Patent ID: 7050270

Claim:
A disk drive comprising: a disk having a recording surface; an actuator arm assembly including a bore defining a pivot axis; and an actuator arm positioned over the recording surface, the actuator arm having a total length in a direction radial to the bore, the actuator arm having a total width in a direction orthogonal to the length and orthogonal to the pivot axis, the actuator arm including a proximate region and a distal region, the proximate region spanning the total width of the actuator arm and being closer to the pivot axis than the distal region, the proximate region extending radially over the recording surface for a greater radial distance than does the distal region; the actuator arm being separated from the recording surface in a direction parallel to the pivot axis in the proximate region by at least a first clearance spanning the total width of the actuator arm, and by a second clearance in the distal region, the first clearance being greater than the second clearance.