the first box section third side wall and the first box section fourth side wall are perpendicular to the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall,
• the second box section comprises a second box section third side wall and a second box section fourth side wall, which each connect the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall, wherein the second box section third side wall and the second box section fourth side wall are perpendicular to the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall, and the first box section fourth side wall and the second box section fourth side wall are co-planar with each other and the third location portion wall.

A method of constructing a structure, the method comprising:

• connecting a plurality of structural elements together using at least one connector, each of the at least one connector connecting respective first and second structural elements of the plurality of structural elements and comprising:
• a first access and buttress part and a second access and buttress part, wherein the first access and buttress part comprises a first box section, the second access and buttress part comprises a second box section, the first box section has a first plane parallel to ends of the first box section, the second box section has a second plane parallel to ends of the second box section, the first plane of the first box section is transverse to the second plane of the second box section, the first box section comprises a first box section first side wall spaced from and parallel to a first box section second side wall, the second box section comprises a second box section first side wall spaced from and parallel to a second box section second side wall, the first box section and the second box section are arranged so that the first box section second side wall is proximal to the second box section first side wall, the first box section first side wall defines a first location portion, the second box section second side wall defines a second location portion, the first location portion and the second location portion being configured, respectively, to receive the first and second structural elements extending at transverse angles to each other;
• a first access space defined between the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall for a fastener to be accessed;
• and
• a second access space defined between the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall for a fastener to be accessed,
• the first box section second side wall and the second box section first side wall together partially defining a third location portion configured to receive a third structural element extending transversely to each of the first and second structural elements,
• the third location portion also comprising a third location portion wall extending between the first box section second side wall and the second box section first side wall,
• the first box section comprising a first box section third side wall and a first box section fourth side wall, which each connect the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall, wherein the first box section third side wall and the first box section fourth side wall are perpendicular to the first box section first side wall and the first box section second side wall,
• the second box section comprises a second box section third side wall and a second box section fourth side wall, which each connect the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall, wherein the second box section third side wall and the second box section fourth side wall are perpendicular to the second box section first side wall and the second box section second side wall, and the first box section fourth side wall and the second box section fourth side wall are co-planar with each other and the third location portion wall.