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US 11,387,126 B2Granted
Paddle tool for transporting semiconductor wafers or other components
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsHeather D. Leifeste, Ron C. Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a base configured to receive at least one component. The apparatus also includes a handle connected to the base and extending away from the base. The apparatus further includes a clip configured to slide along at least part of the handle towards and away from the base. The clip is configured to secure the at least one component to the apparatus and to release the at least one component from the apparatus. The clip is configured, after the at least one component is secured, to be locked in order to prevent release of the at least one component from the apparatus. The handle may include a lock configured to selectively prevent movement of the clip along the handle passed the lock.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a base including a planar surface configured to receive at least one component;
- a handle connected to the base and extending away from the base;
- and
- a clip including a lip or ridge, the clip configured to:
- slide along at least part of the handle towards the base to move the lip or ridge over a portion of the at least one component in contact with the planar surface in order to secure the at least one component to the planar surface;
- and
- slide along the at least part of the handle away from the base to move the lip or ridge away from the portion of the at least one component in order to release the at least one component from the planar surface;
- wherein the clip is further configured, after the at least one component is secured, to be locked in order to prevent release of the at least one component from the planar surface.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- placing at least one component on a planar surface of a base of a tool, the tool having a handle connected to the base and extending away from the base;
- sliding a clip along at least part of the handle towards the base to move a lip or ridge of the clip over a portion of the at least one component in contact with the planar surface in order to secure the at least one component to the planar surface;
- and
- locking the clip in order to prevent release of the at least one component from the planar surface.
1 more element
A handheld tool comprising:
- a base comprising:
- a planar surface configured to receive at least one component;
- and
- multiple projections located along an edge of the base, each projection comprising or defining at least one groove configured to receive a first portion of the at least one component;
- an elongated handle connected to the base opposite the projections and extending away from the base;
- a clip wrapped partially around the handle, the clip configured to slide along at least part of the handle towards and away from the projections, the clip comprising a lip or ridge configured to be selectively positioned over a second portion of the at least one component in contact with the planar surface in order to secure the at least one component to the planar surface;
- and
- multiple locks positioned along the handle, each lock configured to selectively prevent movement of the clip away from the projections along the handle past the lock;
- wherein one of the locks is configured, after the at least one component is secured, to prevent movement of the clip away from the projections and thereby prevent release of the at least one component from the planar surface.
6 more elements
A handheld tool comprising:
- a base comprising multiple projections located along an edge of the base, each projection comprising or defining at least one groove configured to receive a first portion of at least one component;
- an elongated handle connected to the base opposite the projections and extending away from the base;
- a clip wrapped partially around the handle, the clip configured to slide along at least part of the handle towards and away from the projections, the clip comprising a lip or ridge configured to be selectively positioned over a second portion of the at least one component in order to secure the at least one component to the handheld tool;
- and
- multiple locks positioned along the handle, each lock configured to selectively prevent movement of the clip away from the projections along the handle past the lock;
- wherein one of the locks is configured, after the at least one component is secured, to prevent movement of the clip away from the projections and thereby prevent release of the at least one component from the tool;
- wherein the handheld tool comprises a raised outer edge around a periphery of the handheld tool;
- wherein the base comprises two projections that are symmetric on the base, the two projections extending upward from the raised outer edge;
- and
- wherein a gap in the raised outer edge is located between the two projections.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.