Paulo Karin Marin

US Patent:

6698481, Mar 2, 2004

Filed:

Apr 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/115687

Inventors:

Paulo Marin - Agoura Hills CA

Assignee:

RunflatAmerica Corporation - Burbank CA

International Classification:

B60C 2900

US Classification:

1523816, 1523815

Abstract:

The removable wheel well obstructor serves as a stable platform for supporting the beads of a flat tire, thereby resulting in a controlled run-flat tire capability. The obstructor is used for obstructing the interior of an annular wheel well of a wheel rim, wherein the wheel well has a predetermined radial depth. The obstructor includes a two-piece annular band of inextensible material of a predetermined axial width, a thickness which is substantially less than the depth of the wheel well and is adapted to circumferentially surround the wheel well, and is provided with an opening through its circumference. A plurality of snap-on frusto-cone shaped shims of a predetermined height are radially and inwardly attached to and spaced around the circumference of the band and are adapted to be received into the wheel well depth. A plurality of height adjusters are respectively attachable to the plurality of snap-on shims for further accommodating a plurality of different radial depths of wheel well.