Run-flat support and tire assembly

Claim 1

A run-flat support and tire assembly for use with a tubeless tire comprising: a split rim divided into at least two sections in an axial direction of the wheel; annular flange portions of said rim formed on the opposite sides thereof and a base portion formed therebetween; a tubeless tire mounted on said split rim and having annular bead portions formed on the opposite sides thereof; a plurality of circumferentially divided circular support members each having an inner peripheral surface thereof fitted over said base portion within an air chamber surrounded by said tubeless tire and said rim for cooperating with said flange portions to prevent displacement of said bead portions of said tubeless tire and to firmly support the tread portion of said tire when air sealed within said tire is lost; each of said support members comprising a thin-wall casing body having its inner peripheral surface formed open; said support members being further defined as trapezoid in cross section, having a radially outer peripheral wall smaller in lateral width than the opened inner peripheral surface, reinforcing ribs extending from the inner surface of said casing body to partition the interior of said casing body into a plurality of chambers; and connecting protrusions projecting circumferentially from opposite end surfaces of said casing body, said connecting protrusions at the adjacent ends of said support members being closely engaged with each other in male and female relationship and pivotally connected at their inner peripheries with each other by means of a plurality of connecting pins which extend laterally in an axial direction and being clamped between said bead portions of said tubeless tire, each of said support members having a radial height greater than that of said tire bead portions.