A link for a conveyor belt, comprising: a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; a first laterally aligned, rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735) proximate to the first longitudinal end of the link (100, 120, 140, 401, 601, 801, 3015, 1700), and a second laterally aligned, rod receiving aperture (3035, 1725) proximate to the second longitudinal end of the link (100, 120, 140, 401, 601, 801, 3015, 1700); the first rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735) forming a rod insertion pathway configured to receive a connecting rod (104, 124, 144, 410, 630, 830, 3070, 1775); and a resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) proximate at least one lateral end of the link (100, 120, 140, 401, 601, 801, 3015, 1700); wherein, in a first, undeflected position, the resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) prevents insertion and removal of a connecting rod (104, 124, 144, 410, 630, 830, 3070, 1775) through the first rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735) along the rod insertion pathway; the resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) is movable to a second, deflected position, characterized in that the resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 2084, 1780) may be deflected in two opposite directions, and in that when the projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) is deflected in a first direction perpendicular to the substantially lateral direction or a second, opposite direction perpendicular to the substantially lateral direction, the projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) allows insertion and removal of a connecting rod (104, 124, 144, 410, 630, 830, 3070, 1775) through the first rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735). a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; a first laterally aligned, rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735) proximate to the first longitudinal end of the link (100, 120, 140, 401, 601, 801, 3015, 1700), and a second laterally aligned, rod receiving aperture (3035, 1725) proximate to the second longitudinal end of the link (100, 120, 140, 401, 601, 801, 3015, 1700); the first rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735) forming a rod insertion pathway configured to receive a connecting rod (104, 124, 144, 410, 630, 830, 3070, 1775); and a resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) proximate at least one lateral end of the link (100, 120, 140, 401, 601, 801, 3015, 1700); wherein, in a first, undeflected position, the resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) prevents insertion and removal of a connecting rod (104, 124, 144, 410, 630, 830, 3070, 1775) through the first rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735) along the rod insertion pathway; the resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) is movable to a second, deflected position, characterized in that the resilient projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 2084, 1780) may be deflected in two opposite directions, and in that when the projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) is deflected in a first direction perpendicular to the substantially lateral direction or a second, opposite direction perpendicular to the substantially lateral direction, the projection (102, 122, 142, 420, 610, 810, 3084, 1780) allows insertion and removal of a connecting rod (104, 124, 144, 410, 630, 830, 3070, 1775) through the first rod receiving aperture (108, 128, 148, 405, 605, 805, 3040, 1735).