Patent ID: 8196629

Claim:
A run-flat support system, comprising: a split wheel rim of a pneumatic tired wheel, the split wheel rim having complementary first and second wheel half-sections; a torque assembly including an integral and continuous substantially circular body, the torque assembly removably interposed between the first and second wheel half-sections and coupled therebetween; a plurality of support segments adapted for radial attachment to the torque assembly, the plurality of support segments having first and second faces opposing interior side walls of the pneumatic tired wheel, the plurality of support segments for supporting the pneumatic tired wheel in a flat condition; and a plurality of lateral support structures secured to the first and second faces of the plurality of support segments, the plurality of lateral support structures providing a bead lock between beads of the interior side walls of the pneumatic tired wheel and the split wheel rim, the plurality of lateral support structures having a narrow end and a wide end, the plurality of lateral support structures secured to the plurality of support segments such that the narrow end of each lateral support structure in the plurality of support structures is positioned further radially outward than the wide end of each lateral support structure in the plurality of support structures.