Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider which includes a slider body with a leading edge and a trailing edge and a plurality of slider bond pads disposed at the trailing edge. The slider bond pads are configured to align opposite to suspension trace bond pads on a suspension to form a solderable gap between the slider bond pads and the suspension trace bond pads.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider which includes a slider body with a leading edge and a trailing edge and a plurality of slider bond pads disposed at the trailing edge. The slider bond pads are configured to align opposite to suspension trace bond pads on a suspension to form a solderable gap between the slider bond pads and the suspension trace bond pads.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head including a trailing surface and a plurality of bond pads in a row, each of which is spaced by a gap from an adjacent bond pad along a width of the trailing surface. Each bond pad includes two side edges spaced from each other across a width of the bond pad, wherein a width of the gap between adjacent bond pads is defined by one side edge of each of two adjacent bond pads, and a top edge extending between the two side edges. The head further includes at least one solder dam including a nonwettable, electrically conductive solder material positioned adjacent to the top edge of at least one of the bond pads.

Abstract: Systems and methods for decentralized tire manufacturing permit the pre-selection of properties of a new casing by individually selecting properties of the casing. The components and raw materials are pre-selected to provide improved and individualized performance characteristics when combined with separately-manufactured new cured tire treads. The new cured treads are manufactured separately in such a manner that pre-selected processing and raw materials may be used to selectively improve performance characteristics. The pre-selected materials and processing used in the separate manufacture of the cured treads from the casing are chosen so as to provide an improved final result that is coordinated through the pre-selections. In this manner, a final tread-casing combination can be made in such a way as to improve one or more performance properties of a final tire.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing a tire selected having a certain performance and/or size characteristic from a range of tread-casing combinations having a range of performance and/or size characteristics from a reduced inventory supply. The systems and methods for producing tires can be used to build tires having a selected performance characteristic from an inventory supply having reduced storage time. A customized tire can be produced by providing, either at or near a point-of-sale facility, a set of cured tire casings manufactured without tire treads and a set of cured tire treads manufactured without tire casings. A tire that is customized to the customer is built upon demand at an assembly facility at or near the point-of-sale and delivered to the customer at or near the time of building upon demand by the customer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for on demand, customized manufacture of vehicle tires at a point-of-sale are disclosed. At a point-of-sale, tire casings and tire treads that have been manufactured separately to enhance certain performance characteristics are assembled to provide a final customized tire.

Abstract: A method for producing customized tires includes providing, at a location near the point-of-sale, a set of tire casings manufactured without tire treads and a set of tire treads manufactured without tire casings. A tire that is customized to the customer is built upon demand at the location near the point-of-sale and installed at or near the time of building upon demand by the customer.

Abstract: Alternative techniques of pricing, leasing or transferring ownership of a new tire can provide a customer with increased options in procuring a new tire and can facilitate assembling customized new tires from select components. In embodiments, the new tire can be assembled from a new tire casing and a new tire tread. The sale or lease price of the new tire can be based in part on one or more factors including the price of the selected casing and price of the selected tread; lease of the casing or the tread; acceptance of second casing or tread; selection of guarantee options regarding fuel savings, extended life, or the like; and the cost-per-mile during use of the new tire. In embodiments, the techniques can be carried out with the assistance of a computer system configured to operate a tire customization and price calculating program.

Abstract: An inventory control method and system tracks components of a new tire which may include a new tire casing and a new tire tread at a point-of-sales facility where the new tire can be assembled. A new tire casing with a first machine-readable identifier and a new tire tread with a second-machine readable identifier are provided. The components are delivered to the point-of-sale facility where their arrival and exit can be tracked by reading the respective first machine-readable identifier and second machine-readable identifier. In various embodiments, the tire control method and system can reallocate components between a plurality of point-of-sale facilities, generate reports on inventory usage, etc. In some embodiments, the inventory control method and/or system can be carried out with the assistance of a computer system configured with an inventory control program for tracking the components.