Self-assembling tray

Abstract

A tray formed from a sheet divided into panels, adopting a three-by-three matrix configuration, provided with a central, an upper and a lower row, each with three panels, wherein the sheet has a central panel and two end panels at its intermediate row, one at each side of central panel, these three panels intended to form the bottom, while in the upper and lower rows, there is a central panel and respectively and two panels with handle at each side, wherein additionally the end panels from each row are refolded over central panels, wherein optionally the overlapping surface of panels is glued through one or several gluing points, such that a tray with a minimum production processing, made on a single machine, and erectable “in situ”, is obtained.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-assembling tray comprising:
 a single sheet having score lines for folding;   wherein the sheet has an essentially rectangular configuration, the sheet being divided into panels with a three-by-three matrix configuration, having an upper row of three aligned panels followed by an intermediate row of three aligned panels, and a lower row of three aligned panels, all of the rows with the same dimensions at their junctions;   wherein the intermediate row of three panels includes a intermediate row central panel and two intermediate row end panels, one at each side of the intermediate row central panel, these three intermediate row panels folded to form the bottom of the self-assembling tray;   wherein the upper row of three panels includes an upper row central panel and two upper row end panels, one at each side of the upper row central panel, each of the upper row end panels having a handle defined therein;   wherein the lower row of three panels includes an lower row central panel and two lower row end panels, one at each side of the lower row central panel, each of the lower row end panels having a handle defined therein; and   wherein the upper, intermediate and lower row end panels are all folded over their respective upper, intermediate and lower row central panels.   
     
     
         2 . The self-assembling tray of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate row central panel is connected to the upper and lower row central panels through respective first intermediate folding lines, and to the central row end panels through respective second intermediate folding lines. 
     
     
         3 . The self-assembling tray of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower row end panels each:
 are connected to a respective of the of the central row end panels through a first folding line;   are connected to respective one of the upper or lower row central panels through a second folding line;   define an oblong aperture which serves as the handle and forms a flap.   
     
     
         4 . The self-assembling tray of  claim 3 , wherein each handle is separated from the second folding line of its respective one of the upper or lower row end panels by a distance that is one half a height of the the respective one of the upper or lower row central panels. 
     
     
         5 . The self-assembling tray of  claim 1 , wherein the central row end panels each have a triangular configuration at their upper and lower part at their respective connections to the upper and lower end panels, and a central area polygonal in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The self-assembling tray of  claim 4 , wherein each of the triangular configurations has a first side defined by a first folding line connecting with the respective upper or lower row end panel, a second side defined by a second folding line extending outwardly from where an inner end of the first side meets a respective corner of the intermediate row central panel, and a third side extending between outer ends of the first and second sides. 
     
     
         7 . The self-assembling tray, according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate row end panels each have a central area polygonal in shape, the central area of one of the intermediate row end panels overlapping the other and being glued thereto by at least one gluing point.