Head/gimbal assembly having low stiffness cross band flexure

Claim 2

The disc drive recited in claim 1, wherein said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member and said outer suspension band portions of said outer support member are arranged generally parallel to the length of said outer support portion of said outer support member.

Claim 3

The disc drive recited in claim 1, wherein said cross band portion of said inner support member is arranged adjacent to said outer support portion of said outer support member.

Claim 4

The disc drive recited in claim 1, wherein said cross band portion of said inner support member has freedom of movement substantially transverse to the general plane of said outer support member.

Claim 5

The disc drive recited in claim 1, wherein said inner support member has a generally rectilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 6

The disc drive recited in claim 5, wherein said transducer head slider is of the magnetic type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider.

Claim 7

The disc drive recited in claim 1, wherein said inner support member has a generally curvilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 8

The disc drive recited in claim 7, wherein said transducer head slider is of the optical type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider, with said cross band portion generally partially circumscribing a lens system of said slider.

Claim 9

For use in a disc drive for a data storage system, a head/gimbal assembly comprising: a generally fork-shaped outer support member having a generally planar outer support portion generally forming the shank of said outer support member having an upper surface coupled to a load beam and said outer support member also having a pair of outer suspension band portions generally forming the prongs of said outer support member; a generally "U"-shaped inner support member having a cross band portion generally forming the bottom of said inner support member having a generally centrally arranged dimple protruding from the plane of said cross band portion butting against a lower surface of said inner suspension band portions generally forming the arms of said "U"-shaped inner support member, said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member connected to said outer suspension portions of said outer support member; and a transducer head slider coupled to a lower surface of said cross band portion of said inner support member between said inner suspension band portions.

Claim 10

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 9, wherein said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member and said outer suspension band portions of said outer support member are arranged generally parallel to the length of said outer support portion of said outer support member.

Claim 11

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 9, wherein said cross band portion of said inner support member is arranged adjacent to said outer support portion of said outer support member.

Claim 12

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 9, wherein said cross band portion of said inner support member has freedom of movement substantially transverse to the general plane of said outer support member.

Claim 13

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 9, wherein said inner support member has a generally rectilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 14

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 13, wherein said transducer head slider is of the magnetic type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider.

Claim 15

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 9, wherein said inner support member has a generally curvilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 16

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 15, wherein said transducer head slider is of the optical type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider, with said cross band portion generally partially circumscribing a lens system of said slider.

Claim 17

A substantially planar suspension flexure for use in a head/gimbal assembly in a disc type data storage system, said flexure compromising: a generally "U"-shaped inner support member having a cross band portion generally forming the bottom of said inner support member and a pair of inner suspension band portions generally forming the arms of said "U"-shaped inner support member, said cross band portion having a generally centrally located dimple protruding from the general plane of said cross band portion; and a generally fork-shaped outer support member having a generally planar outer support portion generally forming the shank of said outer support member and a pair of outer suspension portions generally forming the prongs of said outer suspension member, said outer suspension band portions connected to said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member along their respective distal ends.

Claim 18

The flexure recited in claim 17, wherein said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member and said outer suspension band portion of said outer support member are arranged generally parallel to the length of said flexure.

Claim 19

The flexure recited in claim 17, wherein said cross support band portion of said inner support member is arranged adjacent to said outer support portion of said outer support member.

Claim 20

The flexure recited in claim 17, wherein said cross band portion of said inner support member has freedom of movement substantially transverse to the general plane of said outer support member.

Claim 21

The flexure recited in claim 17, wherein said inner support member has a generally rectilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 22

The flexure recited in claim 17, wherein said inner support member has a generally curvilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 23

A substantially planar suspension flexure for use in a head gimbal assembly of a disc-type data storage system, said flexure comprising: a generally "U"-shaped inner support member having a cross band portion generally forming the bottom of said inner support member and a pair of inner suspension band portions generally forming the arms of said "U"-shaped inner support member, said cross band portion having a generally centrally located dimple protruding from the general plane of said cross band portion and said inner suspension portions extending generally parallel to the length of said flexure; and a generally fork-shaped outer support member having a generally planar outer support section generally forming the shank of said outer support member and a pair of outer suspension portions generally forming the prongs of said outer suspension member, said outer suspension band portions extending generally parallel to the length of said flexure and connected to said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member along their respective distal ends to allow freedom of movement of said inner support member substantially transverse to the general plane of said outer support member.

Claim 24

The flexure recited in claim 23, wherein said inner support member has a generally rectilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 25

The flexure recited in claim 23, wherein said inner support member has a generally curvilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 26

A head/gimbal assembly for the transducer system of a data storage unit having a transducer head slider with a generally planar lower surface for gliding above the moving surface of a data storage medium, and a substantially planar suspension flexure for flexibly coupling said slider to a load beam for biasing said slider toward said moving surface of said medium, comprising: a generally "U"-shaped inner support member having a cross band portion generally forming the bottom of said inner support member with a lower surface of said cross band portion coupled to said slider and an upper surface of said cross band portion having a generally centrally arranged dimple protruding from the plane of said cross band portion butting against a lower surface of said load beam and said inner support member also having a pair of inner suspension band members generally forming the arms of said "U"-shaped inner support member; and a generally fork-shaped outer support member having a generally planar outer support portion generally forming the shank of said outer support member having an upper surface coupled to said load beam and said outer support member also having a pair of outer suspension portions generally forming the prongs of said outer suspension member, said outer suspension band portions of said outer support member connected to said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member along their respective distal ends.

Claim 27

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 26, wherein said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member and said outer suspension band portions of said outer support member are arranged generally parallel to the length of said flexure.

Claim 28

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 26, wherein said cross band portion of said inner support member is arranged adjacent to said outer support portion of said outer support member.

Claim 29

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 26, wherein said cross band portion of said inner support member has freedom of movement substantially transverse to the general plane of said outer support member.

Claim 30

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 26, wherein said inner support member has a generally rectilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 31

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 30, wherein said transducer head slider is of the magnetic type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider.

Claim 32

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 26, wherein said inner support member has a generally curvilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 33

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 32, wherein said transducer head slider is of the optical type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider, with said cross band portion generally partially circumscribing a lens system of said slider.

Claim 34

A head/gimbal assembly for the transducer system of a data storage unit having a transducer head slider with a generally planar lower surface for gliding above the moving surface of a data storage medium, and a substantially planar suspension flexure for flexibly coupling said slider to a load beam for biasing said slider toward said moving surface of said medium, comprising: a generally "U"-shaped inner support member having a cross band portion generally forming the bottom of said inner support member with a lower surface of said cross band portion coupled to said slider and an upper surface of said cross band portion having a generally centrally arranged dimple protruding from the plane of said cross band portion butting against a lower surface of said load beam and said inner support member also having a pair of inner suspension band members generally forming the arms of said "U"-shaped inner support member and extending generally parallel to the length of said flexure; and a generally fork-shaped outer support member having a generally planar outer support portion generally forming the shank of said outer support member having an upper surface coupled to said load beam and said outer support member also having a pair of outer suspension portions generally forming the prongs of said outer suspension member extending generally parallel to the length of said flexure, said outer suspension band portions of said outer support member connected to said inner suspension band portions of said inner support member along their respective distal ends to allow freedom of movement of said inner support member substantially transverse to the general plane of said outer support member.

Claim 35

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 34, wherein said inner support member has a generally rectilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 36

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 35, wherein said transducer head slider is of the magnetic type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider.

Claim 37

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 34, wherein said inner support member has a generally curvilinear "U"-shaped configuration.

Claim 38

The head/gimbal assembly recited in claim 37, wherein said transducer head slider is of the optical type and said cross band portion of said inner support member is coupled to said slider generally across its mid-section and generally parallel to the seeking direction of said slider, with said cross band portion generally partially circumscribing a lens system of said slider.