Patent ID: 8438827

Claim:
A block lock for a round link chain, comprising: two approximately L-shaped identical lock halves connected with one another by pins, each lock half including a longitudinal leg having a continuous back portion and having one end formed with a projection and a receiving pocket, a center rib arranged distal to the back portion and separating bearing shells for chain links from one another, and a cross leg arranged on another end of the longitudinal leg and formed with a projection and a receiving pocket which are arranged in confronting relationship to the center rib and complement the projection and the receiving pocket of the longitudinal leg, wherein the center rib of the longitudinal leg of one of the lock halves and the center rib of the longitudinal leg of the other one of the lock halves are arranged in offset relationship to form diagonally opposed free spaces sized to enable end links of the round link chain to rest against the center ribs when the round link chain is slack.