Spacer trays for stacking storage trays with integrated circuits

A spacer tray for interposition between two storage trays for integrated circuits wherein, in a horizontal orientation of the storage trays, each integrated circuit has a housing means with a planar housing having horizontal top and bottom surfaces, auxiliary means disposed on the top of the planar housing and terminals extending therefrom, wherein each storage tray has framework portions for defining discrete storage pocket areas for supporting the integrated circuits and a peripheral wall having top and bottom edges with first and second complementary engaging means on top and bottom edges respectively and with a predetermined depth between an upper horizontal plane at the top peripheral wall edge and a horizontal plane coextensive with the bottom surface of a stored integrated circuit and wherein the integrated circuit housing means protrudes beyond the upper horizontal plane, said spacer tray comprising:

• A. open framework means coextensive with the storage tray framework with portions defining discrete pocket areas and a peripheral wall of a predetermined height having top and bottom edges with first and second engaging means respectively that interlock with the second and first engaging means of adjacent storage trays respectively thereby to position said spacer tray with respect to an adjacent storage tray, and
• B. integrated circuit retaining means for retaining an integrated circuit in a storage pocket of a storage tray below said spacer tray, said retaining means including pad means for overlying the auxiliary means and supporting web means extending from said framework means for supporting said pad means in alignment with the auxiliary means and at a distance form the support plane that depends upon the overall height of the integrated circuit.

A spacer tray for interposition between two storage trays for integrated circuits wherein each integrated circuit has a housing means and terminals extending therefrom and wherein each storage tray has a framework with portions for defining discrete storage tray pocket areas for the integrated circuits and portions for defining a peripheral wall of a predetermined height with first and second complementary engaging means on opposite edges of the peripheral wall, each storage tray pocket area, in a horizontal orientation, having a predetermined depth between an upper horizontal plane at the top edge of the storage tray peripheral wall and a horizontal plane coextensive with the bottom of the integrated circuit stored therein, the integrated circuit housing means protruding beyond the upper horizontal plane, said spacer tray comprising:

• A. an open framework means coextensive with the storage tray framework for defining discrete spacer tray pocket areas and a peripheral wall of a predetermined height with first and second engaging means on opposite edges of said peripheral wall and corresponding with the first and second engaging means on adjacent storage trays, respectively, for interlocking with the second and first engaging means on adjacent storage trays respectively thereby to interpose said spacer tray between the storage trays, and
• B. integrated circuit retaining means extending from said spacer tray and spanning portions of said spacer tray pocket areas for engaging the integrated circuit housing means thereby to retain integrated circuits stored in the storage pocket areas of one of the adjacent storage trays, said integrated circuit retaining means being positioned when a storage tray and a said spacer tray are interlocked with a surface in a horizontal spacer tray plane that is offset form the storage tray support plane by a distance corresponding to the integrated circuit height.

A system of storage and spacer trays that facilitates the individual storage of integrated circuits in and the stacking of plural storage trays wherein each integrated circuit has a housing means and terminals extending therefrom and wherein:

• A. each said storage tray comprises:
• i. framework means for defining a plurality of storage pocket areas and a peripheral wall of a predetermined height with first and second complementary engaging means on opposite edges of said peripheral wall,
• ii. base support means spanning said portions of said framework means for forming said storage pocket areas, and
• iii. a set of upstanding rib means within each said storage pocket area extending from said base support means for engaging the integrated circuit housing means in said storage pocket area, the integrated circuit having a portion of its housing means protruding above said framework means, and
• B. each said spacer tray comprises:
• i. an open framework means coextensive with said storage tray framework means for defining discrete pocket areas and a peripheral wall of a predetermined height with first and second engaging means on opposite edges that interlock with corresponding ones of the second and first engaging means on each said storage tray thereby to position said spacer tray with respect to ones of said storage trays, and
• ii. integrated circuit retaining means extending from said spacer tray framework means and spanning portions of said spacer tray pocket areas for engaging the integrated circuit housing means thereby to retain integrated circuits stored in said storage pocket areas of an adjacent one of said storage trays.