Structural support system

Abstract

A truss element to form a structural support system. The truss element includes at least one wall forming a void space extending along a first dimension of the truss element. The void space includes a geometry to receive at least a portion of a connecting member of a connecting element. At least one corner element extends along the first dimension of the truss element adjacent the wall. A slot opening formed by selective removal of a portion of the corner element provides access to the void space of the wall. The access permits at least partial insertion of the connecting member into the void space of the wall. A method of assembling a structural support system is also disclosed.

1 . A truss element comprising:
 at least one wall forming a void space extending along a first dimension of the truss element, the void space having a geometry to receive at least a portion of a connecting member of a connecting element, and at least one corner element extending along the first dimension of the truss element adjacent the wall;   wherein a slot opening formed in a portion of the corner element provides access to the void space of the wall, the access permitting at least partial insertion of the connecting member into the wall.   
     
     
         2 . The truss element of  claim 1 , wherein the slot opening is formed by selective removal of the portion of the corner element. 
     
     
         3 . The truss element of  claim 1 , wherein the truss element further includes a hollow center portion. 
     
     
         4 . A truss element of  claim 1 , wherein the truss element comprises a plurality of wall cavities and a plurality of corner elements, at least one of the plurality of corner elements is positioned adjacent two adjacent wall cavities of the plurality of wall cavities. 
     
     
         5 . A structural support system comprising:
 a truss element, the truss element comprising:
 at least one wall forming a void space extending along a first dimension of the truss element, the void space having a geometry to receive at least a portion of a connecting member of one or more connecting elements; 
 at least one corner element extending along the first dimension of the truss element adjacent the wall; and 
 a slot opening in the at least one corner element formed in a portion of the corner element providing access to the void space of the wall; 
   the connecting member at least partially inserted into the wall; and   a securing element extending through the wall and the connecting member to secure the connecting element to the truss element.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the slot opening is formed by selective removal of the portion of the corner element. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the positioning of the securing element forms a structural double shear connection between the truss element and the connecting member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the connecting element and the truss element are oriented at an acute angle to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first connecting element and a second connecting element are connected to at least one secondary part. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the securing element is selected from the group consisting of a pin, a fastener, an adhesive, a magnetic component, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the securing element is at least one pin penetrating through the wall and the connecting member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the wall and the connecting member have openings to receive the at least one pin, the openings aligning to receive a pin of the least one pin when the connecting member is at least partially inserted into the wall. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of truss elements and a plurality of connecting elements connected with one another to form a truss subassembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of the truss subassemblies are connected together with the connecting elements to form a truss assembly, the plurality of truss subassemblies being arranged within the truss assembly to form a housing space defined by the plurality of truss subassemblies. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the truss assembly further comprises at least one attachment feature. 
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a structural support system comprising:
 providing a truss element having at least one wall forming a void space extending along a first dimension of the truss element, the void space having a geometry to receive at least a portion of a connecting member of a connecting element, and at least one corner element extending along the first dimension of the truss element adjacent the wall;   forming a slot opening to provide access to the wall;   inserting one or more connecting members through the slot opening into the void space of the wall; and   positioning a securing element through the wall and connecting member to secure the one or more connecting elements to the truss element.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the forming of the slot opening includes selectively removing a portion of the corner element to form the slot opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a first opening through the wall and a second opening in the connecting member, the first opening and second opening aligning upon insertion of the connecting member into the wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising connecting a plurality of truss elements and connecting elements to form a truss subassembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising connecting a plurality of the truss subassemblies to form a truss assembly.