Patent ID: 6918242

Claim:
A method of producing chain links suitable for use in making jewelry rope chains comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one chain link having an inner periphery of a predetermined shape, an outer periphery of a predetermined shape and a thickness, b) providing a mandril having an outer periphery configured for slidable movement of said at least one chain link along said outer periphery of said mandril, c) sliding said at least one chain link onto said mandril, d) contouring the outer periphery of said at least one chain link while said at least one chain link is arranged on said mandril, and e) removing said at least one chain link from said mandril, f) wherein said inner and outer peripheries of said at least one chain link are continuous and said contouring the outer periphery of said at least one chain link comprises the step of creating a gap between said inner and outer peripheries of said at least one chain link for intertwining one link with another, said gap defining a gap location along the outer and inner peripheries of said at least one chain link.