Ball chain and splicing means therefor

• US 5,411,445 A
• Filed: 03/24/1993
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
• Inventors: Oda, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Schoeppel, Roger J.
• Application Number:
  US08/036,286
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 474/154, 474/175, 474/203, 474/205, 474/211, 474/243, 59/85, 59/89, 59/95
• US Class Current: 474/154
• CPC Class Codes: B21L 11/12 Forming bead chains
• CPC Class Codes: B21L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/09 incorporating hinge joints or pivots for the attachment of the cable ends
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 9/00 Ropes or cables specially adapted for driving, or for being driven by, pulleys or other gearing elements ropes or cables in general D07B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20444 including rolling antifriction elements

Abstract

A ball chain for interior decoration, sprocket drive or the like which includes a connecting mechanism in the form of a wire or yarn, a multiplicity of chain balls secured in place at equally spaced intervals along a length of the connecting mechanism, and a coupling interposed between adjacent chain balls. A splicing mechanism provided for splicing the ball chain includes a socket having a cavity dimensioned to receive the coupling.

Claims

1. A splicing means for splicing a ball chain having a connecting means, a multiplicity of chain balls secured in place at substantially equally spaced intervals along a length of said connecting means, a plurality of coupling means each secured to said connecting means at predetermined intervals therealong and interposed equi-distantly between adjacent balls, said splicing means comprising:

a socket dimensioned and configured having an outside length and width substantially equal to one of said chain balls, and provided with a cavity dimensioned to receive one of said coupling means and openings communicating with said cavity for inserting said connecting means therethrough.

2. A splicing means for splicing a ball chain having a connecting means, a multiplicity of chain balls secured in place at substantially equally spaced intervals along a length of said connecting means, and a plurality of coupling means, each comprising a spherical ball and secured to said connecting means at predetermined intervals therealong and interposed equi-distantly between adjacent chain balls, said splicing means comprising:

a pair of spaced and separate spherical sockets interconnected by a flexible strand-like bridging member, each of said spherical sockets having a cavity dimensioned to receive one of said spherical balls and openings communicating with said cavity for inserting said connecting means therethrough.

3. A ball chain comprising a connecting means, a multiplicity of chain balls secured in place at substantially equally spaced intervals along a length of said connecting means, and a plurality of coupling means each secured to said connecting means at predetermined intervals therealong and interposed equi-distantly between adjacent balls;

wherein each of said chain balls is substantially oval in shape; and

wherein each of said coupling means is a pair of identical semi-spherical balls having their respective ellipsoidal surfaces confronting with each other across a gap through which said connecting means is exposed to view.

4. The ball chain according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means is distanced from each adjacent chain ball by a distance equal to said equally spaced intervals between chain balls.

5. A ball chain comprising a connecting means, a multiplicity of chain balls secured in place at substantially equally spaced intervals along a length of said connecting means, and a plurality of coupling means each secured to said connecting means at predetermined intervals therealong and interposed equidistantly between adjacent balls;

wherein said chain ball is substantially oval in shape; and

wherein each of said coupling means is a spherical ball smaller in diameter than each of said chain balls.

6. The ball chain according to claim 5, wherein said coupling means is distanced from each adjacent chain ball by a distance equal to said equally spaced intervals between chain balls.