Connection node for modular building structures

A building support assembly comprising:

• a plurality of support members;
• each respective support member comprising:
• a hollow support beam having an interior and extending along a respective central axis from a first end to a second end, the first end of the support having a respective first connection portion attached thereto and the second end of the support having a respective second connection portion attached thereto;
• the respective first connection portion comprising an outer surface substantially perpendicular to the respective central axis and an inner surface adjacent the interior of the support, the first connection portion having a bore therein from the outer surface to the inner surface, the inner surface defining a shoulder adjacent the bore, an inner wall extending upwards from the shoulder;
• and
• the respective second connection portion comprising an outer surface having an axial hole passing therethrough into the interior of the support;
• wherein a respective bolt having a respective head with a head diameter and a shank with a shank diameter can pass through the axial hole of the second connection portion, through the support and seat in the first connection portion with the head of the bolt engaging the shoulder of the first connection portion and the shank extending through the bore of the first connection portion;
• a coupler having a plurality of threaded apertures therein, each threaded aperture sized to be engaged by a threaded portion of a respective bolt with a shank of the shank diameter;
• wherein, when the plurality of support members are positioned substantially parallel to each other with the first connection portions of plurality of support members adjacent and the second connection portions adjacent, the coupler can be removably and simultaneously attached to the respective second connection portion of each of the plurality of support members and with each respective threaded aperture in the coupler in alignment with the axial hole of the second connection portion in a corresponding respective support member.

A method for assembling a structure using a plurality of bolts, each bolt having a head with a head diameter and a shank with a shank diameter less than the head diameter, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of building modules,
• each respective module comprising a vertical support member positioned along a vertical edge and extending from substantially a bottom of the respective building module to a top of the respective building module, each respective support member comprising an elongated hollow body having a central axis, a bottom connection portion at a bottom of the module and a top connection portion at a top of the module, the top connection portion of the respective support member having an axial hole therein large enough to allow a respective bolt to freely pass fully through and into the interior of the hollow body, the bottom connection portion of the respective support member comprising a bottom wall having an axial bore therein, a first region of the axial bore having a first diameter greater than the bolt head diameter, a second region of the axial bore downward from the first region having a second diameter greater than the bolt shank diameter and less than the bolt head diameter;
• (b) placing a first building module having a first support member on a substrate;
• (c) attaching the first support member to the substrate using a first bolt that has been inserted into the first support member through the top connection portion of the first support member so that the first bolt shank extends through the axial bore of the bottom connection portion of the first support member;
• (d) placing a second building module having a second support member on the substrate so that the second support member is adjacent the first support member of the first building module;
• (e) attaching the second support member to the substrate using a second bolt that has been inserted into the first support member through the top connection portion of the first support member so that the first bolt shank extends through the axial bore of the bottom connection portion of the first support member;
• (f) providing a coupler having at a first threaded aperture therein;
• and
• (g) attaching the coupler to the top connection portion of the first support member so the first threaded aperture is substantially in alignment with the axial hole of the top connection portion of the first support member.