HEAD SLIDER, HEAD GIMBAL ASSEMBLY and STORAGE APPARATUS

1 . A head slider having a leading end and a trailing end of airflow occurring in connection with movement of a moving recording medium when the head slider is disposed above the recording medium, comprising:

a main top face that is configured to face the recording medium and forms a part of the leading end; and

two step faces that extend from the leading end to a downstream side at a lower position than the main top face when the main top face is placed face up,

wherein the step faces are respectively provided at the right and left sides with respect to the airflow,

a part of said main top face is provided so as to extend between said two step faces, and

the other portion of said main top face is provided so as to extend at the rear side of the said step faces, at least a part of the head slider being floated above the recording medium.

2 . The head slider according to claim 1 , further comprising a front side top face provided at the front side of said main top face and said step faces,

wherein said front side top face extends in the same plane as said main top face.

3 . The head slider according to claim 2 , further comprising a recess portion having a predetermined depth provided between said front side top face and each of said main top face and said step faces.

4 . The head slider according to claim 1 , further comprising a base face that is lower than said main top face by a predetermined distance; and

a front side top face that is provided at the front side of said main top face and said step faces,

wherein the height of said front side top face from said base face is equal to the height of said main top face from said base face.

5 . The head slider according to claim 4 , wherein said step faces are disposed between said base face and said main top face in the height direction from said base face.

6 . The head slider according to claim 4 , wherein said base face and the bottom surface of said recess portion extend in the same plane.

7 . The head slider according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance of said base face from said main top face is set so that the negative pressure occurring by airflow flowing from said main top face to said base face is equal to or less than the half of the maximum value.

8 . The head slider according to claim 3 , further comprising a connection top face provided between said front side top face and said main top face,

wherein said connection top face extends in the same plane as said main top face and said front side top face, and

said front side top face, said connection top face and said main top face constitute a continuous plane.

9 . The head slider according to claims 1 , further comprising a recess portion provided in a portion between areas of said main top face at the rear side of said two step faces,

wherein the bottom surface of the recess portion is a negative pressure occurring face.

10 . The head slider according to claims 2 , further comprising a recess portion provided in a portion between areas of said main top face at the rear side of said two step faces,

wherein the bottom surface of the recess portion is a negative pressure occurring face.

11 . The head slider according to claims 4 , further comprising a recess portion provided in a portion between areas of said main top face at the rear side of said two step faces,

wherein the bottom surface of the recess portion is a negative pressure occurring face.

12 . The head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure occurring face extends at a lower position than the step faces.

13 . The head slider according to claim 2 , wherein the negative pressure occurring face extends at a lower position than the step faces.

14 . The head slider according to claim 4 , wherein the negative pressure occurring face extends at a lower position than the step faces.

15 . A head assembly, comprising:

a head slider having a leading end and a trailing end of airflow occurring in connection with movement of a moving recording medium when the head slider is disposed above the recording medium, comprising:

a main top face that is configured to face the recording medium and forms a part of the leading end; and

two step faces that extend from the leading end to a downstream side at a lower position than the main top face when the main top face is placed face up,

wherein the step faces are respectively provided at the right and left sides with respect to the airflow,

a part of said main top face is provided so as to extend between said two step faces,

the other portion of said main top face is provided so as to extend at the rear side of the said step faces, and

at least a part of the head slider being floated above the recording medium; and

a head suspension attached to said head slider, having a flexibility.

16 . The head assembly according to claim 15 , wherein said head slider further comprises a front side top face provided at the front side of said main top face and said step faces, and

said front side top face extends in the same plane as said main top face.

17 . The head assembly according to claim 15 , wherein said head slider further comprises a base face that is lower than said main top face by a predetermined distance; and

a front side top face is provided at the front side of said main top face and said step faces, and

the height of said front side top face from said base face is equal to the height of said main top face from said base face.

18 . A storage apparatus, comprising:

a head slider having a leading end and a trailing end of airflow occurring in connection with movement of a moving recording medium when the head slider is disposed above the recording medium, comprising:

a main top face that is configured to face the recording medium and forms a part of the leading end; and

two step faces that extend from the leading end to a downstream side at a lower position than the main top face when the main top face is oriented face up,

wherein the step faces are respectively provided at the right and left sides with respect to the airflow,

a part of said main top face is provided so as to extend between said two step faces, and

the other portion of said main top face is provided so as to extend at the rear side of the said step faces,

at least a part of the head slider being floated above the recording medium;

a head suspension attached to said head slider, having a flexibility; and

an actuator arm fixing an end of said suspension, flexibly pivoting.

19 . The storage apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said head slider further comprises a front side top face provided at the front side of said main top face and said step faces, and

said front side top face extends in the same plane as said main top face.

20 . The storage apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said head slider further comprises a base face that is lower than said main top face by a predetermined distance; and

a front side top face is provided at the front side of said main top face and said step faces, and

the height of said front side top face from said base face is equal to the height of said main top face from said base face.