Reticle pod having side containment of reticle

Abstract

A reticle pod includes an outer pod, an inner pod cover and an inner base plate. A reticle is supported on the base and is contained within the environment created by the inner pod cover and the inner pod base. The inner pod cover can include a plurality of reticle retainers configured to contact a side wall of the reticle and limit movement of the reticle in a horizontal direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reticle pod for holding a reticle comprising:
 a base configured to support a reticle thereon;   a cover having a top surface and configured to mate with the base; and   one or more reticle retainers each including a reticle contact member configured to contact a side wall of a reticle to limit movement of the reticle, each reticle contact member including an outwardly extending arm and a downwardly extending leg that extends through the cover, wherein upon actuation of the arm, the downwardly extending leg is configured to move in a direction toward a side wall of a reticle.   
     
     
         2 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein the reticle contact member limits movement of the reticle in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         3 . The reticle pod of  claim 2 , wherein the reticle contact member limit movement in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         4 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein the reticle contact member is further configured to contact a top surface of a reticle. 
     
     
         5 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional reticle retainers configured to contact a top surface of a reticle. 
     
     
         6 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more reticle retainers further comprises a resilient member, wherein the resilient member biases the reticle contact member in a non-contact position. 
     
     
         7 . The reticle pod of  claim 6 , wherein each of the one or more resilient member includes an elastomeric disk that encircles the downwardly extending leg. 
     
     
         8 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more reticle retainers includes a cap secured to the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly extending arm extends at least partially above a top surface of the cover. 
     
     
         10 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly extending arm comprises at least one downwardly extending member. 
     
     
         11 . The reticle pod of  claim 10 , wherein the cover further comprises a recess configured to receive the at least one downwardly extending member upon actuation of the outwardly extending arm. 
     
     
         12 . The reticle pod of clam  10 , wherein the reticle contact member further includes a cross member that forms a T-shape with the outwardly extending arm, the cross member having at least one downwardly extending member. 
     
     
         13 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein the downwardly extending leg includes at least a first recess and a first contact member received in the first recess. 
     
     
         14 . The reticle pod of  claim 13 , wherein the downwardly extending leg includes a second recess and a second contact member received in the second recess, wherein the first contact member is positioned at an angel relative to the first recess. 
     
     
         15 . The reticle pod of  claim 1 , wherein the reticle pod is contained within an outer pod having an outer pod base and an outer pod cover configured to mate with the outer pod base, the outer pod cover having an inner surface and at least one contact pad extending from the inner surface such that it contacts and actuates the outwardly extending arm of the reticle pod causing the downwardly extending leg to move in a direction toward the side wall of the reticle. 
     
     
         16 . A method of retaining a reticle comprising:
 receiving a reticle on a base having features configured to support the reticle thereon;   placing a cover on the base including the reticle to define an inner pod, the cover including one or more reticle retainers each including a reticle contact member, each reticle contact member including an outwardly extending arm that is extends at least partially above the top surface of the cover and a downwardly extending leg that extends through the cover; and   limiting movement of the reticle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein limiting movement of the reticle comprises actuating the one or more reticle retainers to contact a side wall of the reticle to limit movement of the reticle in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein limiting movement of the reticle further comprises actuating the one or more reticle retains to contact a top surface of the reticle to limit movement of the reticle in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising enclosing the inner pod within an outer pod including an outer pod cover and an outer pod base, the outer cover including one or more contact members provided on an inner surface, wherein when the inner pod is enclosed within the outer pod, each contact member contacts and applies a downward force to a corresponding reticle retainer of the one or more reticle retainers.