US5021907A — Gimbal spring for supporting a magnetic transduce…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 118 words

In a gimbal spring apparatus of the type having a cantilevered tongue which includes at least one side edge, a planar mounting surface for an adhesive connection to a magnetic disk head slider, and an upper surface having a dimple protrusion for point contact with a load beam, the upper surface being opposite to the mounting surface, an improvement comprising: tab means extending from the side edge and positioned generally adjacent the dimple, the tab means extending below a geometric plane defined by the planar mounting surface to extend through the adhesive connection for electrical contact with the magnetic disk head slider to provide an electrical discharge path from the magnetic disk head slider to the gimbal spring.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 118 words

In a gimbal spring apparatus of the type having a cantilevered tongue which includes at least one side edge, a planar mounting surface for an adhesive connection to a magnetic disk head slider, and an upper surface having a dimple protrusion for point contact with a load beam, the upper surface being opposite to the mounting surface, an improvement comprising: tab means extending from the side edge and positioned generally adjacent the dimple, the tab means extending below a geometric plane defined by the planar mounting surface to extend through the adhesive connection for electrical contact with the magnetic disk head slider to provide an electrical discharge path from the magnetic disk head slider to the gimbal spring.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the side edge is formed integral with the tab means, the tab means being bent to form an acute angle between the tab means and the geometric plane defined by the planar mounting surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The improvement of claim 2 wherein the angle is between about four degrees and about ten degrees.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The improvement of claim 2 wherein the tab means comprises at least one edge in electrical contact with the magnetic disk head slider.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the tab means comprises at least one corner in electrical contact with the magnetic disk head slider.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 105 words

A gimbal spring configured for adhesive connection to a disk head slider in a magnetic disk drive unit, the gimbal spring comprising: an elongated member having forward and rearward portions, the forward portion having a central region; a cantilevered tongue cut out of the forward portion within the central region, the tongue having a central pad connected to the slider by the adhesive connection and having a dimple protrusion and at least one integral projection with at least one canted corner extending through a plane generally defined by the pad and extending through the adhesive connection to make physical and electrical contact with the slider.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 105 words

A gimbal spring configured for adhesive connection to a disk head slider in a magnetic disk drive unit, the gimbal spring comprising: an elongated member having forward and rearward portions, the forward portion having a central region; a cantilevered tongue cut out of the forward portion within the central region, the tongue having a central pad connected to the slider by the adhesive connection and having a dimple protrusion and at least one integral projection with at least one canted corner extending through a plane generally defined by the pad and extending through the adhesive connection to make physical and electrical contact with the slider.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The gimbal spring of claim 6 wherein the canted corner extends below the plane generally defined by the central pad to form an acute angle between the corner and the plane, the angle being between about four degrees and about ten degrees.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The gimbal spring of claim 6 wherein the central pad comprises two integral projections, each projection having two canted corners.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 88 words

A magnetic transducer assembly comprising: an actuator arm; a magnetic disk head slider carrying a magnetic transducer; a gimbal spring having an elongated member and a cantilevered tongue, the elongated member secured to the actuator arm and the cantilevered tongue bonded to the slider by an adhesive for resiliently supporting the slider and transducer proximate a rotating magnetic disk, the tongue having at least one canted corner extending through the adhesive and contacting the slider to provide an electrostatic discharge path from the slider to the gimbal spring.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 88 words

A magnetic transducer assembly comprising: an actuator arm; a magnetic disk head slider carrying a magnetic transducer; a gimbal spring having an elongated member and a cantilevered tongue, the elongated member secured to the actuator arm and the cantilevered tongue bonded to the slider by an adhesive for resiliently supporting the slider and transducer proximate a rotating magnetic disk, the tongue having at least one canted corner extending through the adhesive and contacting the slider to provide an electrostatic discharge path from the slider to the gimbal spring.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The magnetic transducer assembly of claim 9 wherein the tongue includes a central pad having four canted corners, each corner extending through the adhesive connection and contacting the slider.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

The magnetic transducer assembly of claim 9 wherein the corner is canted at an angle that is between about four degrees and about ten degrees with respect to a plane generally defined by the tongue.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The magnetic transducer assembly of claim 9 wherein the adhesive is a nonconductive epoxy.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of assembling a slider-gimbal assembly, the method comprising: providing a gimbal spring having a central pad with at least one integral projection having at least one canted corner, so that the canted corner extends below a plane generally defined by the central pad; and securing the gimbal spring to a magnetic disk head slider with an adhesive so that the canted corner extends through the adhesive and electrically contacts the slider.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of assembling a slider-gimbal assembly, the method comprising: providing a gimbal spring having a central pad with at least one integral projection having at least one canted corner, so that the canted corner extends below a plane generally defined by the central pad; and securing the gimbal spring to a magnetic disk head slider with an adhesive so that the canted corner extends through the adhesive and electrically contacts the slider.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing a gimbal spring includes providing a gimbal spring having a central pad with at least one integral projection having at least one corner canted at an angle between about 4° and about 10°.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of securing the gimbal spring with an adhesive includes securing the gimbal spring with a non-conductive epoxy.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 68 words

A gimbal spring configured for adhesive connection to a disk head slider in a disk drive unit, the gimbal spring comprising a pad connected to the slider by the adhesive connection and having at least one integral projection with at least one canted corner extending through a plane generally defined by the pad and extending through the adhesive connection to make physical and electrical contact with the slider.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 68 words

A gimbal spring configured for adhesive connection to a disk head slider in a disk drive unit, the gimbal spring comprising a pad connected to the slider by the adhesive connection and having at least one integral projection with at least one canted corner extending through a plane generally defined by the pad and extending through the adhesive connection to make physical and electrical contact with the slider.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

The gimbal spring of claim 16 wherein the canted corner extends below the plane generally defined by the pad to form an acute angle between the corner and the plane, the angle being between about four degrees and ten degrees.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The gimbal spring of claim 16 wherein the pad comprises two integral projections, each projection having two canted corners.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-06-03	1994-12-03	1995-06-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-06-03	1998-12-03	1999-06-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-06-03	2002-12-03	2003-06-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gimbal spring for supporting a magnetic transducer and making electrical contact therewith

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