Patent ID: 8281835

Claim:
A run-flat support assembly for a wheel rim of a pneumatic tired wheel, the assembly comprising: a tubular support structure positionable in a tire cavity of the pneumatic tired wheel, the tubular support structure coupleable to the wheel rim and adapted to turn concurrently with an axis of rotation of the wheel rim when coupled to the wheel rim, the tubular support including a plurality of arc-shaped tubular support segments; a skeletal structure disposed within the tubular support structure, the skeletal structure including a body adapted to turn concurrently with the axis of rotation when the tubular support is coupled to the wheel rim; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced linkages displaceably secured to respective mounting races of the body, each of the plurality of circumferentially spaced linkages adapted to plastically fail in response to a moment load in a run-flat condition, thereby pivoting relative to the respective mounting races, the linkages extending radially outwardly beyond an outer circumferential surface of the skeletal structure when the tubular support is coupled to the wheel rim.