Patent ID: 6449126
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An air bearing slider for use with a data storage drive having a movable storage medium, said air bearing slider comprising:a slider body having a supporting surface which is bounded by leading and trailing edges and a pair of side edges, the supporting surface facing the movable storage medium when mounted in said data storage drive: first and second progressive elevation-flat side rails, each of said progressive elevation-flat side rails being positioned on and projecting from said supporting surface substantially adjacent said side edges of the slider body respectively; only one U-shaped rail, said only one U-shaped rail being substantially centered between said first and second progressive elevation-flat side rails; said only one U-shaped rail including: a cross rail projecting from said supporting surface, and substantially parallel with said leading edge; the cross rail having a progressive elevation portion and a flat portion; the progressive elevation portion of the cross rail and the leading edge of the slider being parallel with respect to one another and the progressive elevation portion decreasing in height from the flat portion toward the leading edge of the slider; first and second side rails projecting from said supporting surface, each of said side rails extending from said cross rail in the direction of said trailing edge to a point offset from said trailing edge and being shorter than said progressive elevation-flat side rails; and a center rail substantially centered between said first and second side rails and extending from said cross rail to said trailing edge.