Head suspension having a flexure motion limiter
US6046883A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/4833
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A head suspension for supporting a head slider over a disk surface within a rigid disk drive includes a load beam with a flexure at a distal end of the load beam. The head suspension includes motion limiters for restricting the range of motion of the flexure relative to the load beam. Toward this end, the load beam of the present invention includes a plurality of limit elements, each limit element having an engagement surface, and the flexure includes a corresponding plurality of engagement tabs, each engagement tab having a stop surface opposite the engagement surface of one of the limit elements. The limit elements are connected with the load beam by one or more bends to operatively receive the engagement tabs of the flexure. In one embodiment of the present invention, the limit elements are "L" shaped appendages that are first etched to extend transversely from the load beam, and are then bent along a longitudinal bend by an angle of about 90.degree. to position the engagement surface of the limit element beneath the stop surface of a corresponding engagement tab. In a second embodiment, the limit elements include an opening, each limit element being bent by an angle of about 90…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.