Load-unload ramp structure with cantilevered fin portion configured to reduce drop shock in a hard-disk drive

1. A load-unload ramp structure with a cantilevered fin portion to reduce drop shock in a hard-disk drive, said load-unload ramp structure comprising:

a first load-unload ramp configured to lift a first head-slider away from a first recording surface of a magnetic-recording disk;

a fin coupled to said first load-unload ramp and disposed below a first parking position of said first head-slider on said first load-unload ramp, said fin comprising:

a fin base portion; and

a first cantilevered fin portion coupled to, and extending outward from, said fin base portion;

a bracket portion integrally attached to said first load-unload ramp, and configured to allow affixing said load-unload ramp structure in a static position in a disk-enclosure base of said hard-disk drive;

a second load-unload ramp configured to lift a second head-slider away from a second recording surface of said magnetic-recording disk;

said fin coupled to said second load-unload ramp and disposed above a second parking position of said second head-slider on said second load-unload ramp, said fin further comprising:

a second cantilevered fin portion coupled to, and extending outward from, said fin base portion; and

wherein said bracket portion is integrally attached to said second load-unload ramp; and

wherein said second cantilevered fin portion is separated from said first cantilevered fin portion by a slit.

2. The load-unload ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when said first head-slider is parked at said first parking position said first cantilevered fin portion is disposed facing a disk-facing side of said first head-slider.

3. The load-unload ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when said first head-slider is parked at said first parking position said first cantilevered fin portion is configured to prevent said first head-slider and a second head-slider from striking one another.

4. The load-unload ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein said second cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when a second head-slider is parked at said second parking position said second cantilevered fin portion is disposed facing a disk-facing side of said second head-slider.

5. The load-unload ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein said second cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when said second head-slider is parked at said second parking position said second cantilevered fin portion is configured to prevent said first head-slider and said second head-slider from striking one another.

6. The load-unload ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion and said second cantilevered fin portion are configured to reduce a change in pitch static angle of at least one of said first head-slider and said second head-slider when said hard-disk drive is dropped, compared to a change in pitch static angle of a first head-slider and a second head-slider of a substantially identical hard-disk drive, but with a slitless fin, when said substantially identical hard-disk drive is similarly dropped.

7. The load-unload ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion and said second cantilevered fin portion have less stiffness than a stiffness of a substantially similar fin without said slit.

8. The load-unload ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion and said second cantilevered fin portion are configured to reduce an occurrence of hard errors in said hard-disk drive after said hard-disk drive is dropped, compared with an occurrence of hard errors in a substantially identical hard-disk drive, but with a slitless fin, when said hard-disk drive with said slitless fin is similarly dropped.

9. A hard-disk drive having a load-unload ramp structure with a cantilevered fin portion to reduce drop shock, comprising:

at least one magnetic-recording disk;

at least one head-slider, said head-slider configured to access data on said magnetic recording disk;

at least one magnetic-recording head disposed at a distal end of said head-slider, said magnetic-recording head configured to read data from, and to write data to, said magnetic-recording disk; and

a load-unload ramp structure comprising:

a first load-unload ramp configured to lift a first head-slider away from a first recording surface of said magnetic-recording disk;

a fin coupled to said first load-unload ramp and disposed below a first parking position of said first head-slider on said first load-unload ramp, said fin comprising:

a fin base portion; and

a first cantilevered fin portion coupled to, and extending outward from, said fin base portion;

a bracket portion integrally attached to said first load-unload ramp, and configured to allow affixing said load-unload ramp structure in a static position in a disk-enclosure base of said hard-disk drive;

a second load-unload ramp configured to lift a second head-slider away from a second recording surface of said magnetic-recording disk;

said fin coupled to said second load-unload ramp and disposed above a second parking position of said second head-slider on said second load-unload ramp, said fin further comprising:

a second cantilevered fin portion coupled to, and extending outward from, said fin base portion; and

wherein said bracket portion is integrally attached to said second load-unload ramp; and

wherein said second cantilevered fin portion is separated from said first cantilevered fin portion by a slit.

10. The hard-disk drive of claim 9 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when said first head-slider is parked at said first parking position said first cantilevered fin portion is disposed facing a disk-facing side of said first head-slider.

11. The hard-disk drive of claim 9 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when said first head-slider is parked at said first parking position said first cantilevered fin portion is configured to prevent said first head-slider and a second head-slider from striking one another.

12. The hard-disk drive of claim 9 , wherein said wherein said second cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when a second head-slider is parked at said second parking position said second cantilevered fin portion is disposed facing a disk-facing side of said second head-slider.

13. The hard-disk drive of claim 9 , wherein said second cantilevered fin portion is configured so that when said second head-slider is parked at said second parking position said second cantilevered fin portion is configured to prevent said first head-slider and said second head-slider from striking one another.

14. The hard-disk drive of claim 9 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion and said second cantilevered fin portion are configured to reduce a change in pitch static angle of at least one of said first head-slider and said second head-slider when said hard-disk drive is dropped, compared to a change in pitch static angle of a first head-slider and a second head-slider of a substantially identical hard-disk drive, but with a slitless fin, when said substantially identical hard-disk drive is similarly dropped.

15. The hard-disk drive of claim 9 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion and said second cantilevered fin portion have less stiffness than a stiffness of a substantially similar fin without said slit.

16. The hard-disk drive of claim 9 , wherein said first cantilevered fin portion and said second cantilevered fin portion are configured to reduce an occurrence of hard errors in said hard-disk drive after said hard-disk drive is dropped, compared with an occurrence of hard errors in a substantially identical hard-disk drive, but with a slitless fin, when said hard-disk drive with said slitless fin is similarly dropped.

17. A method for providing protection from drop shock for at least one head-slider in a hard-disk drive, said method comprising:

fabricating a load-unload ramp structure including a fin having a slit, said fin including a first cantilevered fin portion and a second cantilevered fin portion defined by said slit in said fin, wherein said fabricating said load-unload ramp structure further comprises injection molding said load-unload ramp structure with a die that includes a protrusion into a cavity formed by said die to produce said slit in said fin at a location of said protrusion when said load-unload ramp structure is formed in said die;

affixing a bracket portion of said load-unload ramp structure to affix said load-unload ramp structure in a static position in a disk-enclosure base of said hard-disk drive; and

parking a head-gimbal assembly including a head-slider of said hard-disk drive at a parking position on said load-unload ramp structure;

wherein said parking position is located adjacent to said first and second cantilevered fin portions such that said head-slider faces at least one of said first and second cantilevered fin portions when said head-gimbal assembly is parked at said parking position.