Self loading slider for magnetic recording heads

Claim 1

A slider for flying a magnetic head on a fluid bearing relative to magnetic recording media moving in a predetermined direction in the fluid, comprising a slider having means defining a fluid bearing surface having leading and trailing edges for flying above the moving media, the fluid bearing surface defining means comprising a generally planar fluid support surface extending generally transverse to the predetermined direction of movement of said media; a portion of said slider leading edge defining a ramp angled away from the plane of said fluid support surface and said media; and a cavity having a generally spherical surface formed in said fluid support surface and spaced from said leading edge while being positioned adjacent said sliding trailing edge wherein said spherical cavity has an opening into said slider trailing edge, whereby fluid within the cavity may be exhausted through the trailing edge opening so that the spherical cavity may serve to create a controlled reduced pressure area on the fluid bearing surface when the slider is flying above the moving media to maintain the slider at a close and substantially constant distance from the media.