Reinforced tray for delicate devices

Abstract

A tray for storing and handling delicate components is strengthened with a reinforcement bar. Reinforcement bars are arranged in parallel to enhance resistance against cracking and warpage of the tray. Each reinforcement bar may include a support structure. A radius on all or a portion of tray members having a sharp edge may serve to strengthen the tray further. Tray members including ribs, openings, indentations, and pockets can have all or part of their sharp edges covered with a radius.

1 . A tray assembly for storing components in a stack, each tray in the tray assembly having a first side and a second side, said tray assembly comprising: 
 a) an array of pockets on said first side;    b) a ridge on the periphery of said first side, wherein a portion of the ridge extends inward relative to the pockets to form a reinforcement bar having a first and a second corner region;    c) an edge surrounding each of said sides; and    d) a radius on at least one of the corner regions of the reinforcement bar.    
   
   
       2 . The tray assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each tray further includes a radius at an area adjacent to the first side of the tray.  
   
   
       3 . The tray assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each tray further includes 
 a support structure occupying a space between the reinforcement bar and the edge,    wherein said support structure protrudes from one of said sides.    
   
   
       4 . The tray assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one indentation on the edge of the tray, said indentation for receiving a strap.  
   
   
       5 . The tray assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the stack is secured by aligning at least one strap over the indentation of each tray, and adhering the ends of the strap together.  
   
   
       6 . The tray assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a warpage of no more than 30 mils results from strapping the tray assembly at 20 kg force over a temperature range of 125° C.-175° C. for a period of 24 hours.  
   
   
       7 . A tray assembly for storing components in a stack, each tray in the tray assembly having a first side and a second side, said tray assembly comprising: 
 c) an array of pockets on at least one of said sides;    d) a ridge on the periphery of said first side, wherein a portion of the ridge extends inward relative to the pockets to form a reinforcement bar;    c) an edge surrounding each of said sides; and    d) a support structure occupying a space between the reinforcement bar and the edge, wherein said support structure protrudes from one of said sides.    
   
   
       8 . The tray assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one indentation on the edge of the tray, said indentation for receiving a strap.  
   
   
       9 . The tray assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the stack is secured by aligning at least one strap over the indentation of each tray, and adhering the ends of the strap together.  
   
   
       10 . The tray assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a warpage of no more than 30 mils results from strapping the tray assembly at 20 kg force over a temperature range of 125° C.-175° C. for a period of 24 hours.  
   
   
       11 . The tray assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each tray is a unitary structure.