IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,977,798
Granted Patent B2
US 6,977,798 · App. 10/083,054 · Granted Dec 20, 2005

Stiffened suspension for a storage device having a layer of composite material

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,977,798
App. No.
10/083,054
Granted
Dec 20, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A suspension for a storage device includes a metal layer and one or more composite stiffeners bonded to the metal layer to stiffen part but not all of the suspension. The composite stiffeners are made of a composite material and are bonded to the metal layer by an adhesive. Under most embodiments, the composite material has a higher stiffness to weight ratio than a metal.

Claims (32)

1. A suspension comprising:

a metal material defining at least a portion of the suspension;

an adhesive bonded to a portion of the metal material; and

a composite material having a higher stiffness to weight ratio than the metal material and being bonded to the same adhesive layer that is bonded to the metal material, the adhesive layer being thinner than 0.00025 cm.

2. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the metal material defines a load beam of the suspension and the adhesive and the composite material are positioned on the load beam.

3. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the metal material defines a base area of the suspension and the adhesive and the composite material are positioned on the base area.

4. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the metal material defines a spring area having a first bonding area, the composite material defines a load beam having a second bonding area and the adhesive is bonded between the first bonding area and the second bonding area.

5. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the metal material defines a spring area having a first bonding area, the composite material defines a base area having a second bonding area and the adhesive is bonded between the first bonding area and the second bonding area.

6. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the composite material comprises a high performance plastic.

7. The suspension of claim 6 wherein the composite material comprises a liquid crystal polymer.

8. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the composite material comprises a reinforced plastic.

9. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the composite material comprises a metal matrix composite.

10. The suspension of claim 9 wherein the metal matrix composite comprises aluminum with alumina fibers.

11. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the composite material comprises a ceramic material.

12. The suspension of claim 1 wherein the composite material comprises a glass material.

13. A suspension comprising:

a suspension body formed from a layer of metal; and

a composite stiffener formed from a composite material having a higher stiffness to weight ratio than the layer of metal and bonded directly to a portion of the suspension body by a single adhesive layer that is thinner than 0.00025 cm.

14. The suspension of claim 13 wherein the composite stiffener is bonded to a base area of the suspension body.

15. The suspension of claim 13 wherein the composite stiffener is bonded to a load beam of the suspension body.

16. The suspension of claim 13 wherein the composite material comprises a high performance plastic.

17. The suspension of claim 13 wherein the composite material comprises a reinforced plastic.

18. The suspension of claim 13 wherein the composite material comprises a metal matrix composite.

19. The suspension of claim 13 wherein the composite material comprises a ceramic material.

20. The suspension of claim 13 wherein the composite material comprises a glass material.

21. A suspension comprising:

a suspension body formed from a layer of metal; and

stiffener means formed of a composite material having a higher stiffness to weight ratio than the layer of metal for increasing the stiffness of selected areas of the suspension and bonded directly to the suspension body by a single adhesive layer that is thinner than 0.00025 cm.

22. The suspension of claim 21 wherein the stiffener means comprises a composite material bonded to a base area of the suspension body.

23. The suspension of claim 21 wherein the stiffener means comprises a composite material bonded to a load beam of the suspension body.

24. The suspension of claim 21 wherein the stiffener means comprises a composite material having a higher stiffness to mass ratio than the layer of metal.

25. The suspension of claim 21 wherein the stiffener means comprises a metal matrix.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; I365 INC.; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE HDD CAYMAN; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY (US) HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072193/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030833/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 24, 2011
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026010/0350 →
RELEASE Recorded Jan 19, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 025662/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2009
From: MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND FIRST PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE; WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
Reel/Frame 022757/0017 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Dec 21, 2005
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK)
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 016926/0342 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2002
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 013177/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2002
From: SCHULZ, KEVIN J.; HUHA, MARSHA A.; BHATTACHARYA, SANDEEPAN
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 012643/0912 →