Reticle container with corner holding

Claim 2

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar; a plurality of corner supports attached to said clamp bar, said plurality of corner supports arranged to hold a planar substrate; and a spring attached at one end to at least one of said plurality of corner supports and at another end to a support, whereby when said clamp bar is moved, said plurality of corner supports move.

Claim 3

A reticle box as in claim 1 wherein: said spring is a flexure.

Claim 4

A reticle box as in claim 1 further comprising: an elevation bar movably connected to said body; and reticle supports attached to said elevation bar, whereby the reticle can be located in a predetermined position in one direction.

Claim 5

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar; a plurality of corner supports attached to said clamp bar, two of said plurality of corner supports pivotally attached directly to said clamp bar and one of said plurality of corner supports attached through a linkage to said clamp bar; and a spring attached at one end to at least one of said plurality of corner supports and at another end to a support, whereby when said clamp bar is moved, said plurality of corner supports move.

Claim 6

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar; a plurality of corner supports attached to said clamp bar, two of said plurality of corner supports pivotally attached directly to said clamp bar and one of said plurality of corner supports attached through a linkage to said clamp bar; and a spring attached at one end to at least one of said plurality of corner supports and at another end to a support, whereby when said clamp bar is moved, said plurality of corner supports move.

Claim 7

A container for holding a planar substrate comprising: a body; a clamp bar having a first and second arm; a first corner support mounted on the first arm; a second corner support mounted on the second arm; a third corner support; a linkage connecting said clamp bar to said third corner support; and a spring coupled to said clamp bar biasing said first, second, and third corner supports into a predetermined position, whereby when said clamp bar is moved against said spring, said first, second, and third corner supports move away from corners of a planar substrate.

Claim 8

A container for holding a planar substrate comprising: a body; a clamp bar having a first and second arm; a first corner support mounted on the first arm; a second corner support mounted on the second arm; a third corner support; a linkage connecting said clamp bar to said third corner support; and a spring coupled to said clamp bar biasing said first, second, and third corner supports into a predetermined position, whereby when said clamp bar is moved against said spring, said first, second, and third corner supports move away from corners of a planar substrate.

Claim 9

A container for holding a planar substrate as in claim 5 wherein: said spring is a flexure.

Claim 10

A container for holding a planar substrate as in claim 5 wherein: said linkage includes a lever attached to said clamp bar; a connector attached to said lever; and an actuator attached to said connector, said actuator being connected to said third corner support.

Claim 11

A container for holding a planar substrate as in claim 5 further comprising: an elevation bar movably connected to said body; and reticle supports attached to said elevation bar, whereby a reticle can be located in a predetermined position in one direction.

Claim 12

A container for holding a planar substrate as in claim 8 wherein: said elevation bar is connected to said body by a flexure.

Claim 13

A container for holding a planar substrate as in claim 5 further comprising: a cover attached to said body; and a latch attached to said cover.

Claim 14

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar having a first and second arm; a first corner support mounted on the first arm; a first flexure having a first end and a second end, the first end of said first flexure attached to said first corner support and the second end of said first flexure attached to a support, whereby when said clamp bar is pulled away from said body, said first corner support moves against a biasing force provided by said first flexure; a second corner support mounted on the second arm; a second flexure having a first end and a second end, the first end of said second flexure attached to said second corner support and the second end of said second flexure attached to a support, whereby when said clamp bar is pulled away from said body, said second corner support moves against a biasing force provided by said second flexure; a lever attached to the second arm; a connector attached to said lever; an actuator pivotally connected at one end to said body, and to said connector at another end; a support arm pivotally connected at one end to said body, and to said actuator; a third corner support attached to a distal end of said support arm; and a cover attached to said body, whereby when said clamp bar is moved away from said body the first, second, and third corner supports are caused to move away from corners of a reticle placed within the reticle box.

Claim 15

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar having a first and second arm; a first corner support mounted on the first arm; a first flexure having a first end and a second end, the first end of said first flexure attached to said first corner support and the second end of said first flexure attached to a support, whereby when said clamp bar is pulled away from said body, said first corner support moves against a biasing force provided by said first flexure; a second corner support mounted on the second arm; a second flexure having a first end and a second end, the first end of said second flexure attached to said second corner support and the second end of said second flexure attached to a support, whereby when said clamp bar is pulled away from said body, said second corner support moves against a biasing force provided by said second flexure; a lever attached to the second arm; a connector attached to said lever; an actuator pivotally connected at one end to said body, and to said connector at another end; a support arm pivotally connected at one end to said body, and to said actuator; a third corner support attached to a distal end of said support arm; and a cover attached to said body, whereby when said clamp bar is moved away from said body the first, second, and third corner supports are caused to move away from corners of a reticle placed within the reticle box.

Claim 16

A reticle box as in claim 11 further comprising: an elevation bar movably connected to said body; and reticle supports attached to said elevation bar, whereby a reticle can be located in a predetermined position in one direction.

Claim 17

A reticle box as in claim 12 wherein: said elevation bar is connected to said body by a flexure.

Claim 18

A reticle box as in claim 11 further comprising: a latch attached to said cover.

Claim 19

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar; a plurality of corner supports coupled to said clamp bar; a spring biasing said plurality of corner supports into a predetermined position; and a locking mechanism coupled to at least one of said plurality of corner supports, said locking mechanism preventing movement of the at least one of said plurality of corner supports until being released, whereby when said locking mechanism is released and said clamp bar is moved, said plurality of corner supports move.

Claim 20

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar; a plurality of corner supports coupled to said clamp bar; a spring biasing said plurality of corner supports into a predetermined position; and a locking mechanism coupled to at least one of said plurality of corner supports, said locking mechanism preventing movement of the at least one of said plurality of corner supports until being released, whereby when said locking mechanism is released and said clamp bar is moved, said plurality of corner supports move.

Claim 21

A reticle box as in claim 15 wherein: said locking mechanism is a spring tab.

Claim 22

A reticle box as in claim 15 wherein: said locking mechanism is a linkage coupled to said clamp bar and the at least one of said plurality of corner supports.

Claim 23

A reticle box as in claim 15 wherein: said locking mechanism is released by the opening of a door.

Claim 24

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar; a plurality of corner supports coupled to said clamp bar; a spring biasing said plurality of corner supports into a predetermined position; locking means, coupled to at least one of said plurality of corner supports, for preventing movement of the at least one of said plurality of corner supports until being released; a door attached to said body, said door capable of releasing said locking means when said door is opened, whereby when said locking means is released and said clamp bar is moved, said plurality of corner supports move.

Claim 25

A reticle box comprising: a body; a clamp bar; a plurality of corner supports coupled to said clamp bar; a spring biasing said plurality of corner supports into a predetermined position; locking means, coupled to at least one of said plurality of corner supports, for preventing movement of the at least one of said plurality of corner supports until being released; a door attached to said body, said door capable of releasing said locking means when said door is opened, whereby when said locking means is released and said clamp bar is moved, said plurality of corner supports move.