Wafer protective container

Details Wafer protective container Wafer protective container

1999-12-28

2001-05-22

Gehman, Bryon P. (Department: 3728)

Special receptacle or package

Holder for a removable electrical component

For a semiconductor wafer

C206S303000, C206S724000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06234316

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a wafer protective container. More particularly, the present invention relates to an integrated circuit (IC) wafer protective container that allows secure storage and easy loading and unloading of IC wafers contained therein to prevent contamination and damage of the IC wafers.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, IC wafers are stored in a cylindrical storage box consisting of a lid and a body. Because the IC wafers are thin and fragile, layers of sponge are usually inserted between the IC wafers to prevent rigorous movement of the IC wafers inside the storage box. The storage box for holding the IC wafers is typically made with a box opening designed to just match the size of the IC wafer, so it is very difficult to load and unload the IC wafers. After the storage box is filled with a desired amount of the IC wafers, the lid is pushed into the body to close the box. Since the storage box is merely closed with a lid, a seal between the lid and the body may be broken by rigorous movement during transportation. As a result, the IC wafers contained within the storage box are contaminated by the surroundings. This problem is traditionally overcome by sealing the storage box with numerous layers of masking tape, which cover a junction between the lid and the body member. However, this increases the cost for packaging the IC wafer products and also makes the whole process more complicated.
Additionally, it is known from the prior art that the box has to be inverted in order to remove the IC wafers from the box, and unloading the IC wafers in this manner can damage the IC wafers, thus causing more IC wafer loss.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A wafer protective container that provides a secure storage and easy loading and unloading of the IC wafers contained therein is developed to overcome the above-mentioned problems.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a wafer protective container which comprises a container body, a locking device, a container cover, and a plurality of fasteners assembled together to protect the IC wafers contained therein from contamination and rigorous movement during transportation.
The container body comprises a flat, circular base on which a desired number of IC wafers is carried, and a hollow cylinder mounted on the base. The hollow cylinder is made of a rim with at least one integral wall segment formed on and above the rim. At least one opening exists in the wall segment to allow easy loading and unloading of a desired amount of the IC wafers. The vertical edges of the opening have indentations therein, whose utility will be described below in context of a locking device. The container body also has, below the circular base, a circular ring with a plurality of hook members on which the fastening members can be mounted. The locking device comprises a circular protrusion and an annular band, wherein the circular protrusion has a plurality of projections sticking out from its edge, and the projections can engage with the indentations in the opening in the container body in order to keep the IC wafers in position. This prevents any rigorous movement of the IC wafers during transportation, thus reducing the risk of damaging the IC wafers. The container cover comprises a circular protuberance with a plurality of notches, which allows easy opening of the IC wafer protective container, and a hollow cylindrical body having a plurality of troughs in its outer surface. The container cover covers the container body so as to provide more protection for the IC wafers. The fasteners comprise a plurality of connecting feet, a plurality of connecting bars, a plurality of connecting necks, and a semi-circular loop. The fasteners are mounted on the hook members with the connecting bars aligned in the troughs, so that the connecting necks can lock onto the top edge of the cylindrical body, while the semi-circular loop can rest on the notch. This completes the assemblage of the IC wafer protective container.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4564880 (1986-01-01), Christ et al.
patent: 4886162 (1989-12-01), Aubrogio
patent: 5211717 (1993-05-01), Skoura
patent: 5454468 (1995-10-01), Chou et al.
patent: 5553711 (1996-09-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5725100 (1998-03-01), Yamada

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