# US 7,612,966 B2 · Head suspension assembly and recording medium drive

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- Number: US 7,612,966 B2
- Document ID: US7612966B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/414,386
- Filed: 2006-05-01
- Published: 2007-08-16
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2006-02-16
- Assignees: Fujitsu Limited
- Inventors: Hiroaki Kushima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612966B2

## CPC

- G11B 5/4833: {Structure of the arm assembly, e.g. load beams, flexures, parts of the arm adapted for controlling vertical force on the head (G11B5/484 takes precedence)}
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A head suspension assembly includes a plate member located at a position distanced from the base. A head slider is supported at the front end of the plate member. A leaf spring connects the rear end of the plate member to the front end of the base. A rib extends at least from the rear end of the plate member toward the front end of the plate member. A restraining piece is located in a space between the rib and the base. When the internal force is induced in the head suspension assembly in response to an impact, the leaf spring receives a force to bend upward to move the head slider upward. The restraining piece serves to avoid any change in the position of the plate member relative to the base. The lead spring is prevented from bending. The plate member is thus reliably prevented from an upward movement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A head suspension assembly comprising:
a base;
a plate member located in front of the base at a predetermined interval, said plate member having a front end supporting a head slider;
a leaf spring connecting a rear end of the plate member to a front end of the base;
a rib extending at least from the rear end of the plate member toward a front end of the plate member; and
a restraining piece located in a space between the rib and the base at a position spaced from the leaf spring,
wherein the restraining piece includes an extension extending from one of the rear end of the rib and the front end of the base toward other of the rear end of the rib and the front end of the base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The head suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the restraining piece is formed integral with the rib.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The head suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the restraining piece is formed integral with the base.

### Claim 4

A head suspension assembly comprising:
a base;
a plate member located in front of the base at a predetermined interval, said plate member having a front end supporting a head slider;
a leaf spring connecting a rear end of the plate member to a front end of the base;
a rib extending at least from the rear end of the plate member toward a front end of the plate member; and
a restraining niece located in a space between the rib and the base at a position spaced from the leaf spring,
wherein the restraining piece comprises:
a first extension continuously connected to the rib and extending toward the base from the rib; and
a second extension bending from the first extension so as to define an edge between the first and second extensions, the edge extending from the rib toward the base.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The head suspension assembly according to claim 4, wherein the restraining piece is formed integral with the rib.

### Claim 6

A head suspension assembly comprising:
a base;
a plate member located in front of the base at a predetermined interval, said plate member having a front end supporting a head slider;
a leaf spring connecting a rear end of the plate member to a front end of the base;
a rib extending at least from the rear end of the plate member toward a front end of the plate member; and
a restraining piece continuously connected to the rib, the restraining piece defining a contact surface contacting with an upper surface of the base for sliding movement on the upper surface of the base.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The head suspension assembly according to claim 6, wherein the restraining piece defines an elastic section between the rib and the contact surface, said elastic section exhibiting a force urging the contact surface against the upper surface of the base.

### Claim 8

A recording medium drive comprising:
a recording medium;
a head slider opposed to the recording medium;
a base swinging around a support shaft;
a plate member located in front of the base at a predetermined interval, said plate member having a front end supporting the head slider;
a leaf spring connecting a rear end of the plate member to a front end of the base;
a rib extending at least from the rear end of the plate member toward a front end of the plate member; and
a restraining piece located in a space between the rib and the base at a position spaced from the leaf spring,
wherein the restraining niece includes an extension extending from one of the rear end of the rib and the front end of the base toward other of the rear end of the rib and the front end of the base.

### Claim 9

A recording medium drive comprising:
a recording medium;
a head slider opposed to the recording medium;
a base swinging around a support shaft;
a plate member located in front of the base at a predetermined interval, said plate member having a front end supporting the head slider;
a leaf spring connecting a rear end of the plate member to a front end of the base;
a rib extending at least from the rear end of the plate member toward a front end of the plate member; and
a restraining piece continuously connected to the rib, the restraining piece defining a contact surface contacting with an upper surface of the base for sliding movement on the upper surface of the base.