Patent ID: 7076986

Claim:
Process for forming a linking element which is designed to be part of a push belt for a continuously variable transmission, comprising a step of displacing material from a central portion of a main body surface of the linking element, which surface is designed to be extending perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the push belt, and which central portion is substantially centrally located in a direction perpendicular to both a direction of the linking element corresponding to the circumferential direction of the push belt in a situation in which the linking element is part of the push belt and a direction of the linking element corresponding to a radial direction of the push belt in the situation in which the linking element is part of the push belt, in a direction of portions of the linking element which are located on either side of the central portion, by applying pressure, wherein the step is performed at least at a portion of the linking element which is located at a bottom side of the main body surface of the linking element, which side is designed to be located at an inner circumference of the push belt.