AU2009201993B2

AU2009201993B2 - A Horse Shoe and a Method of Shoeing a Horse

Info

Publication number: AU2009201993B2
Application number: AU2009201993A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert John Bursle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-23
Filing date: 2009-05-22
Publication date: 2013-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2029-05-22
Also published as: AU2009201993A1

Abstract

A horse shoe 3.004 is made of a suitable material such as plastics material, and has through holes 3.014 adapted to receive screws therethrough. The holes are inclined away from the inner part of the hoof, preferably at an angle of about 800. The entrances to the holes 2.006 are countersunk to receive a screw head 5.020. The screws can be applied using a cordless screwdriver. Figure 3

Description

C09103 A Horse Shoe and a method of Shoeing a Horse Field of the invention [0011 This invention relates to horse shoes and methods of shoeing horses. Background of the invention [002] Traditionally, horse shoes have been made of iron and are fixed to the hoof using nails. This is a time-consuming process, as there are usually 8 nails to be inserted per shoe. The nail holes are usually of square section and substantially normal to the plane of the shoe. The process of replacing horse shoes can take about one hour. This can be stressful for the animal and the hammering of the nails into the hoof can upset young horses. In addition, it is necessary to avoid the error of piercing the soft inner part of the hoof, and even experienced farriers can sometimes make this mistake. [003] In conventional nailed shoeing, the nails are inserted to project through the outer surface of the hoof, and the ends are bent over and trimmed and/or filed. Summary of the invention [004] The present invention provides a horse shoe having attachment through-holes in which the entrance aperture is closer to the inner rim of the shoe than the exit aperture, and the holes are inclined at an angle inward from vertical so that the fixing member can be angled away from the inner part of the hoof. [005] The shoes can be of a plastics material. [006] The hole can be sized to receive a screw. [007] The entrance aperture can be countersunk. [008] The holes can be inclined at an angle of between 70* and 850 inward from the vertical. [009] The holes can be inclined at 80' inward from the vertical. [010] The holes can be adapted to receive fully threaded, 6 gauge pan head screws. [011] The screws can be approximately 40 mm long.

C09103 2 [012] The screws can be medium tensile screws. [013] The heads of the screws can have a head with a square, hexagonal, slot, or cruciform recess. [014] The present invention further provides a method of shoeing a horse using a shoe as described above, wherein the shoe can be affixed by screwing the shoe to the hoof; the method including using an electric driver to insert the screws into the hoof; and the step of inserting the screw until the head of the screw is inserted into the countersunk hole. [015] The screws can be inserted with an electric screwdriver. [016] The torque of the driver can be adjusted according to the hardness of the hoof. Brief description of the drawings [017] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [018] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a part of a horse hoof fitted with a horse shoe. [019] Figure 2 is a schematic underside top view of a horse shoe according to an embodiment of the invention. [020] Figure 3 is top view of the horse shoe of Figure 2. [021] Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3, with section lines A-A and B-B. [022] Figure 5 is a section view of the horse shoe of Figure 4. [023] Figure 6 an underside view of a horse shoe according to an embodiment of the invention. [024] The numbering convention used in the drawings is that the digits in front of the full stop indicate the drawing number, and the digits after the full stop are the element reference numbers. Where possible, the same element reference number is used in different drawings to indicate corresponding elements.

C09103 3 Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [025] The invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. [026] Figure 1 shows a side view of a hoof 1.002 fitted with a horse shoe 1.004. [027] Figures 2 & 3 show underside and top side views of a horse shoe according to an embodiment of the invention. The underside of the shoe 2.004 has a number of countersunk holes 2.006 each of which communicate with a bore 3.014 emerging on the top side at 3.007. The bore is angled such that the countersunk holes 2.006 are closer to the inner rim 2.008 of the shoe while the holes 3.007 are closer to the outer rim 3.010. [028] Figure 4 has a pair of angled section lines A-A and B-B through screw holes. The section lines are approximately transverse to the perimeter of the shoe. [029] Figure 5 shows a section view through lines A-A and B-B and through the hoof. The hard keratinous part of the hoof is shown schematically at 5.002, while the soft, sensitive inner part of the hoof is shown at 5.001. It is important that the fasteners do not penetrate the inner part of the hoof 5.001. Thus the holes 5.014 are inclined from the inner side of the shoe towards the outer part of the shoe as indicated by the angle 0. This angle can be of the order of 70* to 85*. Preferably the angle is 80*. The bore of the hole 5.014 is a clearance fit for the shaft of the screw 5.020. [030] Figure 6 illustrates the underside of a shoe 6.004 according to an embodiment of the invention. The shoe has a groove 6.016 which, in this embodiment, runs the length of the shoe and is on the same line as the countersunk holes 6.006. [031] The shoe can be made of any suitable material including metal such as iron, aluminium etc. However, plastic horseshoes are preferred. The shoes can be made of a tough polyurethane, nylon, or other suitable material. [032] The shoe can be fitted with conventional horse shoe nails. The inclined bore assists in ensuring that the nails are directed away from the sensitive inner part of the hoof 5.001. [033] However, in a preferred method, the shoes are attached by screws.

C09103 4 [034] As shown in figure 5, the screw is screwed in until the head does not project beyond the edge of the countersunk hole. This prevents ware of the screw head. [035] The screws can be medium tensile, 40 mm long, fully threaded, pan headed screws with a square recess. Alternatively, the recess can be a slot, hexagon, or cruciform. The screws can be inserted with an electric screwdriver. Preferably the screwdriver is set to about mid-range. This can be adjusted according to the hardness of the hoof. [036] The screws can be self-taping screws. [037] The shoe can have sufficient screws to ensure firm attachment. In one embodiment, the shoe can have 8 screw holes. [038] Due to the grip provided by thread of the screw, it is not necessary for the screw to project through the exterior surface of the hoof. If the screw protrudes, it can simply be trimmed back without the need to bend the end over. [039] Also, due to the firm fixing of the screws, the shoe does not require projections on the upper surface to prevent relative transverse movement between the hoof and the shoe. Thus, the rim 3.012 is not usually required with shoes fixed by screws. [040] Preferably the screws are made of a material which can be drilled out in the event that the head is broken. [041] In this specification, reference to a document, disclosure, or other publication or use is not an admission that the document, disclosure, publication or use forms part of the common general knowledge of the skilled worker in the field of this invention at the priority date of this specification, unless otherwise stated. [042] In this specification, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as "up", "down", "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" "upright", "transverse" etc. are not intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or indicates otherwise. These terms will normally refer to orientations shown in the drawings. [043] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be C09103 5 attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear. [044] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. [045] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A horse shoe having attachment through-holes in which the entrance aperture is closer to the inner rim of the shoe than the exit aperture, and the holes are inclined at an angle inward from vertical so that the fixing member is angled away from the inner part of the hoof.

2. A horse shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoes are of a plastics material.

3. A horse shoe as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein the hole is sized to receive a screw.

4. A horse shoe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the entrance aperture is countersunk.

5. A horse shoe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holes are inclined at an angle of between 700 and 850 inward from the vertical.

6. A horse shoe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the holes are inclined at 800 inward from the vertical.

7. A horse shoe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holes are adapted to receive fully threaded, 6 gauge pan head screws.

8. A horse shoe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the screws are approximately 40 mm long.

9. A horse shoe as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the screws are medium tensile screws.

10. A horse shoe as claimed in any one of claims 7 to9 wherein the heads of the screws have a head with a square, hexagonal, slot, or cruciform recess.

11. A method of shoeing a horse using a shoe as claimed in any one of claims I to 10, wherein the shoe is affixed by screwing the shoe to the hoof.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, including using an electric driver to insert the screws into the hoof.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1I or claim 12, including the step of inserting the screw until the head of the screw is inserted into the countersunk hole. C09103 7

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the screws are inserted with an electric screwdriver.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the torque of the driver is adjusted according to the hardness of the hoof.

16. A horse shoe substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of shoeing a horse substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.