Apparatus and method for coupling a flex suspension assembly to an actuator assembly

US6757136B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Seagate Technology LLC · US

Inventors

• Lon Buske · Apple Valley, US
• Rodney Dale Dahlenburg · Minneapolis, US
• Aldeen R. Goehring · Shakopee, US
• Niandong Liu · Apple Valley, US
• Kevin Lambert Mayer · Apple Valley, US
• William Raphael · Mustang, US
• Daniel R. Smith · Woodinville, US
• Mark A. Toffle · St. Louis Park, US
• Brent Melvin Weichelt · Burnsville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 31, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2004
• Expiry date: Jun 21, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/53165
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An actuator assembly including one or more actuator arms, wherein each of the actuator arms defines a clasp hole and a clamp-opening hole and a slot running between the clasp hole and clamp-opening hole, and optionally, a second slot running from the clasp hole to a distal end of the actuator arm, thereby creating two clasp fingers. A flex suspension assembly is included with a protrusion, such as a boss and a head on a distal end. The flex suspension assembly is coupled to the actuator arm by resiliently increasing the diameter of the clasp hole so as to allow the boss on the flex suspension assembly to be inserted into the clasp hole. With the boss is inserted, the clasp hole is allowed to revert to its original diameter, thereby clamping the boss in the clasp hole. A method for assembly is also provided.