Emergency operation ring for tubeless tires in motor vehicles

Claim 1

An emergency operation ring for incorporation in a tubeless tire having flank portions, beads and a tread cover, said tire being adapted to be mounted on a rim, said ring comprising: (a) a base section adapted to be mounted on the rim, said base section extending fully between said beads and being laterally compressed when mounted; (b) two support sections extending diagonally upward and outward from the base section, said support sections being curved at the tops thereof and defining a centrally positioned, groove-shaped circumferential channel, said support sections supporting the tread cover of said tire during loss of air; (c) each support section including an outer flank spaced from the opposed flank of the tire to define therebetween a ring crevice, and centrally located sealing lip means at the bottom of said channel, said sealing lip means of said support sections when said tire is inflated being laterally biased by the compressive loading of said base section and defining therebetween annular groove means adapted to openly communicate with said channel when said tire loses air; (d) a shoulder on each side of the base section which biases the support sections back toward the longitudinal center of the ring so as to further define said ring crevice; (e) a slipping agent located in said groove means, whereby said sealing lips are separated by lever action when the tread cover engages the support sections during loss of air so as to expose said groove means to said channel, thereby releasing said slipping agent and lubricating the surfaces of the emergency operation ring and the tire in contact therewith, said support sections during such lever action extending into said crevices.