Patent ID: 6833977
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A unitary load beam for a disk drive suspension, said load beam having a spring portion providing predetermined gram force properties to said load beam, said spring portion being normally bent beyond its nominal range in the course of its installation into a disk drive with adverse effect on said spring portion and a lessening of the gram force properties exerted thereby, said load beam having a perimeter and comprising a base portion unitary with the proximate end of said spring portion, and an elongated beam portion extending in a plane and wider than and unitary with the distal end of said spring portion, said beam portion having left and right edge rails, said base portion being adapted to provide a mounting surface for mounting the load beam to an actuator, the left and right junctions of said spring portion and said beam portion at said load beam perimeter having a straight portion normal to said left and right edge rails, respectively, and a radiused portion inward of said straight portion, said straight portion having a lateral extent in the plane of said beam portion that is greater than the lateral extent of said radiused portion in said plane, said radiused portion subtending an oblique angle between said beam portion and said spring portion, whereby the stress of bending said load beam spring portion beyond its nominal range is distributed such that the peak value of the stress force is less than that at which plastic deformation of the load beam spring portion occurs.