Saw chain

Claim 2

A saw chain comprising a first center link having leading and trailing portions, a first pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portion of said first center link, a second pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion and trailing portion with means defining a trailing pivot axis, only one of said second pair of side links comprising a cutting link including a cutting tooth projecting from the trailing portion thereof and a depth gauge projecting from the leading portion thereof, and a second center link interposed said first and second pairs of side links and having a main body including a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portions of said first pair of side links and a trailing portion pivotally connected to the leading portions of said second pair of side links, said second center link including an upper tang projecting upwardly from said body in laterally adjacent relation with said depth gauge and extending in the direction toward said cutting tooth beyond a plane extending from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link.

Claim 3

A saw chain according to claim 1 wherein said cutting tooth includes a leading cutting edge, said depth gauge includes an uppermost edge spaced below said cutting edge, and said tang includes an upper end portion terminating in an outer corner which is located beyond a plane extending from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link, and a rear margin extending between said outer corner and the trailing portion of said second center link, said rear margin including a rear edge portion extending from said outer corner toward the trailing portion of said second center link at an included angle of less than 90°.

Claim 4

A saw chain according to claim 2 wherein the leading portion of said second center link includes a leading edge, said tang includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper margin extending between the leading edge of said second center link and said upper end portion, and said upper end portion includes a flat upper edge connecting said outer corner and said upper margin and extending parallel to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said second center link, said flat upper edge being substantially co-planar with the uppermost edge of said depth gauge.

Claim 5

A saw chain according to claim 1 wherein said cutting tooth includes a leading cutting edge located entirely rearwardly of a vertical plane extending parallel to and located at the midpoint between the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link, and the uppermost edge of said depth gauge is located rearwardly of a plane extending from the leading pivot axis of said cutting link and perpendicularly to a line drawn between the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link.

Claim 6

A chain saw comprising a cutter bar having a rounded nose portion and elongated, flat portions, a saw chain mounted for travel along the periphery of said cutter bar, said saw chain including a first center link having leading and trailing portions, a first pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portion of said first center link, a second pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion and a trailing portion with means defining a trailing pivot axis, only one of said second pair of side links comprising a cutting link including a cutting tooth projecting from the trailing portion thereof and a depth gauge projecting from the leading portion thereof and having an uppermost edge, and a second center link interposed said first and second pairs of side links and having a main body including a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portions of said first pair of side links and a trailing portion pivotally connected to the leading portions of said second pair of side links, said second center link including an upper tang projecting upwardly from said body in laterally adjacent relation with said depth gauge and having an upper end portion extending toward said cutting tooth beyond a plane extending from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link, the upper end portion of said upper tang having an upper edge which is substantially co-planar with the uppermost edge of said depth gauge when said second center link and said second pair of side links are traveling along the flat portions of said cutter bar, and terminating in an outer corner which projects, outwardly beyond the uppermost edge of said depth gauge, when said second center link and said second pair of side links are traveling around the nose portion of said cutter bar.

Claim 7

A chain saw comprising a cutter bar having a rounded nose portion and elongated, flat portions, a saw chain mounted for travel along the periphery of said cutter bar, said saw chain including a first center link having leading and trailing portions, a first pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portion of said first center link, a second pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion and a trailing portion with means defining a trailing pivot axis, only one of said second pair of side links comprising a cutting link including a cutting tooth projecting from the trailing portion thereof and a depth gauge projecting from the leading portion thereof and having an uppermost edge, and a second center link interposed said first and second pairs of side links and having a main body including a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portions of said first pair of side links and a trailing portion pivotally connected to the leading portions of said second pair of side links, said second center link including an upper tang projecting upwardly from said body in laterally adjacent relation with said depth gauge and having an upper end portion extending toward said cutting tooth beyond a plane extending from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link, the upper end portion of said upper tang having an upper edge which is substantially co-planar with the uppermost edge of said depth gauge when said second center link and said second pair of side links are traveling along the flat portions of said cutter bar, and terminating in an outer corner which projects, outwardly beyond the uppermost edge of said depth gauge, when said second center link and said second pair of side links are traveling around the nose portion of said cutter bar.

Claim 8

A chain saw according to claim 5 wherein the leading portion of said second center link includes a leading edge and said tang includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper margin extending between the leading edge of said second center link and said upper end portion.

Claim 9

A chain saw according to claim 6 wherein said cutting tooth includes a leading cutting edge located entirely rearwardly of a vertical plane extending parallel to and located at the midpoint between the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link, and the uppermost edge of said depth gauge is located rearwardly of a plane extending from the leading pivot axis of said cutting link and perpendicularly to a line drawn between the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link.

Claim 10

A chain saw according to claim 5 wherein said upper tang including a rear margin extending between said outer corner and said trailing portion, said rear margin including a rear edge portion extending from said outer corner toward said trailing portion at an included angle of less than 90°.

Claim 11

A chain saw according to claim 5 wherein said upper tang includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper margin extending between said leading edge and said upper end portion and said upper end portion includes a flat upper edge connecting said outer corner and said upper margin and extending parallel to a line connecting the centers of said leading and trailing aperatures.

Claim 12

A saw chain according to claim 1 wherein said tang includes a flat upper edge substantially co-planar with the uppermost edge of said depth gauge.

Claim 13

A saw chain comprising a first center link having leading and trailing portions, a first pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portion of said first center link, a second pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion and a trailing portion with means defining a trailing pivot axis, one of said second pair of side links comprising a cutting link including a cutting tooth projecting from the trailing portion thereof, and a second center link interposed said first and second pairs of side links and having a main body including a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portions of said first pair of side links and a trailing portion pivotally connected to the leading portions of said second pair of side links, said second center link including an upper tang projecting upwardly from said body and extending in the direction toward said cutting tooth beyond a plane extending, when said chain extends in a straight line, from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link.

Claim 14

A saw chain comprising a first center link having leading and trailing portions, a first pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portion of said first center link, a second pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion and a trailing portion with means defining a trailing pivot axis, one of said second pair of side links comprising a cutting link including a cutting tooth projecting from the trailing portion thereof, and a second center link interposed said first and second pairs of side links and having a main body including a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portions of said first pair of side links and a trailing portion pivotally connected to the leading portions of said second pair of side links, said second center link including an upper tang projecting upwardly from said body and extending in the direction toward said cutting tooth beyond a plane extending, when said chain extends in a straight line, from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link.

Claim 15

A saw chain comprising a first center link having leading and trailing portions, a first pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portion of said first center link, a second pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion and trailing portion with means defining a trailing pivot axis, one of said second pair of side links comprising a cutting link including a cutting tooth projecting from the trailing portion thereof, one of said second pair of side links including a depth gauge projecting from the leading portion thereof, and a second center link interposed said first and second pairs of side links and having a main body including a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portions of said first pair of side links and a trailing portion pivotally connected to the leading portions of said second pair of side links, said second center link including an upper tang projecting upwardly from said body in laterally adjacent relation with said depth gauge and extending in the direction toward said cutting tooth beyond a plane extending, when said chain extends in a straight line, from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link.

Claim 16

A saw chain comprising a first center link having leading and trailing portions, a first pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portion of said first center link, a second pair of opposed side links each having a leading portion and trailing portion with means defining a trailing pivot axis, one of said second pair of side links comprising a cutting link including a cutting tooth projecting from the trailing portion thereof, one of said second pair of side links including a depth gauge projecting from the leading portion thereof, and a second center link interposed said first and second pairs of side links and having a main body including a leading portion pivotally connected to the trailing portions of said first pair of side links and a trailing portion pivotally connected to the leading portions of said second pair of side links, said second center link including an upper tang projecting upwardly from said body in laterally adjacent relation with said depth gauge and extending in the direction toward said cutting tooth beyond a plane extending, when said chain extends in a straight line, from the leading pivot axis of said second pair of side links and perpendicularly to a line connecting the leading and trailing pivot axes of said cutting link.