Patent ID: 7230798

Claim:
A head support device for supporting a read and/or write head for recording information on a recording medium and/or reproducing information from the recording medium, the recording medium rotating around an axis of rotation of the recording medium, said head support device comprising: a base arm operable to pivot about a first axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the axis of rotation of the recording medium; a support arm coupled to said base arm so as to be pivotable about the first axis with said base arm, said support arm being operable to pivot about a second axis relative to said base arm, the second axis extending through a pivot fulcrum and being perpendicular to the first axis, said pivot fulcrum being located at one of a top surface of said base arm, a bottom surface of said base arm, and a position between said top surface and said bottom surface with respect to a thickness direction of said base arm; a flexure attaching a slider to a first end of said support arm, said flexure being fixed to said support arm at said pivot fulcrum; and a spring member coupling said support arm to said base arm for applying a thrust force to the head, said spring member having a rigidity lower than a rigidity of said support arm.