US4520925A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package
Assignee: Empak Inc
•
Filing: 1983-08-09
•
Granted: 1985-06-04
•
Expires: 2003-08-09
Abstract
Abstract Container package for transporting a plurality of silicon wafers for shipment as well as preventing contamination thereof. The wafer container package includes a wafer cassette having two sides, a configured end, and an H bar end including an upper and lower ramp support with the bar being reinforced by a partially cylindrical rod; a package bottom including four sides, an edge surrounding the sides, hook latches, four internal side dividing members and a flat bottom; and a package top including four sides, a lip to encompass the edge, configured independent opposing flexible grooved members, and recessed top surface for stacking where the cassette is positioned by internal side dividers in the package tops and bottoms for secure placement. The three components provide that the cassette mates between the package tops and bottoms, the wafers mate in the cassette and with the top opposing members, the package tops and bottoms mate between the trough, and the hook ends secure the package tops and bottoms together and also secure the cassette and wafers therein. The sides of the package are smooth, providing for a flush perimeter for taping. The recessed top surface provides for stacking of like packages. The smooth, rounded contour design of the package provides a package design for shrink wrapping. The package limits and prohibits wafer movement and eliminates wafer breakage.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas M. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:34
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/10; H10P72/19; H10P72/1911; H10P72/1912; B; B65; B65D; B65D25/00; B65D25/02; B65D25/10; B65D25/107; H10P72/1914; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/832
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
Package for a plurality of silicon wafers comprising: a. wafer cassette including opposing configured mirror-image sides, each of said sides including opposing wafer point supports, a flat planar rear end with a rounded downward top edge secured to said sides, an open H-bar configured end including a ramped top portion and a ramped bottom portion secured to said sides, and a partial horizontal rounded cylindrical rod secured and positioned outwardly across said H-bar, left and right vertical edge supports secured to outer edges of said H-bar end, and a plurality of internal opposing dividers extending inwardly from said sides for partitioning said wafers; b. package bottom including a flat bottom member, four slightly angled sides, an edge groove surrounding said sides, hook catches with finger holes on ends of said opposing end sides, internal vertical end guides and end internal side guides about said sides; and, c. package top including a top horizontal member, four angled sides surrounding said top, a tongue lip for encompassing said grooved edge about a lower edge of each side opposing latches at ends of said top extending downwardly and a finger hole in each of said latches, opposing flexible longitudinal members for mating with each wafer, positioning vertical end and side angled members extending outwardly from interior of said sides and said ends for positioning of said cassette, and a recessed top surface in said top horizontal member whereby each of said wafers engage between a center line of each of said dividers of said cassette, between said cassette and said longitudinal finger members of said package top, said cassette engages and interengages between said vertical side and end members between said package top and package bottom, said package top tongue lip engages about and into said package edge groove, and said latches engage over said catches ends between said top and bottom packages respectively, thereby providing secure and contamination-free environment for transportation and storage of wafers in said cassette.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
Package for a plurality of silicon wafers comprising: a. wafer cassette including opposing configured mirror-image sides, each of said sides including opposing wafer point supports, a flat planar rear end with a rounded downward top edge secured to said sides, an open H-bar configured end including a ramped top portion and a ramped bottom portion secured to said sides, and a partial horizontal rounded cylindrical rod secured and positioned outwardly across said H-bar, left and right vertical edge supports secured to outer edges of said H-bar end, and a plurality of internal opposing dividers extending inwardly from said sides for partitioning said wafers; b. package bottom including a flat bottom member, four slightly angled sides, an edge groove surrounding said sides, hook catches with finger holes on ends of said opposing end sides, internal vertical end guides and end internal side guides about said sides; and, c. package top including a top horizontal member, four angled sides surrounding said top, a tongue lip for encompassing said grooved edge about a lower edge of each side opposing latches at ends of said top extending downwardly and a finger hole in each of said latches, opposing flexible longitudinal members for mating with each wafer, positioning vertical end and side angled members extending outwardly from interior of said sides and said ends for positioning of said cassette, and a recessed top surface in said top horizontal member whereby each of said wafers engage between a center line of each of said dividers of said cassette, between said cassette and said longitudinal finger members of said package top, said cassette engages and interengages between said vertical side and end members between said package top and package bottom, said package top tongue lip engages about and into said package edge groove, and said latches engage over said catches ends between said top and bottom packages respectively, thereby providing secure and contamination-free environment for transportation and storage of wafers in said cassette.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
Package of claim 1 wherein said tongue lip and edge groove of said package bottom comprise a flush perimeter of a finite height surrounding a vertical perimeter of a finite height between said package top and said package bottom when said package top and package bottom are interengaged with respect to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
Package of claim 1 wherein said cassette supports twenty-five wafers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Package of claim 1 wherein said catches and said latches provide for a flat flush vertical perimeter at each of said ends when engaged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Package of claim 1 wherein said interengaged edge groove and said tongue lip comprise a secure environment within said package top and package bottom forming said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Package of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal member comprises opposing finger members including means providing spring for each of said finger members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Package of claim 6 wherein said opposing finger members limit and secure movement of each of said wafers in said cassette.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Package of claim 1 wherein said opposing longitudinal finger members comprise spaced opposing separate independent fingers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Package of claim 8 wherein said opposing fingers are staggered with respect to adjacent opposing fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
Package of claim 1 wherein each of said dividers have rounded teeth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Package of claim 1 wherein said flexible longitudinal members of said package top include a plurality of opposingly spaced fingers along the length of said longitudinal member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Package of claim 11 wherein each of said fingers includes a V groove for supporting and encompassing each of said wafers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
Package of claim 12 wherein each of said fingers is staggered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
Package of claim 12 wherein each of said fingers are aligned.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
Package comprising: a. package bottom including a flat bottom member, four slightly angled sides, an edge groove surrounding said sides, hook catches with finger holes on ends of said opposing end sides, internal vertical end guides and end internal side guides about said sides; and, b. package top including a top horizontal member, four angled sides surrounding said top, a tongue lip for encompassing said grooved edge about a lower edge of each side opposing latches at ends of said top extending downwardly and a finger hole in cach of said latches, opposing flexible longitudinal members for mating with each wafer, positioning vertical end and side angled members extending outwardly from interior of said sides and said ends for positioning of said cassette, and a recessed top surface in said top horizontal member whereby said package top tongue lip engages about and into said package edge groove, and said latches engage over said catches ends between said top and bottom packages respectively, thereby providing secure and contamination-free environment for transportation and storage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
172 words
Package comprising: a. package bottom including a flat bottom member, four slightly angled sides, an edge groove surrounding said sides, hook catches with finger holes on ends of said opposing end sides, internal vertical end guides and end internal side guides about said sides; and, b. package top including a top horizontal member, four angled sides surrounding said top, a tongue lip for encompassing said grooved edge about a lower edge of each side opposing latches at ends of said top extending downwardly and a finger hole in cach of said latches, opposing flexible longitudinal members for mating with each wafer, positioning vertical end and side angled members extending outwardly from interior of said sides and said ends for positioning of said cassette, and a recessed top surface in said top horizontal member whereby said package top tongue lip engages about and into said package edge groove, and said latches engage over said catches ends between said top and bottom packages respectively, thereby providing secure and contamination-free environment for transportation and storage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3923156A
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US3934733A
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US4043451A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-03 | 1988-12-03 | 1989-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-03 | 1992-12-03 | 1993-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-03 | 1996-12-03 | 1997-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |