Patent attributes
A chain 1 with individual links 2, 3, inserted one into the other, of which at least every second link is formed as a flat link 3. When the flat link 3 has a vertical orientation in the shank region 6, 7 connecting the curvatures 4, 5, the flat link has a smaller maximum diameter H in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction L. The vertical diameter H of a shank 6, 7 being smaller than the diameter the flat link 3 in the curvatures 4, 5, such that the flat chain links 3 have a ratio of its cross sectional area in the shank region 6, 7 to the cross section area in the central regions 8 of the curvatures 4, 5 is greater than 0.55 and smaller than 0.85. The plane of the horizontal maximum diameter L in the shank region 6, 7 is disposed off-center and offset with respect to the outside of the particular shanks 6, 7.