Gimbal limiter for suspension with lift tab

Abstract

A head suspension for a disk drive with a load beam having continuous rails and a distal lift tab. A dimple is positioned proximal to the lift tab, either on the load beam or the gimbal, the dimple providing a pitch axis and a roll axis for the slider. The suspension also includes at least one tab member fixed in relation to the load beam, where each of the at least one tab member is aligned with or is distal to the dimple. The at least one tab and a portion of the gimbal define a gimbal limiter that is aligned with or distal to the dimple. The at least one tab member extends either longitudinally or laterally from the load beam at or distal to the dimple.

1 . A head suspension for a disk drive comprising:
 load beam having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a distal lift tab, the load beam supporting a gimbal having a slider fixed thereto;   a dimple positioned proximal to the lift tab, the dimple providing a pitch axis and a roll axis for the slider;   continuous rails on the load beam extending along the load beam toward the distal end, the rails extending to at least the dimple;   at least one tab member in fixed relation to the load beam, each of the at least one tab member aligned with or distal to the dimple; and   a gimbal limiter defined by the at least one tab and a portion of the gimbal, the gimbal limiter aligned with or distal to the dimple and external to a footprint of the slider.   
     
     
         2 . The suspension of  claim 1  wherein the load beam is less than 0.05 mm thick. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension of  claim 1  wherein the at least one tab member is integral with the load beam. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension of  claim 1  wherein the at least one tab member extends longitudinally and centrally in relation to the load beam. 
     
     
         5 . The suspension of  claim 1  wherein the at least one tab member comprises two tab members extending laterally in relation to the load beam and symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the load beam. 
     
     
         6 . The suspension of  claim 5  wherein the two tab members extend laterally past the load beam. 
     
     
         7 . The suspension of  claim 5  further comprising an attachment component that comprises the two tab members. 
     
     
         8 . The suspension of  claim 1  wherein the at least one tab member is folded to engage the gimbal forming the gimbal limiter. 
     
     
         9 . The suspension of  claim 1  wherein the gimbal is folded to engage the at least one tab member forming the gimbal limiter. 
     
     
         10 . The suspension of  claim 1  wherein the gimbal limiter is positioned distal to the dimple. 
     
     
         11 . The suspension of  claim 10  wherein the gimbal limiter is positioned distal to the slider. 
     
     
         12 . A head suspension for a disk drive comprising:
 load beam having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a distal lift tab, the load beam supporting a gimbal having a slider fixed thereto;   a dimple positioned proximal to the lift tab, the dimple providing a pitch axis and a roll axis for the slider;   continuous rails on the load beam extending along the load beam toward the distal end, the rails extending to at least the dimple;   a pair of tab members symmetrically extending laterally from the load beam, the tab members aligned with or distal to the dimple; and   a gimbal limiter formed by engagement of the tab members and the gimbal, the gimbal limiter aligned with or distal to the dimple.   
     
     
         13 . The suspension of  claim 12  wherein the tab members are bent to engage the gimbal. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension of  claim 12  wherein the gimbal is bent to engage the tab members. 
     
     
         15 . The suspension of  claim 12 , further comprising an attachment component fixedly attached to the gimbal that comprises the pair of tab members. 
     
     
         16 . A head suspension for a disk drive comprising:
 load beam having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a distal lift tab, the load beam supporting a gimbal having a slider fixed thereto;   a dimple positioned proximal to the lift tab, the dimple providing a pitch axis and a roll axis for the slider;   continuous rails on the load beam extending along the load beam toward the distal end, the rails extending to at least the dimple;   a tab member extending longitudinally and distally from the load beam distal to the dimple; and   a gimbal limiter formed by engagement of the tab member and the gimbal.   
     
     
         17 . The suspension of  claim 16  wherein one of the tab member and the gimbal is bent. 
     
     
         18 . The suspension of  claim 17  wherein the tab member is bent. 
     
     
         19 . The suspension of  claim 18  is bent to form a return. 
     
     
         20 . The suspension of  claim 17  wherein the gimbal is bent.