Slider-gimbal scratch mitigation

1. A head gimbal assembly for use with a load beam, the assembly comprising:

a gimbal configured to be supported by the load beam, wherein the gimbal includes a gimbal tongue and comprises a metallic layer;

a slider for carrying a transducing head secured to the gimbal tongue;

a first tab extending from the gimbal tongue proximate to but spaced laterally in from a first corner of the slider;

a second tab spaced from the first tab and extending from the gimbal tongue proximate to but spaced laterally in from a second corner of the slider; and

a polymer layer secured to the metallic layer of the gimbal, wherein the polymer layer extends along at least a portion of the first tab at a surface facing the load beam.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the first tab extends beyond a leading edge of the slider in a cantilevered configuration.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein a distal end of the second tab extends beyond a leading edge of the slider in a cantilevered configuration.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the polymer layer extends along at least a portion of the second tab at a surface facing the load beam.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second tabs have a generally trapezoidal shape.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second tabs have rounded corners.

7. A head gimbal assembly comprising:

a gimbal configured to be supported by a load beam, wherein the gimbal includes a gimbal tongue and comprises a metallic layer;

a slider for carrying a transducing head secured to the gimbal tongue;

a first tab extending from the gimbal tongue located near a first corner of the slider;

a second tab extending from the gimbal tongue located near a second corner of the slider, the first tab and the second tab defining a cutout channel in the gimbal tongue extending inward from a distal end of the gimbal tongue; and

a polymer layer secured to the metallic layer of the gimbal, wherein the polymer layer extends along at least a portion of the first tab at a surface facing the load beam.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein a distal end of the first tab extends beyond a leading edge of the slider in a cantilevered configuration.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein a distal end of the second tab extends beyond a leading edge of the slider in a cantilevered configuration.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein a leading edge portion of the slider extends beyond a distal end of the first tab.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein a leading edge portion of the slider extends beyond a distal end of the second tab.

12. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the polymer layer extends along at least a portion of the second tab at a surface facing the load beam.

13. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second tabs have a generally trapezoidal shape.

14. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second tabs have rounded corners.

15. A head gimbal assembly for use with a load beam, the assembly comprising:

a gimbal configured to be supported by the load beam, the gimbal comprising a metallic layer and including a gimbal tongue;

a slider for carrying a transducing head secured to the gimbal tongue;

a first tab extending from the gimbal tongue proximate a first corner of the slider;

a second tab spaced from the first tab and extending from the gimbal tongue proximate a second corner of the slider; and

a polymer layer between the metallic layer of the gimbal and the slider, wherein the polymer layer extends along at least a portion of the first tab and along at least a portion of the second tab.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the first tab and the second tab extend beyond a leading edge of the slider in a cantilevered configuration.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the distal end of the first tab extends beyond a side edge of the slider adjacent to the leading edge of the slider.

18. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the polymer layer is aligned with a leading edge of the slider.