The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 25, 1997
William W Gardetto, Bedford, TX (US);
Other;
Abstract
A tire is supported in a deflated or run-flat condition by curved, tubular support segments. End portions of adjacent support segments include complementary male and female portions disposed in mating engagement when installed on a wheel in the run-flat operative position. The mating end portions maintain alignment of the support segments during installation and oppose lateral deflection of the segments relative to the wheel in response to side impact forces imposed on the tire during run-flat operation. Each support segment includes a smooth crown portion centered between two shoulder portions and separated from the shoulder portions by a pair of annular grooves or pockets. During run-flat turning and cornering movement, tire tread material is pressed into one of the annular grooves, thus centering the tire on the support segment, thereby opposing lateral shifting movement of the tire tread relative to the support segment and distributing load forces uniformly across the tire tread. The curved support segments include transverse sidewalls arranged generally in a tubular structure having the form of a pentagon in cross-section profile for reacting load forces during run-flat operation.