Interlocking door latch for dockable interface for integrated circuit processing

Claim 1

An interface between first and second containers comprising: alignment means for orienting the first container in a fixed position relative to the second container; a first door for independently sealing the first container; a second door for independently sealing the second container; said first and second doors each having a mating outer surface of substantially equal exterior dimensions, so that substantially all contamination which has accumulated on the exterior surface of the doors when the containers are separated will be trapped between said doors when the containers are positioned together with said alignment means; elevator means coupled to said doors for transporting said doors while coupled together at their mating outer surfaces into said containers as a single unit; and interlock means coupled to the first and second doors for inhibiting the opening of the first door except when the first and second containers are mated in the alignment means, said interlock means having port latch means coupled to the first container for maintaining the first door in a closed position when the port latch means is in a closed position and for permitting the first door to open when the port latch means is in an opened position, door pull means coupled to the first container for transporting the port latch means from the opened position to the closed position of the port latch means, said door pull means being adapted so as not to independently transport the port latch means from the closed position to the opened position of the port latch means, and latch foot means coupled to the second container for engaging the port latch means and door pull means so that together the door pull means and the latch foot means can transport the port latch means from the closed position to the opened position of the port latch means.