Wafer shipping and storage container

Abstract

A wafer shipping and storage container includes a base, a tray, and a lid. The base is rigid providing a platform for the tray. The base has a tray recess dimensioned to be slightly larger than the tray. The tray recess has a plurality of elastic pillars attached that project away from the top surface. Each pillar is encompassed by an elastic stop shorter than the pillars. The tray has a wafer recess dimensioned to accept a disk. The perimeter of the top surface has a plurality of holes passing through the tray that correspond in size and placement to accept the pillars from the base. An additional adhesive recess may be recessed within the disk recess. The adhesive recess is sized to contain a gel adhesive or other releasable adhesive containing a plurality of support strands, which may be used to support and hold the disk within the tray. One or more vacuum openings may extend to the adhesive recess to pull the adhesive away from the disk when the disk is being removed from the tray. The lid is used to close the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tray for holding a fragile item, the tray comprising: 
 a top surface,    a first recess in said top surface, said first recess sized and configured such that the fragile item is locatable therein, a first recess base forming a bottom of said first recess,    a second recess in said first recess, said second recess having a second recess base forming a bottom of said second recess,    an adhesive located in said second recess,    and a vacuum opening extending through said second recess base and located adjacent a bottom surface of said adhesive.    
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive is pliable.  
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of strands of material extending through said adhesive, said strands formed of a material less elastic than said adhesive.  
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein said strands are woven into a latticework.  
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein said strands are formed of plastic.  
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive forms a patch at least 0.5 inches across.  
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive forms a patch at least 1.0 inch across.  
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive is GEL-PAK.  
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a container for holding said tray, said container comprising: 
 a container base,    and a mating container lid,    wherein said container base and container lid are sized such that, when said tray is located therein, said tray is held securely.    
     
     
         10 . The container and tray of  claim 9 , wherein said tray has a plurality of holes extending through a perimeter of said tray.  
     
     
         11 . The container and tray of  claim 10 , wherein said container base has a plurality of elastic pillars extending upward from a top surface thereof, said pillars sized, configured and located to fit within said plurality of holes in said tray, and further comprising an elastic stop surrounding each of said plurality of elastic pillars, said elastic stops sized and configured to support said tray.  
     
     
         12 . The container and tray of  claim 11 , wherein said lid has a plurality of projections extending from the bottom surface of said lid, and further comprising a plurality of elastic bumpers sized and configured to attach around each of said projections.  
     
     
         13 . The container and tray of  claim 12 , wherein said projections are sized and located such that, when said lid is mated with said container base with a tray therein, said elastic bumpers are located near said holes in said tray and said elastic pillars.  
     
     
         14 . The container and tray of  claim 9 , wherein said container base and lid are formed of a generally rigid material.  
     
     
         15 . The container and tray of  claim 9 , wherein a perimeter of said lid is stepped and a perimeter of said container base is stepped, the steps of said lid and base are sized and configured to hold said container together.  
     
     
         16 . The container and tray of  claim 9 , wherein said container base further comprises a plurality of ridges extending across at least a portion of said base.  
     
     
         17 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch adjacent said first recess, said latch having an open position and a closed position, said latch configured to hold a disk within said first recess when said latch is in said closed position.  
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of disk removal recesses located adjacent an edge of said first recess, a bottom surface of said disk removal recess at a lower elevation than said first recess base.  
     
     
         19 . The tray of  claim 18 , wherein said disk removal recess extends to an edge of said tray.