Patent ID: 6939260

Claim:
A chain assembly for drivingly engaging a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from a sprocket of an automobile drivetrain, said chain assembly comprising: a plurality of rigid links pivotally interconnected to each other to form an endless loop, wherein each of said plurality of rigid links includes a driving surface for drivingly engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth during rotation of the sprocket in a first driving direction; a plurality of flexible links each operatively coupled to at least one of said plurality of rigid links for engaging each of said plurality of sprocket teeth prior to said driving engagement with said driving surface, wherein each of said plurality of flexible links are elastically deformable for dampening noise due to said driving engagement between the plurality of sprocket teeth and said plurality of rigid links, each of said flexible links including a bridge extending between primary and secondary ends and upper and lower edges extending longitudinally between said primary and secondary ends wherein said bridge is elastically deformable to allow displacement of said primary and secondary ends with respect to each other, each of said flexible links further including at least one dampening tooth extending outwardly from one of said primary and secondary ends, said dampening tooth including a dampening surface engagable in said first driving direction with the plurality of sprocket teeth prior to said driving engagement with said driving surface, wherein said dampening surface is displaced with respect to said driving surface due to elastic deformation of said bridge and said dampening tooth for dampening noise associated with said driving engagement; and a plurality of pins for pivotally interconnecting said plurality of rigid links and said plurality of flexible links to form an endless loop; wherein each of said plurality of flexible links includes a hooked portion pivotally engaged with one of said plurality of pins and including a distal end.