Patent ID: 7578111

Claim:
A method for constructing a modular structure from a plurality of types of modular structural components, comprising the steps of: mating a forming strip segment forming a permanent integral element of a first structural component with a chord segment forming a permanent integral element of a second structural component, inserting a bolt type fastener into at least one bolt hole located in a face region of the forming strip segment of the first structural component and accepting the bolt type fastener into engagement with the chord segment of the second structural component wherein the bolt type fastener is one of a T-bolt mating with a T-slot structure of the chord segment and a hex-bolt mating with a bolt hole extending traversely through the chord segment, and adjusting the bolt type fastener to bring the forming strip segment into an engaging relationship with the chord segment, wherein the chord segment includes, a generally elongated main body having a generally square cross section defined by four main walls surrounding a central bore and having four interior main surfaces and four exterior main surfaces, and a T-slot structure extending along and centered on each exterior main surface, each T-slot structure having an interior T-slot adapted to accept a bolt type fastener, each T-slot including a shaft slot extending inwards from an outer surface of the T-slot structure and connecting with a cross slot extending at a right angle to the shaft slot at an inner end of shaft slot, and the forming strip segment includes, a single generally elongated strip plate formed into a plurality of strip segments, each strip segment being oriented at a right angle with respect to an adjacent strip segment and the strip segments being formed into regions including, in succession, a corner region forming a w-shaped cross section forming bearing surfaces mating with corresponding chord bearing surfaces formed by two adjacent main walls and an adjacent side wall of T-slot structure, a face region forming a bearing surface mating with chord bearing surfaces formed by outer face surfaces of the T-slot structure, and an attachment region extending outwards from an edge of the face region for stiffening of the forming strip, and at least one bolt hole located in the face region of the forming strip.