Run flat tire support and filament formed reinforcement member therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a unitary run flat tire (RFT) reinforcement using filament material that is formed into a relatively rigid shape. The reinforcement is insertable into a mold for an RFT support and can maintain the needed structural rigidity for such insertion. Further, the invention provides an RFT support that is molded and includes the RFT reinforcement. The invention also provides a wheel assembly including a tire, a rim, and an RFT support between the rim and the tire, where the support includes the RFT reinforcement. The RFT support can have a colored indicator formed or subsequently applied thereto to indicate one or more attributes of the support.

1 . A run flat tire (RFT) reinforcement for an RFT support, the RFT reinforcement comprising one or more filaments formed into a unitary, substantially cylindrical section and having a rigidity sufficient to deform about 20% or less when dropped from about two meters high to a hard surface when an axis of the RFT reinforcement is substantially perpendicular to gravity.  
     
     
         2 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement comprises filaments formed at a first transverse angle, a second transverse angle, and a circumferential angle.  
     
     
         3 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement comprises one or more transverse members and one or more circumferential members.  
     
     
         4 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 3 , wherein the transverse members and the circumferential members are formed from the same filament at different angles.  
     
     
         5 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 3 , wherein the RFT reinforcement is cut from a tubular member having, a length equal to at least one reinforcement and at least one of the circumferential members have an increased width in proximity to a place on the tubular member to be cut.  
     
     
         6 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 3 , wherein the RFT reinforcement is cut from a tubular member having a length equal to at least one reinforcement and the tubular member has at least two circumferential members in proximity to a place on the tubular member to be cut.  
     
     
         7 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the transverse or circumferential members has an increased thickness relative to another member.  
     
     
         8 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 7 , wherein the increased thickness is formed from having selectively wound increased layers of the filaments.  
     
     
         9 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 7 , wherein the increased thickness is formed by having used different thicknesses of filaments for different transverse or circumferential members.  
     
     
         10 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the RFT reinforcement comprises one or more coated filaments formed into a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more longitudinal filament members.  
     
     
         14 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the RFT reinforcement comprises a filament molded with a film.  
     
     
         15 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement is formed from a tangential molding process.  
     
     
         16 . The RFT reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the RFT reinforcement comprises tabs extending from a surface of the reinforcement.  
     
     
         17 . A run flat tire (RFT) support, comprising: a) a molded portion having an outer circumference and an inner circumference and adapted to mount to a wheel rim to support a deflated tire when the tire is rolling on a surface; and b) at least one RFT reinforcement molded at least partially into the molded portion, comprising a unitary, substantially cylindrical section of one or more filaments and having a rigidity sufficient to deform about 20% or less when dropped from about two meters high to a hard surface when an axis of the RFT reinforcement is substantially perpendicular to gravity.  
     
     
         18 . The RFT support of  claim 17 , wherein the RFT reinforcement has a rigidity sufficient to deform about 10% or less when dropped from about two meters high to a hard surface when an axis of the reinforcement is substantially perpendicular to gravity.  
     
     
         19 . The RFT support of  claim 17 , further comprising a tire mounted on a rim with the RFT support disposed between an inside surface of the tire and an outer perimeter of the rim.  
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A wheel assembly, comprising: 
 a) a tire;    b) a rim; and    c) a run flat tire (RFT) support disposed at least partially between an interior surface of the tire and an outer periphery of the rim, comprising: 
 i) a molded portion having an outer circumference and an inner circumference and adapted to mount to the rim to support the tire when the tire is at least partially deflated and rolling on a surface; and  
 ii) at least one RFT reinforcement molded at least partially into the molded portion, comprising a unitary, substantially cylindrical section of one or more filaments and having a rigidity sufficient to deform about 20% or less when dropped from about two meters high to a hard surface when an axis of the RFT reinforcement is substantially perpendicular to gravity.  
   
     
     
         23 . The wheel assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the RFT reinforcement has a rigidity sufficient to deform about 10% or less when dropped from about two meters high to a hard surface when an axis of the reinforcement is substantially perpendicular to gravity.  
     
     
         24 - 42 . (canceled)