Patent ID: 7195116

Claim:
A link chain comprising a plurality of individual chain links arranged in a repeating sequence, the sequence comprising: a) a first chain link comprising: i) two shank portions; ii) two arc portions connecting said two shank portions, wherein said two shank portions and said two arc portions define an interior space of said first chain link; and iii) at least one dividing element projecting inwardly from an inside surface of at least one of said two shank portions, wherein said at least one dividing element reduces a clear inside diameter of said interior space in a transverse direction and divides said interior space into two movement spaces; and b) a second chain link comprising: i) two shank portions and ii) two arc portions connecting said two shank portions, wherein said two shank portions and said two arc portions define a movement space within an interior of said second chain link; wherein, said second link is linked to said first link and movable within one of said two movement spaces of said first chain link; and wherein, when a longitudinal axis of said second chain link is moved from an intended position, wherein said longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of said first chain link, by less than approximately 90 degrees, an outside of one of said two arc portions of said second chain link that engages said one of said two movement spaces of said first chain link contacts said at least one dividing element, and an inside of one of said two shank portions of said second chain link which is adjacent to a segment of said one of said two arc portions of said second chain link contacting said at least one dividing element contacts one of said two arc portions of said first chain link which forms said one of said two movement spaces of said first chain link.