Foldably constructed force-resisting structures having interior vertical support ribs

A foldably constructed force-resisting structure comprising:

• a top member comprising a top member base panel having a perimeter comprising a plurality of side edges, and a top member side portion foldably connected to one of said side edges, said plurality of side edges including a pair of opposed first side edges and a pair of opposed second side edges, said top member side portion being folded downwardly from said top member base panel to a position substantially perpendicular to said top member base panel;
• a bottom member comprising a bottom member base panel having a perimeter comprising a plurality of side edges, a bottom member side portion foldably connected to one of said side edges of said bottom member base panel and a plurality of bottom member interior support ribs each of said support ribs comprising a pair of rib panels having inner side edges foldably interconnected at a crest fold line and outer side edges foldably connected to said bottom member base panel at respective base fold lines, said rib panels for each of said support ribs being folded along said crest fold line and along said base fold lines into overlapping relation and substantially perpendicular to said bottom member base panel with said base fold lines adjacent one another, said bottom member side portion being folded to a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom member base panel;
• and
• said bottom member being assembled to said top member in nested relation, said support ribs defining a cross-shaped support structure disposed between said base panels, said top member base panel supported on said cross-shaped support structure, said top member and said bottom member defining a peripheral side of said force-resisting structure along said perimeters of said base panels and defined at least in part by said side portions, said top and bottom members defining an interior between said base panels, said peripheral side of said force resisting structure having an opening therein providing access to the interior.

An element for interlocking top and bottom members in nested relation to form a force resisting structure, the top member comprising a base panel and a top member side portion foldably connected to one of the side edges of said top member base panel and the bottom member comprising a base panel and a bottom member side portion foldably connected to one of the side edges of said bottom member base panel, comprising:

• an access opening and a tuck flap in the side portion of either the top member side portion or the bottom member side portion;
• a retention flap extending from the other of the top member or the bottom member through the access opening of the side portion of the opposing top or bottom member to engage the top member and the bottom member;
• and
• a fastener for affixing said retention flap adjacent the tuck flap of the opposing member when said retention flap is folded through said access opening.