Means and method for providing controlled air bearing support for a member over a smooth, regular, moving surface

Claim 1

MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING A TRANSDUCER IN SLIGHTLY SPACED RELATION TO A UNIFORM MAGNETIC RECORD SURFACE MOVING AT A SPEED SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE A LAMINAR AIR CURRENT BY AIR DRAG ALONG SUCH RECORD SURFACE, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER OF A SIZE FOR MOUNTING WITHIN SUCH AIR CURRENT SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING OF AIRCRAFT WING SHAPE, AN UNDER SURFACE PORTION OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER SHAPED TO CONFORM TO SUCH RECORD SURFACE, MEANS FOR MOUNTING A TRANSDUCER ON THE SUPPORT MEMBER WITH A PORTION OF THE TRANSDUCER EXPOSED THROUGH SAID CONFORMING UNDER SURFACE PORTION OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER, MEANS SUPPORTING THE SUPPORT MEMBER WITH ITS LEADING EDGE DIRECTED INTO SUCH AIR CURRENT FOR RETAINING THE SUPPORT MEMBER AGAINST RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF RECORD TRAVEL, AND MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SUCH RECORD SURFACE, WHEREBY, SUCH AIR CURRENT PROVIDES AIR BEARING SUPPORT FOR THE SUPPORT MEMBER AND A TRANSDUCER MOUNTED THEREON, THE SIDE OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER NEAREST SUCH RECORD BEING SO SHAPED, RELATIVE TO THE SIDE OPPOSITE THERETO, THAT A GREATER PRESSURE WILL BE EXERTED ON THE LATTER SIDE THAN ON THE FORMER SIDE BY THE FLOW OF SUCH AIR CURRENTS AROUND THE SUPPORT MEMBER, THEREBY URGING THE LATTER TOWARD THE RECORD.