Run-flat support for pneumatic tired wheel

A run-flat support assembly mountable onto the rim of a pneumatic tired wheel in an operative position for supporting a pneumatic tire in an under-inflated or deflated condition, said support assembly comprising:

• a plurality of support segments adapted for attachment to the rim of a pneumatic tired wheel in the operative position, each support segment including a crown member for enraging an inner wall of a pneumatic tire during run-flat operation;
• the crown member of each support segment including a first end portion and a second end portion, said end portions including complementary male and female coupling members, the male and female coupling members being disposed in end-to-end mating engagement with each other when the support segments are mounted on the rim in the operative position;
• and,
• said male and female coupling members including a first sawtooth coupling structure formed on the first end portion of each crown member and a second sawtooth coupling structure formed on the second end portion of each crown member, the first sawtooth coupling structure including V-shaped pockets formed in the first end portion and teeth projecting circumferentially from the first end portion and alternating with the V-shaped pockets;
• and the second sawtooth structure including V-shaped pockets extending circumferentially into the second end portion and teeth alternating with the V-shaped pockets.

A run-flat support assembly mountable onto the rim of a pneumatic tired wheel in an operative position for supporting a pneumatic tire in an under-inflated or deflated condition, said support assembly comprising:

• a plurality of support segments adapted for attachment to the rim of a pneumatic tired wheel in the operative position, each support segment including a crown member for engaging an inner wall of a pneumatic tire during run-flat operation;
• each support segment including a coupling web for attachment to the rim in the operative position, and including spaced apart sidewalls interconnecting the coupling web and the crown member thereby defining a tubular support structure;
• each support segment including a first coupling web for attachment to the rim in the operative position, and a second coupling web coupled to the first coupling web and extending transversely with respect thereto;
• said spaced-apart sidewalls connecting the crown member to the first and second coupling webs, respectively;
• and,
• the coupling webs, sidewalls and crown member forming a tubular support structure having a cross-section profile generally in the form of a pentagon.