Is SRAM quietly reinventing the chain?
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"...a US patent application from SRAM shows a radically different chain design.
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A conventional chain is made of a pin, roller and a set of alternating inner and outer plates. SRAM's patent removes the need for inner and outer plates with the stepped design acting as both."
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As near as I can tell, there's assymetric beveling in the profile of each link, so the chain can be lifted up more easily and with less travel off one sprocket to another. Without the side plates, the chain itself is also thinner, so less distance to go side to side during shifting. Also means more sprockets can fit in the same width cassette. Not sure any of this qualifies as a 'reinvention.'
More diagrams in the source patent. They won't let me direct link to the PDF.
Patent search page here: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/ppubsbasic.html
Enter ID: 20250172193
