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A chain includes a plurality of identical link elements each including a main body part with a cantilevered connecting part integrally formed at one end thereof. The connecting part includes an enlarged rounded head portion and a narrower neck portion extending between the head portion and the main

A chain includes a plurality of identical link elements each including a main body part with a cantilevered connecting part integrally formed at one end thereof. The connecting part includes an enlarged rounded head portion and a narrower neck portion extending between the head portion and the main body part. The main body part has a rounded recess and a narrow slot formed in a first surface thereof. The slot adjoins an end of the recess opposite the connecting element. The slot extends from the recess to adjoin a side surface of the main body. Confining sections extend from the surface of the main body adjacent the slot so as to overlie opposite sides of the recess. The recess, slot and confining sections together define an opening in the first surface which has substantially the same shape as the connecting element. The chain is formed by inserting the connecting part of one link element into the recess of an adjacent link element and pivoting the one link element about its head portion such that its neck portion is received in the slot of the adjacent link element and its head portion is captured in the recess by the overlying confining sections.

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A chain comprising a plurality of ceramic link elements, each of which includes a main body part and a connecting part integrally formed with each other, said connecting part projecting from said body part and having a curved surface head portion and a reduced neck portion; the main body part having

A chain comprising a plurality of ceramic link elements, each of which includes a main body part and a connecting part integrally formed with each other, said connecting part projecting from said body part and having a curved surface head portion and a reduced neck portion; the main body part having, at its point of connection to the neck portion, inclined end surfaces which converge inwardly toward one another for connection to the neck portion; said main body part including (1) a recess for receiving said curved surface head portion of an adjacent said link element and (2) a narrowed slot portion for receiving said neck portion of the adjacent link element, said narrowed slot portion being contiguous with said recess at an end of said recess opposite said connecting part; said main body part also including confining sections covering a portion of said recess, said confining sections projecting from both sides of said recess adjacent said narrowed slot portion in the form of overhanging eaves, whereby the connecting part of the adjacent link element is inserted in a first direction into said recess of a first said link element so that the head portion is brought beneath the confining sections, and then said neck portion of the adjacent link element is received by said narrowed slot portion of the first link element as the adjacent link element is pivoted about its connecting part to extend in a second direction wherein the joined link elements are substantially aligned; and said main body part adjacent the outer end of said narrowed slot portion having inwardly converging end surfaces which are inclined substantially the same as and complimentary to the first-mentioned end surfaces, the first-mentioned inclined end surfaces of said adjacent link element abutting against the second-mentioned inclined end surfaces of said first link element when the chain is subjected to a pushing force.