Tire/wheel assembly and run-flat support member

Abstract

A tire/wheel assembly comprising a wheel having a rim, a pneumatic tire fitted to the rim and a run-flat support member. The pneumatic tire includes a cavity, and the run-flat support member is disposed in the cavity of the pneumatic tire. The run-flat support member includes an annular shell and elastic rings. The annular shell has a support surface located radially outward and two leg portions formed radially inward. The elastic rings support the leg portions on the rim. The leg portions of the annular shell are detachably attached to the elastic rings.

1 . A run-flat support member comprising: 
 an annular shell including a support surface attached to at least one leg portion, an attachment section of the leg portion having an insert-through hole;    at least one elastic ring having a screw hole therein; and    a bolt having a shaft, the shaft being adapted to extend through the insert-through hole and into the screw hole.    
   
   
       2 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the screw hole is smaller than the diameter of the shaft.  
   
   
       3 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw hole is threaded.  
   
   
       4 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft extends in a radius direction through the insert-through hole and into the screw hole.  
   
   
       5 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft extends in a direction of a rotation axis through the insert-through hole and into the screw hole.  
   
   
       6 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment section extends in a direction of a rotation axis of the wheel, the attachment section being fixed to the elastic ring by the bolt having a bolt axis extending in a radial direction of the wheel.  
   
   
       7 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein a fixing component is disposed between the attachment section and the elastic ring.  
   
   
       8 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 7 , wherein the fixing component being formed of metal or synthetic resin.  
   
   
       9 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic ring has an insert slot, the insert slot being adapted to receive the attachment section.  
   
   
       10 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 9 , wherein a ring-shaped slot is disposed between the attachment section and the elastic ring.  
   
   
       11 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the bolt is adapted to releasably fix the leg portion to the elastic ring.  
   
   
       12 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the bolt is formed of synthetic resin.  
   
   
       13 . A run-flat support member according to  claim 1 , wherein a pneumatic tire is fitted onto the rim of a wheel.