Abstract: A wafer boat and boat handle are designed for automatic interlocking engagement and release upon manipulation by a user. The boat includes a side rail with a lip for engagement within a slot formed in the handle, and a handle cam activating contact surface for contacting a gripping block member of the handle. The handle includes at least one boat holding block with a boat lip holding slot therewithin. The handle also includes at least one boat gripping block that is rotatably engaged with the holding block, and which includes a frontwardly projecting rail gripping flange. When the boat lip is brought into the holding block slot, the gripping block rotates and the flange is brought over the top of the rail. The boat rail is thereby held between the slot and the flange of the handle, such that the boat may be lifted and moved.

Abstract: The boat and boat handle of the present invention are cooperatively designed for automatic interlocking engagement and release upon manipulation by a user. The boat includes a side rail that is designed with a lip portion for engagement within a slot formed in the handle, and a handle contact surface for contacting a gripping block member of the handle. The handle includes at least one boat holding block that is formed with a boat lip holding slot therewithin. The handle also includes at least one boat gripping block that is rotatably engaged with the holding block, and which includes a frontwardly projecting rail gripping flange. When the boat lip is brought into the holding block slot, the gripping block is caused to rotate such that the flange is brought over the top of the rail. The boat rail is thereby held between the slot and the flange of the handle, such that the boat may be lifted and moved through movement of the handle.