Suspension for disc drive
A suspension for a disc drive has a load beam, a flexure, a slider, etc. A tongue portion and a pair of outrigger portions are formed on the flexure. Slits are formed between the outrigger portions and opposite side edges of the tongue portion. The tongue portion and the outrigger portions are connected by connecting portions. Limiter members are formed on the load beam. Each limiter member has a bent portion, which is inserted in its corresponding slit, and an extending portion. The extending portion faces its corresponding connecting portion. A trace member is electrically connected to the slider. The trace member passes outside the limiter members and extends along the outrigger portions.
1. A suspension for a disc drive, comprising:
a load beam having a proximal portion and a distal end portion;
a flexure which is located overlapping the load beam, extends in a longitudinal direction of the load beam, and has a first surface opposed to the load beam and a second surface on the side opposite from the load beam;
a tongue portion formed on the flexure and bendable in the thickness direction thereof;
a dimple formed on the distal end portion of the load beam so as to project toward the tongue portion;
a pair of outrigger portions formed on the flexure so as to extend individually along opposite side edges of the tongue portion;
slits formed between the outrigger portions and the opposite side edges of the tongue portion;
connecting portions which connect the outrigger portions with that part of the tongue portion which is situated near a distal end portion of the flexure;
a slider mounted on the tongue portion;
limiter members which are formed on the load beam and each have a bent portion, which projects from the first surface of the flexure toward the second surface through the slit corresponding thereto, and an extending portion, which extends along the second surface from the bent portion toward the connecting portion corresponding thereto, the extending portion being opposed to the connecting portion in the thickness direction of the flexure; and
a trace member which is electrically connected to the slider, passes through regions outside the limiter members, and extends along the outrigger portions toward the proximal portion of the load beam.
2. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 1 , wherein those parts of the trace member which extend along the outrigger portions are located outside the outrigger portions with gaps therebetween.
3. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 2 , wherein the limiter members are formed by bending projections on opposite side edges of the distal end portion of the load beam in the thickness direction of the load beam.
4. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 3 , wherein the tongue portion has a leading-side end portion, and a leading-side limiter member for restraining the tongue portion from being displaced for a predetermined amount or more in the thickness direction is provided on the leading-side end portion.
5. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 2 , wherein a pair of rail portions are formed by bending the opposite side edges of the load beam in the thickness direction of the load beam, a loading/unloading tab is formed protruding from the distal end portion of the load beam, and the limiter members are formed by bending projections on longitudinal parts of the rail portions.
6. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 5 , wherein the tongue portion has a leading-side end portion, and a leading-side limiter member for restraining the tongue portion from being displaced for a predetermined amount or more in the thickness direction is provided on the leading-side end portion.
7. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 2 , wherein a pair of rail portions are formed by bending the opposite side edges of the load beam in the thickness direction of the load beam, a width between the pair of rail portions at the distal end portion of the load beam is greater than the width of the distal end portion of the flexure, a loading/unloading tab is formed protruding from the distal end portion of the load beam, and the limiter members are formed by cutting and raising parts of the load beam between the rail portions in the thickness direction of the load beam.
8. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 1 , wherein the limiter members are formed by bending projections on opposite side edges of the distal end portion of the load beam in the thickness direction of the load beam.
9. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 8 , wherein the tongue portion has a leading-side end portion, and a leading-side limiter member for restraining the tongue portion from being displaced for a predetermined amount or more in the thickness direction is provided on the leading-side end portion.
10. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 1 , wherein a pair of rail portions are formed by bending the opposite side edges of the load beam in the thickness direction of the load beam, a loading/unloading tab is formed protruding from the distal end portion of the load beam, and the limiter members are formed by bending projections on longitudinal parts of the rail portions.
11. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 10 , wherein the tongue portion has a leading-side end portion, and a leading-side limiter member for restraining the tongue portion from being displaced for a predetermined amount or more in the thickness direction is provided on the leading-side end portion.
12. A suspension for a disc drive according to claim 1 , wherein a pair of rail portions are formed by bending the opposite side edges of the load beam in the thickness direction of the load beam, a width between the pair of rail portions at the distal end portion of the load beam is greater than the width of the distal end portion of the flexure, a loading/unloading tab is formed protruding from the distal end portion of the load beam, and the limiter members are formed by cutting and raising parts of the load beam between the rail portions in the thickness direction of the load beam.