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;
• at least one coupler, each respective coupler having a threaded aperture therein and attachable to the second connection portion to position the threaded aperture in alignment with the axial hole of the second connection portion, each threaded aperture sized to be engaged by a threaded portion of a respective bolt with a shank having a shank diameter;
• at least one bushing, each bushing comprising a cylindrical body with a top and a bottom and a cylinder axis, an elongated slot therein and a flange extending radially outward from the cylindrical body, the elongated slot having a length defining a major axis intersecting the cylinder axis and having a width less than the length and greater than the shank diameter, the bushing being mountable within the bore at the second end of the first connection portion of a respective support member with the bushing flange engaging the shoulder, the bushing being rotatable within the first connection portion when so mounted to allow adjustment of a rotational position of the slot relative to the central axis of the respective support member, wherein when a respective bolt is passed through the slot, the bolt shank is movable along the major axis of the slot.

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 and bushings,
• 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 first connection portion at a bottom of the vertical support member and a second connection portion at the top of the vertical support member, the first connection portion comprising a respective outer surface substantially perpendicular to the central axis and a respective 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 and an inner wall extending upwards from the shoulder, the second connection portion of the respective support member having an axial hole therein large enough to allow a respective bolt and respective bushing to freely pass fully through and into the interior of the hollow body;
• each respective bushing comprising a cylindrical body with a top and a bottom and a cylinder axis, an elongated slot therein and a flange extending radially outward from the cylindrical body, the elongated slot having a length defining a major axis intersecting the cylinder axis and having a width less than the length and greater than a diameter of a shank of the bolt;
• (b) placing a first building module having a first support member on a substrate;
• (c) providing a coupler having a first threaded aperture therein;
• (d) attaching the coupler to the second connection portion of the first support member so the first threaded aperture is substantially in alignment with the axial hole of the second connection portion of the first support member;
• (e) placing a second building module having a second support member on first building module so that the second support member is aligned with the first support member of the first building module within a predefined alignment tolerance;
• (f) mounting a bushing in the bore at the second end of the first connection portion of the second support member with the bushing flange engaging the shoulder;
• (g) rotating the mounted bushing to align the slot in the bushing with the threaded aperture in the coupler attached to the first support member;
• (h) attaching the second support member to the first support member using a bolt that has been inserted into the second support member through the second connection portion, and positioned so a shank of the bolt extends through the slot of the bushing and axial bore of the first connection portion of the second support member and engages the threaded aperture in the coupler on the first support member.