Apparatus with surface protector to inhibit contamination

An apparatus comprising:

• a surface to be protected;
• a protector frame configured to receive the surface to be protected, the protector frame comprising an open-ended frame structure having a first open end and a second open end at opposite sides of the protector frame to facilitate insertion of the surface within or removal of the surface from the protector frame, and the protector frame comprising:
• a protector plate configured to inhibit particle contamination of the surface with the surface disposed within the protector frame;
• and
• at least one first support at a first side of the protector frame, and at least once second support at a second side of the protector frame, the first side and the second side being opposite sides of the protector frame, wherein the at least one first support and the at least one second support support the surface within the protector frame with the surface in spaced, opposing relation to the protector plate, and provide a gap between the protector plate and the surface that presents a diffusion barrier to particle migration into the gap and onto the surface due, at least in part, to physical proximity of the protector plate to the surface to be protected, thereby inhibiting particle contamination of the surface.