Breakaway chain

A breakaway chain comprising:

• a breakaway connector including:
• a first opening defined between a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced away from the first wall portion;
• a first flexible gripping member extending from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• a second opening between a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion spaced away from the third wall portion;
• a second flexible gripping member extending from the third wall portion towards the fourth wall portion;
• a first chain portion having a first chain link, the first chain link inserted into the first opening and in resilient engagement with the first flexible gripping member;
• and
• a second chain portion having a second chain link, the second chain link inserted into the second opening and in resilient engagement with the second flexible gripping member;
• wherein the resilient engagement between the first chain link and the breakaway connector is not greater than 5 lbs. such that an application of a force greater than 5 lbs. will cause the first chain link to be removed from the breakaway connector.

A breakaway chain comprising:

• a breakaway connector including:
• a first opening defined between a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced away from the first wall portion;
• a first flexible gripping member extending from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• a second opening between a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion spaced away from the third wall portion;
• a second flexible gripping member extending from the third wall portion towards the fourth wall portion;
• a first chain portion having a first chain link, the first chain link inserted into the first opening and in resilient engagement with the first flexible gripping member;
• and
• a second chain portion having a second chain link, the second chain link inserted into the second opening and in resilient engagement with the second flexible gripping member;
• wherein:
• the first flexible gripping member is one of a plurality of first flexible gripping members, each of the first flexible gripping member extends from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• and
• the plurality of first flexible gripping members are axially spaced apart in a direction extending towards the second opening;
• a plurality of second flexible gripping members are axially spaced apart in a direction extending towards the first opening.

A breakaway chain comprising:

• a breakaway connector including:
• a first opening defined between a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced away from the first wall portion;
• a first flexible gripping member extending from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• a second opening between a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion spaced away from the third wall portion;
• a second flexible gripping member extending from the third wall portion towards the fourth wall portion;
• a first chain portion having a first chain link, the first chain link inserted into the first opening and in resilient engagement with the first flexible gripping member;
• and
• a second chain portion having a second chain link, the second chain link inserted into the second opening and in resilient engagement with the second flexible gripping member;
• wherein if either the first chain link or the second chain link is removed from the breakaway connector, the first chain link or the second chain link removed from the breakaway connector can be reinstalled into the corresponding first opening or the corresponding second opening by axially sliding the first chain link or the second chain link into the corresponding first opening or the corresponding second opening and without latching the corresponding first opening or the corresponding second opening to the breakaway connector.

A breakaway chain comprising:

• a breakaway connector including:
• a first opening defined between a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced away from the first wall portion;
• a first flexible gripping member extending from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• a second opening between a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion spaced away from the third wall portion;
• a second flexible gripping member extending from the third wall portion towards the fourth wall portion;
• a first chain portion having a first chain link, the first chain link inserted into the first opening and in resilient engagement with the first flexible gripping member;
• and
• a second chain portion having a second chain link, the second chain link inserted into the second opening and in resilient engagement with the second flexible gripping member;
• wherein:
• the first flexible gripping member extends away from the first wall portion at an angle and away from a mouth of the first opening towards the second opening;
• and
• the second flexible gripping member extends away from the third wall portion at an angle and way from a mouth of the second opening towards the first opening.

A breakaway chain comprising:

• a breakaway connector including:
• a first opening defined between a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced away from the first wall portion;
• a first flexible gripping member extending from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• a second opening between a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion spaced away from the third wall portion;
• a second flexible gripping member extending from the third wall portion towards the fourth wall portion;
• a first chain portion having a first chain link, the first chain link inserted into the first opening and in resilient engagement with the first flexible gripping member;
• and
• a second chain portion having a second chain link, the second chain link inserted into the second opening and in resilient engagement with the second flexible gripping member;
• wherein:
• insertion of the first chain link into the first opening resiliently bends the first flexible gripping member towards the second opening and towards the first wall portion;
• and
• insertion of the second chain link into the second opening resiliently bends the second flexible gripping member towards the first opening and towards the third wall portion.

A breakaway chain comprising:

• a breakaway connector including:
• a first opening defined between a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced away from the first wall portion;
• a first flexible gripping member extending from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• a second opening between a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion spaced away from the third wall portion;
• a second flexible gripping member extending from the third wall portion towards the fourth wall portion;
• a first chain portion having a first chain link, the first chain link inserted into the first opening and in resilient engagement with the first flexible gripping member;
• and
• a second chain portion having a second chain link, the second chain link inserted into the second opening and in resilient engagement with the second flexible gripping member;
• wherein:
• a third flexible gripping member extends from the second wall portion towards the first wall portion;
• the third flexible gripping member is offset from the first flexible gripping member such that the third flexible gripping member is positioned axially closer to the second opening than the first flexible gripping member.

A blocking arrangement for a walkway within a retail establishment comprising:

• a first upright member;
• a second upright member spaced apart from the first upright member such that the first and second upright members are on opposite sides of the walkway;
• a breakaway chain comprising:
• a breakaway connector including:
• a first opening defined between a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced away from the first wall portion;
• a first flexible gripping member extending from the first wall portion towards the second wall portion;
• a second opening between a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion spaced away from the third wall portion;
• a second flexible gripping member extending from the third wall portion towards the fourth wall portion;
• a first chain portion having a first chain link, the first chain link inserted into the first opening and in resilient engagement with the first flexible gripping member;
• and
• a second chain portion having a second chain link, the second chain link inserted into the second opening and in resilient engagement with the second flexible gripping member;
• wherein:
• the first chain portion has an end operably secured to the first upright member;
• the second chain portion has an end operably secured to the second upright member;
• and
• when the first chain portion is operably secured to the first upright member, the second chain portion is operably secured to the second upright member, and the breakaway connector is engaged with the first and second chain links, the breakaway chain blocks the walkway;
• wherein:
• the resilient engagement between the first chain link and the breakaway connector is less than an operable securement between the first upright member and the first chain portion;
• and
• the resilient engagement between the second chain link and the breakaway connector is less than an operable securement between the second upright member and the second chain portion.