Method and apparatus for securing articles in place on a substrate

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein first ends of each of the arms are fixedly connected at the central member and are substantially co-planar.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the arms slopes away from the central member and is spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the substrate when the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each article is a semiconductor chip carrier having a case, a lid and a reflowable bonding material therebetween which are held in intimate contact by said apparatus.

Claim 6

A spring clip for securing a plurality of articles in place on a pallet, said spring clip comprises: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) means at the first end of the central member for lockably engaging the pallet; (c) means at the second end of the central member for transferring rotational motion to the central member; (d) a plate having an opening therein through which the central member extends; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms, extending radially out from the plate for contacting and securing the articles on the pallet when the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 7

A spring clip for securing a plurality of articles in place on a pallet, said spring clip comprises: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) means at the first end of the central member for lockably engaging the pallet; (c) means at the second end of the central member for transferring rotational motion to the central member; (d) a plate having an opening therein through which the central member extends; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms, extending radially out from the plate for contacting and securing the articles on the pallet when the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 8

The spring clip as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of the arms slopes away from the central member and is spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the pallet when the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 9

The spring clip as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plate is adapted to be carried on the central member between a pair of annular spaced-apart shoulders thereon.

Claim 10

The spring clip as set forth in claim 5 wherein each article is a semiconductor chip carrier having a case, a lid and a reflowable bonding material therebetween which are held in intimate contact by said spring clip.

Claim 11

A spring clip for securing a plurality of articles in place on a pallet, said spring clip comprises: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) means at the first end of the central member for lockably engaging the pallet; (c) means at the second end of the central member for transferring rotational motion to the central member; (d) a plate having an opening therein through which the central member extends and adapted to be carried on the central member between a pair of annular spaced-apart shoulders thereon; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms extending radially out from the plate, each of the arms being sloped away from the central member and spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the pallet when the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 12

A spring clip for securing a plurality of articles in place on a pallet, said spring clip comprises: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) means at the first end of the central member for lockably engaging the pallet; (c) means at the second end of the central member for transferring rotational motion to the central member; (d) a plate having an opening therein through which the central member extends and adapted to be carried on the central member between a pair of annular spaced-apart shoulders thereon; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms extending radially out from the plate, each of the arms being sloped away from the central member and spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the pallet when the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 13

The spring clip as set forth in claim 9 wherein each article is a semiconductor chip carrier having a case, a lid and a reflowable bonding material therebetween which are held in intimate contact with said spring clip.

Claim 14

The spring clip as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means at the first end comprises a first oblong member integral with the first end having a long dimension normal to the central member; and the means at the second end comprises a second oblong member integral with the second end and having a long dimension normal to the central member, the long dimension of the first oblong member being oriented ninety degrees from the long dimension of the second oblong member.

Claim 15

A spring clip for securing a plurality of articles in place in a pallet, said spring clip comprises: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) the first end of the central member having an integral first oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for lockable engagement in the pallet; (c) the second end of the central member having an integral second oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for transferring rotational motion to the central member, the long dimension of the second oblong member being oriented ninety degrees from the long dimension of the first oblong member; (d) a plate which has the central member extending perpendicularly therethrough and adapted to be carried on the central member between a pair of annular spaced-apart shoulders thereon; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms extending radially out from the plate, each of the arms being sloped away from the central member and spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the pallet when the first oblong member of the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 16

A spring clip for securing a plurality of articles in place in a pallet, said spring clip comprises: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) the first end of the central member having an integral first oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for lockable engagement in the pallet; (c) the second end of the central member having an integral second oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for transferring rotational motion to the central member, the long dimension of the second oblong member being oriented ninety degrees from the long dimension of the first oblong member; (d) a plate which has the central member extending perpendicularly therethrough and adapted to be carried on the central member between a pair of annular spaced-apart shoulders thereon; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms extending radially out from the plate, each of the arms being sloped away from the central member and spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the pallet when the first oblong member of the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 17

The spring clip as set forth in claim 12 wherein each article is a semiconductor chip carrier having a case, a lid and a reflowable bonding material therebetween which are held in intimate contact by said spring clip.

Claim 18

A spring clip for securing a lid to a case in a pallet, during heating, as solder interposed therebetween is reflowed to form a hermetic seal, comprising: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) the first end of the central member having an integral first oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for lockable engagement with a corresponding one of a plurality of receiving passages in the pallet; (c) the second end of the central member having an integral second oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for facilitating rotation of the central member, the long dimension of the second oblong member being oriented ninety degrees from the long dimension of the first oblong member; (d) a plate which has the central member extending perpendicularly therethrough and adapted to be carried on the central member between a pair of annular spaced-apart shoulders thereon; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms extending radially out from the plate, each of the arms being sloped away from the central member and spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the pallet when the first oblong end of the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 19

A spring clip for securing a lid to a case in a pallet, during heating, as solder interposed therebetween is reflowed to form a hermetic seal, comprising: (a) an elongated central member having first and second ends; (b) the first end of the central member having an integral first oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for lockable engagement with a corresponding one of a plurality of receiving passages in the pallet; (c) the second end of the central member having an integral second oblong member with a long dimension normal to the central member and sized and shaped for facilitating rotation of the central member, the long dimension of the second oblong member being oriented ninety degrees from the long dimension of the first oblong member; (d) a plate which has the central member extending perpendicularly therethrough and adapted to be carried on the central member between a pair of annular spaced-apart shoulders thereon; and (e) a plurality of resilient arms extending radially out from the plate, each of the arms being sloped away from the central member and spaced from the other arms, so as to capture one of a plurality of the articles between each of the arms and the pallet when the first oblong end of the first end of the central member is lockably engaged therewith.

Claim 24

The method as recited in claim 16 wherein each article is a semiconductor chip carrier having a case, a lid and a reflowable bonding material therebetween which are held in intimate contact by said spring clip.

Claim 25

The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said inserting comprises: (a) rotating the second end of the central member of the spring clip and the central member affixed thereto, so as to align the long dimension of the first oblong end with the length of the surface opening of a passage in the substrate which is sized and shaped to accept the first oblong end; and (b) slidably urging the aligned first oblong end into the passage.

Claim 26

The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said locking comprises rotating the second end of the central member of the spring clip, and thereby the central member, until the long dimension of the inserted first oblong end effectively engages a shoulder within the passage whereby the central member is lockably held within the passage.

Claim 27

The method as recited in claim 19 wherein each article is a semiconductor chip carrier comprising a case, a lid and a reflowable bonding material therebetween which are held in intimate contact by said spring clip.