Support device for magnetic head

Claim 2

In combination, a magnetic recording means including a recording surface moving in a fluid atmosphere, a magnetic head assembly adapted for floating on the fluid atmosphere, a support device having a platform coupled to said head assembly, means for supporting the support device with the head assembly oriented adjacent the recording surface, and means including an actuating member having an end for forcing the head assembly into a floating position on the fluid atmosphere adjacent the moving recording surface, the support device including in a one piece construction an approximately flat thin body structure comprising an elastic material perforated to form the platform and a supporting network therefor that inhibits rotation of the head structure relative to the recording surface, allows restrained rotation of the head assembly in other directions about a pivot point at the end of the actuating member, and allows movement of the head assembly toward and away from the recording surface responsive to the actuating member, a portion of the platform being permanently deformed to lie forward of the remainder of the body structure, the head assembly being bonded to the permanently deformed portion so it is spaced from the remainder of the body structure.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, in which the permanently deformeD portion is substantially parallel to the remainder of the body structure.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1, in which the platform has two ends that are unattached to the remainder of the body structure and the permanently deformed portion of the platform is at the unattached ends of the platform.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3, in which the body structure has an outer frame, two mounting tabs extend inwardly from opposite sides of the outer frame, and the support device is secured to the supporting means by the tabs.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4, in which the body structure has a cable support bracket that is directly joined to the tabs so forces exerted on the bracket do not appreciably affect the restrained rotation of the head.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5, in which the tabs extend inwardly toward each other from opposite sides of the outer frame and the perforations in the elastic material form at least one intermediate frame disposed between the outer frame and the platform, a first pair of oppositely disposed links connecting the platform to the intermediate frame, and a second pair of oppositely disposed links connecting the intermediate frame to the outer frame, the second pair of links being transverse to the first pair of links.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6, in which the portions of the intermediate frame adjacent to the tabs are bowed inwardly away from the tabs.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7, in which the perforations in the elastic material form an inner frame disposed between the intermediate frame and the platform so the first pair of links connects the intermediate frame to the inner frame, a third pair of oppositely disposed links connecting the inner frame to the platform, the third pair of links being transverse to the first pair of links, and a slit that divides the platform into two parts, the slit being transverse to the third pair of links.

Claim 10

In combination, a magnetic recording means including a recording surface moving in a fluid atmosphere, a magnetic head assembly adapted for floating on the fluid atmosphere, a support device coupled to the head assembly, means for supporting the support device with the head assembly oriented adjacent to the recording surface, the support device having two mounting tabs with which it is secured to the supporting means, and means including an actuating member having an end for forcing the head assembly into a floating position on the fluid atmosphere adjacent the moving recording surface, the support device including in a one piece construction an approximately flat thin body structure comprising an elastic material perforated to form an outer frame around the body structure, to inhibit rotation of the head structure relative to the recording surface, to allow restrained rotation of the head assembly in other directions about a pivot point at the end of the actuating member, and to allow movement of the head assembly toward and away from the recording surface, the tabs extending inwardly from the outer frame.

Claim 11

In combination, a magnetic recording means including a recording surface moving in a fluid atmosphere, a magnetic head assembly adapted for floating on the fluid atmosphere, a support device coupled to the head assembly, means for supporting the support device with the head assembly oriented adjacent to the recording surface, the support device having two mounting tabs with which it is secured to the supporting means, and means including an actuating member having an end for forcing the head assembly into a floating position on the fluid atmosphere adjacent the moving recording surface, the support device including in a one piece construction an approximately flat thin body structure comprising an elastic material perforated to form an outer frame around the body structure, to inhibit rotation of the head structure relative to the recording surface, to allow restrained rotation of the head assembly in other directions about a pivot point at the end of the actuating member, and to allow movement of the head assembly toward and away from the recording surface, the tabs extending inwardly from the outer frame.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9, in which the perforations in the elastic material form at least one intermediate frame between the outer frame and the platform, the portions of the intermediate frame adjacent to the tabs being bowed inwardly away from the tabs.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 9, in which the tabs extend inwardly from opposite sides of the outer frame.

Claim 14

In combination, a magnetic recording means including a recording surface moving in a fluid atmosphere, a magnetic head assembly adapted for floating on the fluid atmosphere, a support device coupled to said head assembly, means for supporting the support device with the head assembly oriented adjacent the recording surface, the support device having two mounting tabs with which it is secured to the supporting means and a cable support bracket, a head assembly cable secured to the cable support bracket with a slack portion between the head assembly and the cable support bracket, and means including an actuating membEr having an end for forcing the head assembly into a floating position on the fluid atmosphere adjacent the moving recording surface, the support device including in a one piece construction an approximately flat thin body structure comprising an elastic material perforated to form the two tabs and the cable support bracket, to inhibit rotation of the head structure relative to the recording surface, to allow restrained rotation of the head assembly in other directions about a pivot point at the end of the actuating member, and to allow movement of the head assembly toward and away from the recording surface, the cable support bracket being directly joined to the tabs so forces exerted on the cable do not appreciably affect the rotation of the head assembly.

Claim 15

In combination, a magnetic recording means including a recording surface moving in a fluid atmosphere, a magnetic head assembly adapted for floating on the fluid atmosphere, a support device coupled to said head assembly, means for supporting the support device with the head assembly oriented adjacent the recording surface, the support device having two mounting tabs with which it is secured to the supporting means and a cable support bracket, a head assembly cable secured to the cable support bracket with a slack portion between the head assembly and the cable support bracket, and means including an actuating membEr having an end for forcing the head assembly into a floating position on the fluid atmosphere adjacent the moving recording surface, the support device including in a one piece construction an approximately flat thin body structure comprising an elastic material perforated to form the two tabs and the cable support bracket, to inhibit rotation of the head structure relative to the recording surface, to allow restrained rotation of the head assembly in other directions about a pivot point at the end of the actuating member, and to allow movement of the head assembly toward and away from the recording surface, the cable support bracket being directly joined to the tabs so forces exerted on the cable do not appreciably affect the rotation of the head assembly.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12, in which the cable support bracket extends transversely from the remainder of the body structure, an opening is formed in the body structure between the bracket and the remainder of the body structure, and the slack portion of the cable is disposed behind the remainder of the body structure with its ends passing through the opening.

Claim 19

The device of claim 14, in which, the inner and outer support members, and the platform are substantially quadrangular.

Claim 20

The device of claim 14, in which the permanently deformed portion of the platform has two ends that are unattached to the remainder of the elastic body.

Claim 21

The device of claim 16, in which the platform comprises two pads disposed adjacent to each other in spaced apart relationship to form the ends of the permanently deformed portion and the first pair of connecting members extends between the nonadjacent ends of the pads and the inner support member.

Claim 24

The device of claim 18, in which the outer edges of the tabs are flush with the outer edges of the outer support member.

Claim 25

The device of claim 18, in which the portions of the inner support member adjacent to the tabs are bowed inwardly away from the tabs to increase the perimeter of the inner support member.

Claim 28

The device of claim 21, in which the support bracket is a U-shaped member having two substantially parallel arms joined by a crossarm, the ends of the parallel arms joining the tabs and the crossarm being permanently deformed to extend transversely from the remainder of the elastic body.

Claim 29

A support device comprising in a one piece construction a load support member, a portion of the load support member being permanently deformed so it lies in a plane above the remainder of the load support member and an elastic interconnecting network surrounding and coupled to the load support member such that the elasticity thereof allows restrained rotational movement of the load support member about a pivot point and the network inhibits movement of the load support member parallel with a predetermined plane therethrough.

Claim 30

A support device comprising in a one piece construction a load support member, a portion of the load support member being permanently deformed so it lies in a plane above the remainder of the load support member and an elastic interconnecting network surrounding and coupled to the load support member such that the elasticity thereof allows restrained rotational movement of the load support member about a pivot point and the network inhibits movement of the load support member parallel with a predetermined plane therethrough.

Claim 31

A support device comprising in a one piece construction a load support member, an elastic interconnecting surrounding and coupled to the load support member such that the elasticity thereof allows restrained rotational movement of the load support member about a pivot point and the network inhibits movement of the load support member parallel with a predetermined plane therethrough, and a pair of mounting tabs extending inwardly from opposite sides of the periphery of the network.

Claim 32

A support device comprising in a one piece construction a load support member, an elastic interconnecting surrounding and coupled to the load support member such that the elasticity thereof allows restrained rotational movement of the load support member about a pivot point and the network inhibits movement of the load support member parallel with a predetermined plane therethrough, and a pair of mounting tabs extending inwardly from opposite sides of the periphery of the network.

Claim 33

The support device of claim 24, in which the network includes a plurality of members one within the other and the portions of the members adjacent to the tabs are bowed inwardly away from the tabs.

Claim 34

A support device comprising in a one piece construction a load support member, an elastic interconnecting surrounding and coupled to the load support member such that the elasticity thereof allows restrained rotational movement of the load support member about a pivot point and the network inhibits movement of the load support member parallel with a predetermined plane therethrough, a pair of mounting tabs disposed on opposite sides of the periphery of the network, and a cable support bracket directly joined to the tabs so forces on the bracket do not appreciably affect the rotation of the load support member.

Claim 35

A support device comprising in a one piece construction a load support member, an elastic interconnecting surrounding and coupled to the load support member such that the elasticity thereof allows restrained rotational movement of the load support member about a pivot point and the network inhibits movement of the load support member parallel with a predetermined plane therethrough, a pair of mounting tabs disposed on opposite sides of the periphery of the network, and a cable support bracket directly joined to the tabs so forces on the bracket do not appreciably affect the rotation of the load support member.

Claim 36

The device of claim 26, in which the cable support bracket is a U-shaped member having substantially parallel arms connected by a crossarm, the ends of the parallel arms being joined to the tabs and the crossarm being bent to extend transversely from the remainder of the device.