Patent ID: 8348089

Claim:
A baking tray, comprising: (a) a baking surface; (b) a walled portion surrounding the baking surface and formed integrally therewith, wherein the top edge of the walled portion extends outward, then downward, and then inward relative to the baking surface to form an enclosure; (c) a contoured reinforcing band disposed within the enclosure, wherein the contoured reinforcing band consists of a first flattened region that extends outward from the walled portion, a second flattened region that extends downward from the first flattened region at a right angle thereto, a third flattened region that extends inward from the from the second flattened region at a right angle thereto, a fourth flattened region that extends downward from the third flattened region at a right angle thereto, a fifth flattened region that extends outward from the fourth flattened region at right angle thereto, a sixth flattened region that extends downward from the fifth flattened region at a right angle thereto, and a seventh flattened region that extends inward from the sixth fattened region at a right angle thereto; and (d) wherein the geometry of the contoured reinforcing band is operative to impart strength and stability to the baking tray while reducing the overall mass of the reinforcing band.