(57) A rope chain has tightly interfitting rings (a, b, c) of a given cross-section diameter.
Each ring has a small gap (40) slightly larger than its cross-section diameter to
permit one ring to pass through the gap of a second ring, each of said rings having
an inner diameter equal to just over X times greater than the ring cross-section diameter,
where X is a number equal to or greater than 3. The rope chain is formed by a plurality
of assemblies of said rings, in series, each assembly comprising X+1 rings, each ring
of said assembly being angularly intertwined with an adjacent ring, each said assembly
of rings comprising at least one ring oriented with its gap about 180o removed with respect of the gap of at least one other ring within said assembly.
Each assembly of rings comprises at least one group of two or more adjacent rings
having their gaps in the same orientation, said at least two or more adjacent rings
being fixedly attached to each other, each of said at least one group of two or more
adjacent rings being also fixedly attached to another ring having a gap orientation
about 180o removed with respect of the gaps of the rings of said group of two or more adjacent
rings, and the end ring of each assembly in the series enveloping the other rings
of said assembly.
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