Special receptacle or package – Shock protection type – With yieldable retainer
Patent
1997-09-09
1998-09-08
Foster, Jimmy G.
Special receptacle or package
Shock protection type
With yieldable retainer
206454, 206591, 206711, B65D 8590
Patent
active
058032690
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to containers used to transport items from one location to another. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers particularly well suited for the transport of silicon wafers, rigid memory disks, photo masks, liquid crystal displays and flat panel displays.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Various containers have been used in the electronics industry to transport masks, displays, disks and wafers. The fragile nature of such items requires very reliable means for supporting such items within the container. Such items must be protected from vibration and shock. Such items must be held in such a way that they do not scrape, rub or impact the surfaces of the container or the other items stored therein. Such items must also be protected from particulation, static electricity and outgassing.
A recent trend has developed in the electronics industry, the result of which is the growth in size of masks, displays, wafers and disks. For example, while most wafers in use today have a diameter of 200 mm or less, new standards centered around 300 mm wafers are emerging. In the future, even layer wafers are likely to come into widespread use. As the size, weight and surface area of the wafers increase, new techniques must be found to protect them from damage. Rigid supports so prevalent in prior art containers to retain wafers are not sufficiently effective in protecting these larger wafers, particularly when the wafers are to be transported over great distances. Likewise, the flexible supporting schemes used in the prior art do not provide adequate support to minimize damage to the wafers. Conventional schemes provided two supports, one in the top and one in the bottom of the container which were positioned 180.degree. from each other when the top was closed. Thus, there is a real need for shipping container capable of securely holding larger fragile items in a way to protect such items during transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a container having a bottom, a removable top, a pair of exterior ergonomic handles, an integral latch for locking the bottom to the top, and three internal cushions. Two of the cushions are secured to the bottom of the shipping container and one is secured to the top. When the top is closed, the center lines of support provided by the three cushions are equally spaced at 120.degree.. This improved support geometry allows for a much greater load bearing area than conventional two cushion designs.
Conventional two cushion designs having the cushions positioned 180.degree. form each other are more than adequate for lighter, smaller objects. However, they provide insufficient support for larger wafers or the like when the container is joined or shook from side to side. By providing three cushions and having them equally spaced around the edge of the items to be shipped, sufficient load bearing area is provided in all directions rather than just in the up and down directions. The use of three cushions in this manner also minimizes wafer rotation. This is desirable because particles generated as a result of wafer rotation can damage the wafers.
The advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment set forth below in conjunction with the drawings which form a part of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shipping container's exterior;
FIG. 2 is top plan view of the container's exterior;
FIG. 3 is an elevational side view of the container's exterior;
FIG. 4 is a elevational end view of the container's exterior;
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the container's exterior;
FIG. 6 is a cross section through line A--A in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 a cross section through line B--B in FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a conventional prior art support technique;
FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the support technique of the present invent
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patent: 4555024 (1985-11-01), Voss et al.
patent: 5273159 (1993-12-01), Gregerson
patent: 5423422 (1995-06-01), Boire et al.
patent: 5575394 (1996-11-01), Nyseth
Gregerson Barry
Jacoby Robert
Empak Inc.
Foster Jimmy G.
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