FLAT BAKING TRAY FOR BAKING FOOD WITH A SYSTEM FOR COMPENSATING FOR THE DIFFERENCES IN THERMAL EXPANSION OF THE COMPONENTS THEREOF

Abstract

Disclosed is a baking tray for baking food, including a sheet connected to a tubular peripheral frame substantially shaped like a rectangular frame. The coupling between the sheet and the frame is obtained so as to allow an at least partial recovery of the differences in thermal expansion between the sheet and the frame. Namely, the connection between the edge of the sheet and the tubular elements of the frame is obtained by folding the sheet on itself in a U, at the edge, and fitting the latter on substantially L-shaped section bars suitably connected to the tubular elements of the frame, respectively, by electric spot welding.

Claims

1. A baking tray for baking food, said tray comprising: a metal sheet which is at least partially flat and is delimited by an edge; a frame for supporting said sheet, said frame comprising one or more metal tubular elements, each of which including a first wall extending in length, said tubular elements being connected to one another so that said first walls describe, as a whole and at least partially, a closed path delimiting, at least partially, a portion of space in said frame; connecting means of said sheet, at said edge, to said frame, at said tubular elements, wherein said sheet is accommodated in said portion of space at least at said edge so as to be at least partially interposed between said tubular elements, said sheet, at said edge, being folded over itself so as to comprise an upper strip and a lower strip, which are at least partially flat, at least partially mutually opposite and at least partially at a given distance from each other, said sheet being accommodated in said portion of space at, at least partially, said lower strip, with the assembly consisting of said upper strip, said lower strip and a fold which connects the upper strip and the lower strip mutually, at least partially facing said portion of space on the side of the concavity thereof, said connecting means comprising, for each of said tubular elements, a metal bar including at least a second wall, which is at least partially flat, extending in length and comprising a first edge and a second edge, which is opposite to said first edge, each of said first and second edges extending in length substantially in the same direction in which said second wall extends in length, and connected, by means of one or more welds, to said tubular element so that said second wall of said bar is: accommodated in said portion of space so as to be interposed between said tubular elements, arranged transversely to said first wall of said tubular element to which said bar is connected and opposite to said first wall of said tubular element to which said bar is connected, at least at said first edge, for each of said bars, said second wall, at said second edge, being folded over itself so as to comprise an upper strip and a lower strip, which are at least partially flat and at least partially mutually opposite and at least partially at a given distance from each other, for each of said bars, the assembly, consisting of said upper strip of said second wall of said bar, of said lower strip of said second wall of said bar, and of a fold which mutually connects the upper strip of the second wall of the bar and the lower strip of the second wall of the bar them, facing, on the side of the concavity thereof, said first wall of said tubular element to which said bar is connected, for each of said tubular elements: said lower strip of said sheet being at least partially interposed between said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element, with said edge of said sheet opposite to said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element, so that said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element are at least partially mutually opposite with the at least partial interposition of said lower strip of said sheet, and said upper strip of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element being at least partially interposed between said upper and lower strips of said sheet, so that said upper and lower strips of said sheet are at least partially mutually opposite with the at least partial interposition of said upper strip of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element, moreover, for each of said tubular elements: said lower strip of said sheet being sandwiched between said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element and/or said upper strip of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element being sandwiched between said upper and lower strips of said sheet, so that said sheet is connected to said tubular element.

2. The tray according to claim 1, wherein, for each of said bars, said edge of said sheet is at a given distance from said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar.

3. The tray according to, claim 1, wherein said sheet is entirely accommodated in said portion of space, for each of said tubular elements, said second edge of said bar connected to said tubular element is opposite to said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet being opposite to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet further being at a given distance from said first wall of said tubular element.

4. The tray according to claim 3, wherein, for each of said bars, said second edge of said bar is at a given distance from said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet.

5. The tray according to claim 1, wherein said sheet lies outside said portion of space at least at: said upper strip of said sheet, a first portion of said lower strip of said sheet, which is consecutive to said upper strip of said sheet and said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said lower strip of said sheet being interposed between said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element, at, at least partially, a second portion of said lower strip of said sheet including said edge of said sheet, said first and second portions of said lower strip of said sheet being joined to each other by a third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, said sheet being accommodated in said portion of space at said second portion of said lower strip of said sheet and, at least partially, of said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet so as to be interposed between said tubular elements at least at said second portion of said lower strip of said sheet and, at least partially, of said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, the assembly consisting of said upper strip of said sheet, said lower strip of said sheet and said fold which mutually connects the upper strip of said sheet and the lower strip of the sheet facing said portion of space on the side of the concavity thereof at least at said second portion of said lower strip of said sheet and, at least partially, of said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said second edge of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element is opposite to said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet is opposite to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet is also at a given distance from said first wall of said tubular element.

6. The tray according to claim 5, wherein, for each of said bars, said second edge of said second wall of said bar is at a given distance from said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet.

7. The tray according to claim 5, wherein each of said tubular elements has a cross section shaped as a rectangle, with a side of said rectangle corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said bar connected to said tubular element having a substantially L-shaped cross section with an arm of said L corresponding to said second wall of said first bar and being opposite and connected, by means of one or more welds, at a wall corresponding to the other arm of said L, to said tubular element at said first wall of the latter.

8. The tray according to claim 7, wherein for each of said tubular elements, said first portion of said lower strip of said sheet is at least partially opposite to said tubular element at a wall of the latter at a side of said rectangle orthogonal to said side corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element.

9. The tray according to claim 1, wherein, in each of said bars, said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar are parallel to said sheet.

10. The tray according to claim 1, wherein for each of said tubular elements, said first wall of said tubular element is orthogonal to said sheet.

11. The tray according to claim 2, wherein said sheet is entirely accommodated in said portion of space, for each of said tubular elements, said second edge of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element is opposite to said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet being opposite to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet further being at a given distance from said first wall of said tubular element.

12. The tray according to claim 2, wherein said sheet lies outside said portion of space at least at: said upper strip of said sheet, a first portion of said lower strip of said sheet, which is consecutive to said upper strip of said sheet and said fold which mutually connects said upper and lower strips of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said lower strip of said sheet being interposed between said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element, at, at least partially, a second portion of said lower strip of said sheet including said edge of said sheet, said first and second portions of said lower strip of said sheet being joined to each other by a third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, said sheet being accommodated in said portion of space at said second portion of said lower strip of said sheet and, at least partially, of said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet so as to be interposed between said tubular elements at least at said second portion of said lower strip of said sheet and, at least partially, of said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, the assembly consisting of said upper strip of said sheet, said lower strip of said sheet and said fold which mutually connects the upper strip of said sheet and the lower strip of the sheet facing said portion of space on the side of the concavity thereof at least at said second portion of said lower strip of said sheet and, at least partially, of said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said second edge of said second wall of said bar connected to said tubular element is opposite to said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet, for each of said tubular elements, said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet is opposite to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said third portion of said lower strip of said sheet is also at a given distance from said first wall of said tubular element.

13. The tray according to claim 1, wherein each of said tubular elements has a cross section shaped as a rectangle, with a side of said rectangle corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said bar connected to said tubular element having a substantially L-shaped cross section with an arm of said L corresponding to said second wall of said first bar and being opposite and connected, by means of one or more welds, at a wall corresponding to the other arm of said L, to said tubular element at said first wall of the latter.

14. The tray according to claim 2, wherein each of said tubular elements has a cross section shaped as a rectangle, with a side of said rectangle corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said bar connected to said tubular element having a substantially L-shaped cross section with an arm of said L corresponding to said second wall of said first bar and being opposite and connected, by means of one or more welds, at a wall corresponding to the other arm of said L, to said tubular element at said first wall of the latter.

15. The tray according to claim 3, wherein each of said tubular elements has a cross section shaped as a rectangle, with a side of said rectangle corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said bar connected to said tubular element having a substantially L-shaped cross section with an arm of said L corresponding to said second wall of said first bar and being opposite and connected, by means of one or more welds, at a wall corresponding to the other arm of said L, to said tubular element at said first wall of the latter.

16. The tray according to claim 4, wherein each of said tubular elements has a cross section shaped as a rectangle, with a side of said rectangle corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said bar connected to said tubular element having a substantially L-shaped cross section with an arm of said L corresponding to said second wall of said first bar and being opposite and connected, by means of one or more welds, at a wall corresponding to the other arm of said L, to said tubular element at said first wall of the latter.

17. The tray according to claim 6, wherein each of said tubular elements has a cross section shaped as a rectangle, with a side of said rectangle corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element, for each of said tubular elements, said bar connected to said tubular element having a substantially L-shaped cross section with an arm of said L corresponding to said second wall of said first bar and being opposite and connected, by means of one or more welds, at a wall corresponding to the other arm of said L, to said tubular element at said first wall of the latter.

18. The tray according to claim 17, wherein for each of said tubular elements, said first portion of said lower strip of said sheet is at least partially opposite to said tubular element at a wall of the latter at a side of said rectangle orthogonal to said side corresponding to said first wall of said tubular element.

19. The tray according to claim 2, wherein, in each of said bars, said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar are parallel to said sheet.

20. The tray according to claim 3, wherein, in each of said bars, said upper and lower strips of said second wall of said bar are parallel to said sheet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings, given by mere way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a tray according to the present invention;

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the tray in FIG. 1, along a plane A-A indicated in FIG. 1;

[0086] FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a variant of the tray in FIG. 1;

[0087] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the tray in FIG. 3, along a plane B-B indicated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0088] Hereinafter in the present description, a drawing may also be shown with reference to elements not expressly indicated in that drawing but indicated in other drawings. The scale and proportions of the various elements depicted do not necessarily correspond to the real values.

[0089] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a tray 1 of the invention of the baking type, namely for baking food.

[0090] Tray 1 preferably is substantially rectangular and comprises an at least partially flat sheet 2. Like tray 1, sheet 2 preferably is substantially shaped like a rectangle and is made of metal, preferably of AISI 304 steel. Sheet 2 is delimited by an edge 3.

[0091] Sheet 2 is supported by a frame 4 comprising one or more metal tubular elements, each of which preferably made of AISI 304 steel. Namely, frame 4 preferably comprises four preferably rectilinear tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 connected to one another at the respective ends preferably so as to form, overall, a frame which is substantially shaped like the perimeter of a rectangle. A first tubular element 5 and a second tubular element 6 are opposite to each other, preferably mutually parallel, and more preferably corresponding to the short sides of the rectangle as the perimeter of which frame 4 is substantially shaped. A third tubular element 7 and a fourth tubular element 8 are also opposite to each other and each of them is interposed between the above-mentioned tubular elements 5 and 6. The tubular elements 7 and 8 are preferably mutually parallel and more preferably, corresponding to the long sides of the rectangle as the perimeter of which frame 4 is substantially shaped. The tubular elements 7 and 8 are therefore preferably orthogonal to the tubular elements 5 and 6.

[0092] Sheet 2 is connected to frame 4 preferably so that the tubular elements 5 and 6 extend in respective directions which are parallel to the directions in which the short sides, respectively, of the rectangle of which sheet 2 is substantially shaped, extend. Similarly, the tubular elements 7 and 8 extend in respective directions which are parallel to the directions in which the long sides, respectively, of the rectangle of which sheet 2 is substantially shaped, extend.

[0093] Each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 has a preferably rectangular cross section. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 is preferably arranged with the short sides of the rectangle as the perimeter of which the cross section of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 is substantially shaped, which are parallel to the plane on which sheet 2 substantially lies. Each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 therefore is preferably arranged with the long sides of the rectangle as the perimeter of which the cross section of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 is substantially shaped, which are orthogonal to the plane on which sheet 2 preferably lies.

[0094] Given that the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 are connected to one another at the respective ends preferably to form, overall, a frame which substantially is shaped like the perimeter of a rectangle, the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 are connected to one another so that wall 9 of each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7, and 8 corresponding to a long side of the aforesaid rectangle as the perimeter of which the cross section of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 is substantially shaped and facing the inside of frame 4, is consecutively connected to the walls 9 of the two of the three remaining tubular elements, respectively, between which said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 is interposed. In light of the foregoing, the four walls 9 of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively describe, as a whole and at least partially, a closed path delimiting, at least partially, a portion of space inside frame 4. Said portion of space inside frame 4 is therefore enclosed between the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 and is outlined (in the sense of being reproducible at the outline thereof) by the walls 9 thereof. The walls 9 therefore face one another, that is said portion of space inside frame 4. Wall 9 of each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, which preferably is at least partially flat and extends in length, was indicated above with the term first wall (of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8).

[0095] Incidentally, given that the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 are connected to one another at the respective ends preferably so as to form, overall, a frame which is substantially shaped like the perimeter of a rectangle, the aforesaid closed path described by the four walls 9 of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 preferably is substantially rectangular.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 2, sheet 2 is accommodated in the above-mentioned portion of space inside frame 4 at least at edge 3 thereof so as to be, at least at said edge 3, interposed between the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8. In other words, sheet 2 is at least partially accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4, namely at least at edge 3.

[0097] Again, as shown in FIG. 2, sheet 2 preferably is completely accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4, that is, is preferably completely interposed between the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8. The rectangle as which sheet 2 is substantially shaped therefore has preferably slightly smaller dimensions than those of the rectangle as the perimeter of which frame 4 is substantially shaped. Given that the walls 9 of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 face the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4, they face sheet 2.

[0098] Sheet 2, at edge 3 thereof, is folded over itself, preferably in a U, so as to comprise an upper strip 10 (lying in the same plane in which sheet 2 substantially lies) and a lower strip 11, which are at least partially flat, at least partially mutually opposite and at least partially at a given distance from each other. Sheet 2 is accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4 at, at least partially, the lower strip 11 (that is, at at least a part of strip 11), with the assembly consisting of the upper strip 10, the lower strip 11 and a fold 12 which connects them mutually, at least partially facing the aforesaid portion of space in frame 4 on the side of the concavity thereof.

[0099] Given that sheet 2 preferably is completely accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4, sheet 2 preferably is accommodated in said portion of space both at the strips 10 and 11 and fold 12. The strips 10 and 11 preferably are mutually parallel.

[0100] For each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, tray 1 comprises a metal bar 13, preferably made of AISI 304 steel. Each of the bars 13, falling within the previously mentioned connecting means, has a cross-section which preferably is substantially L-shaped. Each bar 13 therefore preferably comprises a wall 14, which is at least partially flat, extending in length and identified above by the expression second wall, which is orthogonally connected, at an edge 15 thereof, to the edge of a further wall 16, it also partially flat and extending in length. The arms of the aforesaid L of each bar 13 therefore correspond to the walls 14 and 16, respectively. The latter preferably are connected to each other by a fold at edge 15.

[0101] As indicated above, tray 1 comprises one of the bars 13 for each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8. Namely, for each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, the corresponding bar 13 is connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 so that wall 14 is: [0102] accommodated in the portion of space inside frame 4 so as to be interposed between the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, [0103] arranged transversely, and preferably orthogonally, to wall 9 of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 to which said bar 13 is connected

[0104] and [0105] opposite to wall 9 of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 to which said bar 13 is connected, at least at edge 15.

[0106] For this purpose, for each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, wall 16 of the corresponding bar 13 preferably is connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 by means of one or more welds 17, preferably by electric welding, at wall 9 of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8. Wall 16 of each bar 13 preferably is opposite to, and more preferably at least partially matches, wall 9 of the tubular element 6, 7 or 8 to which bar 13 to which wall 16 belongs, is connected.

[0107] In each bar 13, wall 14, at a second edge 18 opposite to edge 15, is folded over itself, preferably in a U, so as to comprise an upper strip 19 and a lower strip 20, which are at least partially flat and at least partially mutually opposite and at least partially at a given distance from each other. In each bar 13, the assembly consisting of the upper strip 19 of wall 14 of said bar 13, the lower strip 20 of wall 14 of said bar 13 and a fold 21 mutually connecting them, faces, on the side of the concavity thereof, wall 9 of the tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 9 to which said bar 13 is connected.

[0108] Incidentally, in each bar 13, each of the edges 15 and 18 extends in length substantially in the same direction in which wall 14 to which the edges 15 and 18 belong, extends.

[0109] In each bar 13, the edges 15 and 18 are preferably parallel, both to each other and to wall 9 to which bar 13, to which the edges 15 and 18 belong, is connected. In each bar 13, the strips 19 and 20 are preferably orthogonal both to wall 9 to which bar 13 to which the edges 15 and 18 belong, is connected.

[0110] Like sheet 2, also the bars 13 preferably are completely accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4. Each bar 13 therefore preferably is accommodated in said portion of space at both the walls 14 and 16 (and therefore both of both the strips 19 and 20 and fold 21).

[0111] As shown in FIG. 2, for each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, the lower strip 11 of sheet 2 is at least partially interposed between the upper strip 19 of the wall 14 of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8, and the lower strip 20 of said wall 14 (of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7, and 8) with fold 12 which is opposite to, and preferably at a given distance from, wall 9 of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 so that the edge 3 of sheet 2 is opposite to, and preferably at a given distance from, fold 21 mutually connecting said strips 19 and 20 (of the wall 14 of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 6, 7 and 8) and so that the latter are at least partially opposite with the interposition, at least partial, of the strip 11 of sheet 2.

[0112] In addition to the foregoing, for each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, the upper strip 19 of the wall 14 of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 is at least partially interposed between the upper strip 10 and the lower strip 11 of sheet 2 so that edge 18 of said wall 14 (of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8) is opposite to, and preferably at a given distance from, fold 12 mutually connecting the strips 10 and 11, and so that the latter are at least partially mutually opposite with the interposition, at least partial, of said strip 19 (of the wall 14 of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8). For each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, the lower strip 11 of sheet 2 is sandwiched between the upper strip 19 of the wall 14 of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8, and the lower strip 20 of said wall 14 (of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8) so that sheet 2 is connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8. Additionally or alternatively to this, for each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, the upper strip 19 of the wall 14 of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 is sandwiched between the upper strip 10 and the lower strip 11 of sheet 2, again so that sheet 2 is connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8.

[0113] As shown in FIG. 2, in each of the bars 13, the strips 19 and 20 of wall 14 belonging to said bar 13 preferably are parallel to sheet 2. Wall 9 of each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 moreover preferably is orthogonal to sheet 2. In tray 1, the connection between sheet 2 and frame 4 is such as to allow these two components to thermally expand without generating stresses resulting in a disconnection of sheet 2 from frame 4 or a cracking of sheet 2 with the use of tray 1. This result is achieved by virtue of the bars 13 which couple sheet 2 to frame 4, allowing a freedom of movement therebetween. Although it is sandwiched, or tightening, between the strips 19 and 20 of the walls 14 of the bars 13, the lower strip 11 of sheet 2, in conjunction with strip 10, the strips 19 of the walls 14 of the bars 13, may indeed slide, in conjunction with strip 10, with respect to frame 4. Although it is limited, said freedom of movement is sufficient to at least partially compensate for the differences in thermal expansion between sheet 2 and frame 4.

[0114] The bars 13 also act as ribs for frame 4 and advantageously allow the cross section of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 to be reduced, rigidity being equal. To avoid any misunderstanding, the fact that sheet 2 is accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4 at, at least partially, strip 11 advantageously ensures that sheet 2, after being connected to the bars 13 and after the latter are fastened to the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8 by means of one or more electric welding welds, cannot be disconnected from frame 4, thus coming out of the concavity of the walls 14 of the bars 13.

[0115] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a tray 30 which differs from tray 1 in that sheet 2 is not completely accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4. Namely, sheet 2 lies outside said portion of space at the upper strip 10 thereof, a first portion 11a of the lower strip 11 of the consecutive strip 2 (said first portion 11a) to the upper strip 10, and fold 12 mutually connecting the strips 10 and 11 of sheet 2. For each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7, and 8, the lower strip 11 of sheet 2 is also interposed between, and possibly sandwiched between, the upper strip 19 of the wall 14 of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8, and the lower strip 20 of said wall 14 (of bar 13 connected to said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8) at, at least partially, a second portion 11b of said strip 11 (that is, at at least a part of portion 11b) including edge 3. The portions 11a and 11b of the lower strip 11 of sheet 2 are joined to each other by a third portion 11c of said strip 11. Sheet 2 therefore is accommodated in the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4 at portion 11b and, at least partially, at portion 11c of strip 11 so as to be, at least at portion 11b and, at least partially, at portion 11c of strip 11, interposed between the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8. The assembly consisting of the strips 10 and 11 of sheet 2 and of fold 12 mutually connecting them therefore faces the aforesaid portion of space inside frame 4, on the side of the concavity thereof, at least at portion 11b and, at least partially at portion 11 of the lower strip 11 of sheet 2.

[0116] Incidentally, portion 11a, at an edge thereof opposite to fold 12, preferably is connected to portion 11c, at an edge of the latter, by a fold. Portion 11c in turn is connected, at an edge thereof opposite to the edge to which portion 11c is connected to portion 11a, to portion 11b, at an edge of the latter opposite to edge 3, by a fold.

[0117] For each bar 13, the edge 18 of the wall 14 of bar 13 is opposite to, and preferably at a given distance from, portion 11c of the lower strip 11 of sheet 2. Additionally, for each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, the third portion 11c of the lower strip 11 of sheet 2 is opposite to, and preferably at a given distance from, wall 9 of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8.

[0118] Although it cannot be disconnected from frame 4, thus coming out of the concavity of the walls 14 of the bars 13, the sheet 2 of tray 30 lies on frame 4, with the exception of a part of the lower strip 11 thereof (that is at edge 3).

[0119] As shown in FIG. 4, the portions 11a and 11b preferably are mutually parallel and orthogonal to portion 11c. For each of the tubular elements 5, 6, 7 and 8, portion 11a of the lower strip 11 of sheet 2 preferably is also at least opposite to, and more preferably at least partially matches, a wall 31 of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 which is orthogonal to wall 9 thereof, that is orthogonal to the wall corresponding to a short side of the rectangle as the perimeter of which the cross section of said tubular element 5, 6, 7 or 8 is substantially shaped.

[0120] Based on the provided description of a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that some changes may be introduced by those skilled in the art without however departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.