Patent ID: 7497332

Claim:
A polygon-shaped, knockdown, and stackable container, comprising: a side wall; wherein said side wall comprises a plurality of panels; wherein said plurality of panels comprise a pair of skins; wherein said plurality of panels comprise a plurality of cores; wherein said plurality of cores of said plurality of panels are sandwiched between said pair of skins of said plurality of panels to form a laminate; and wherein said core has an axial compression strength greater than that of said pair of skins to allow said core to prevent puncturing, to provide insulation, to prevent any deformation or collapse during stacking, to avoid warping, and to resist against bulging as a result of internal material flow, while said pair of skins reduce overall weight; wherein said plurality of panels are defined by a plurality of indentations in said pair of skins so as to form living hinges that allow the side wall to be bent into said plurality of panels; wherein said core of each panel occupies a space short of said living hinges in said pair of skins to avoid interfering with said living hinges in said pair of skins and allow said plurality of panels to be bent into a polygon shape; wherein each core is made entirely of hardwood; wherein each core is not solid and comprises a plurality of separate members to further reduce weight; wherein said plurality of separate members of each core comprise a pair of outer vertical members; wherein said plurality of separate members of each core comprise a pair of outer horizontal members; wherein said plurality of separate members of each core comprise a pair of inner vertical members; and wherein said plurality of separate members of each core comprise an inner horizontal member; wherein said pair of outer vertical members of each core are spaced inwardly of said plurality of indentations; wherein said pair of outer horizontal members of each core extend along upper and lower extremes of said plurality of panels, from one outer vertical member of an associated core to the other outer vertical member of said associated core; wherein said inner horizontal member of each core extends intermediate said pair of outer horizontal members of an associated core, from one outer vertical member of said associated core to said other outer vertical member of said associated core; and wherein said pair of inner vertical members of each core are spaced inwardly of and between said pair of outer vertical members of an associated core, with one inner vertical member of said associated core extending from one outer horizontal member of said associated core to said inner horizontal member of said associated core, and with the other inner vertical member of said associated core extending from the other outer horizontal member of said associated core to said inner horizontal member of said associated core.