Abstract: A safety wheel designed so that when air sealed within a tire is lost, the vehicle may be supported by a flat protector device in place of air pressure within the tire. The safety wheel comprises a split rim, a tubeless tire and a flat protector device which comprises a flat protector seat portion annularly fixed along the outer peripheral surface of the split rim, and a flat protector body formed of at least one pipe annularly fixed along the outer peripheral surface of the flat protector seat portion.

Abstract: A run-flat support and tire assembly designed so that when air sealed within a tire is lost, the vehicle may be supported by support members in place of air pressure within the tire. The run-flat tire has a split rim, a tubeless tire mounted on the rim, and a plurality of annularly disposed circular support members. The support members each comprises a thin-wall casing body having lattice-like reinforcing ribs for partitioning the interior of the casing body into a plurality of chambers. Connecting protrusions project from the casing body. The connecting protrusions are detachably connected to one another for each incorporation of the support members into the tire.

Abstract: A safety wheel designed so that when air sealed within a tire is lost, the vehicle may be supported by a flat protector and bead stopper members in place of air pressure within the tire. The safety wheel comprises a split rim, a tubeless tire mounted on the split rim, and a flat protector of an annular configuration. The flat protector is divided into a plurality of circular protector elements whose opposed opposite ends are connected with each other through the bead stopper members adapted to restrain relative movement between the bead portions of the tire and the split rim.

Abstract: A safety wheel including a combined flat protector and bead stopper structure radially fitted in the tire around the inner periphery thereof and having a closed frame-like cross-sectional configuration of a substantial modulus of section. The flat protector, being made itself of an elastic material in a substantially H-shaped cross section, is easily deformable and can be readily inserted in the tire and, once combined with the bead stopper, which clamps the opposite side wall portions of the flat protector and the respective bead portions of the tire against the rim flanges, exhibits a substantial rigidity enough to support the vehicle weight, as when the tire is punctured. The rigidity of the flat protector per se is also increased by means of reinforcing cords of unstretchable material embedded therein.

Abstract: A tubeless tire and rim assembly including an annular bead lock in the form of an endless train of lock elements interconnected by flexible joints. The bead lock can have not only a fully expanded circular configuration to fit over the rim base but also a partly folded configuration to lie within the inner peripheral circle of the tire. This particularly facilitates the mounting of such bead lock while effectively preventing any improper positioning thereof. An embodiment incorporating a flat-protector together with the bead lock is also contemplated to further improve the driving safety.

Abstract: A process is provided for the manufacture of shaped articles by molding a thermoplastic resin and filler. The process comprises mixing a thermoplastic resin with a filler preheated to a temperature at which the filler will have an amount of heat sufficient for heating the resin to its melting point and which is 50.degree. to 200.degree.C higher than the same melting point, and subjecting the mixture to molding into articles of desired forms and sizes. Various sorts of molding machines can be used, and the manufacturing costs are low.