Chain with protection device

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 096144872, filed on Nov. 26, 2007.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a chain, and more particularly to a chain that includes a protection device for shielding the chain from dust and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional chain 1 includes a protection device consisting of a plurality of inverted U-shaped protective covers 3. The protective covers 3 protect a plurality of plate units 11 from dust and the like. However, the volume of the protective covers 3 are large, thereby increasing the total weight and manufacturing costs of the chain 1 and affecting adversely smooth movement of the conventional chain 1.

The object of this invention is to provide a chain that includes an improved protection device that can shield a between-plate space in the chain from dust and the like and that can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages associated with the prior art.

According to this invention, a chain includes a chain unit. The chain unit includes a pair of first and second plate units, a link pin extending in an inner-to-outer direction, and a protective member. Each of the first and second plate units includes two chain plates adjacent to and arranged in the inner-to-outer direction and having an inner side surface. The inner side surfaces of the first and second plate units face each other. The link pin interconnects the plate units to define a between-plate space between the inner side surfaces of the first and second plate units. The protective member extends integrally from the topside of one of the chain plates of the first chain plate, is spaced apart from the second chain plate, and has a shielding portion for covering at least a portion of an upper end of the between-plate space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional chain;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional side view of the portion of the conventional chain, illustrating positioning of a protective cover relative to two plate units;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a chain according to this invention, illustrating two chain units;

FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the chain units of the first preferred embodiment;

FIGS. 5 to 9 are respectively side views of chain units of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth preferred embodiments of a chain according to this invention;

FIGS. 10 to 13 are respectively perspective views chain units of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth preferred embodiments of a chain according to this invention;

FIGS. 14 to 16 are respectively side views of chain units of the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth preferred embodiments of a chain according to this invention;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are respectively perspective views of chain units of the fourteenth and fifteenth preferred embodiments of a chain according to this invention;

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