Patent ID: 6972931

Claim:
A write head of a magnetic tape recording system, comprising: a write head portion having gaps for writing data to a magnetic tape as the two are moved relative to one another, said write head portion having a tape contact surface; and a wear part having an edge disposed upstream of said write head portion relative to a tape travel direction, said wear part defining a tape contact surface that is substantially co-planar with said tape contact surface of said write head portion, said edge being disposed to provide a tape wrap angle of said magnetic tape to utilize atmospheric pressure to hold the tape against said write head portion; wherein said write head portion is a first write head portion and said wear part is a first wear part; a read portion adjacent said first write head portion on a side opposite said first wear part; a second write head portion adjacent said read portion on a side opposite said first write head portion; and a second wear part adjacent said second write head portion on a side opposite said read portion, said first and second wear parts and said first and second write head portions and said read part having tape contact surfaces that are substantially co-planar so as to utilize atmospheric pressure to hold the tape against said write head portions during respective forward and reverse tape movement while providing read while write capability.